I was 'served' with a writ of fieri facias for one of our customers. If I am understanding this correctly, this type of paper commands the sheriff to go to this persons business or home and seize property. It does not command the bank to seize or hold property or accounts. I have a call in to our attorney, but don't want the customer to come in and clean out the accounts if I am supposed to have them on hold? Any attorneys out there?? Any help is appreciated!

The name of a writ of execution. It is so called because, when writs were in Latin, the words directed to the sheriff were, quod fieri facias de bonis et catallis, etc.; that you cause to be made of the goods and chattels, etc.

The foundation of this writ is a judgment for debt or damages, and the party who has recovered such a judgment is generally entitled to it, unless he is delayed by the stay of execution which the law allows in certain cases after the rendition of the judgment, or by proceedings in error.

The Form Of The Writ.
The writ is issued in the name of the commonwealth or of the government, as required by the constitution, and directed to the sheriff, commanding him that of the goods and chattels, and (where lands are liable for the payment of debts) of the lands and tenements of the defendant in his bailiwick, he cause to be levied as well a certain debt of dollars, which the plaintiff, in the court of (naming,it,) recovered against him, as - dollars like money which to the said plaintiff was adjudged for his damages, which he had by the detention of that debt, and that he, (the sheriff) have that money before the judges of the said court on a day certain, (being the return day therein mentioned,) to render to the said plaintiff his debt and damages aforesaid, whereof the said defendant is convict.
It must be tested in the name of the officer, as directed by the constitution or laws as; 'Witness the honorable John B. Gibson, our chief justice, at Philadelphia, the tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. It must be signed by the prothonotory, or clerk of the court, and sealed with its seal. The signature of the prothonotary, in Pennsylvania, is not indispensable. The amount of the debt, interest, and costs must also be endorsed on the writ. This form varies as it is issued on a judgment in debt, and one obtained for damages merely.
The execution being founded on the judgment must, of course, follow and be warranted by it. Hence, where there is more than one one plaintiff or defendant, it must be in the name of all the plaintiffs, against all the defendants. It is either for the plaintiff or the defendant. When it is against an executor or administrator, for a liability of the testator or intestate, it is conformable to the judgment and must be only against the goods of the deceased, unless the defendant has made himself personally liable by his false pleading, in which case the judgment is de bonis testatoris si, et si non, de bonis propriis, and the fieri facias must conform to it.

Its Effects.
At common law, the writ bound the goods of the defendant or party against whom it was issued from the test day; by which must be understood that the writ bound the property against the party himself, and all claiming by assignment from, or by, representatives under him; so that a sale by the defendant of his goods to a bona fide purchaser did no protect them from a fieri facias tested before, but not issued or delivered to the sheriff till after the sale.
To remedy this manifest injustice, the statute of frauds was passed. The principles of this statute have been adopted in most of the states. The statue enacts "that no writ of fieri facias, or other writ of execution, shall bind the property of the goods of the party against whom such writ of execution is sued forth, but from the time that such writ shall be delivered to the sheriff, under-sheriff, or coroners to be executed; and for the better manifestation of the said time, the sheriffs, etc., their deputies or agents shall, upon the receipt of any such writ, (without fee for doing the same) endorse upon the back thereof the day of the month and year whereon he or they received the same."

The Manner Of Executing It.
The execution of the writ is made by levying upon the goods and chattels of the defendant, or party against whom it is issued; and, in general, seizing a part of the goods in the name of the whole on the premises, is a good seizure of the whole.
The sheriff cannot break the outer door of a house for the purpose of executing a fieri facias; nor can a window be broken for this purpose. He may however, enter the house if it be open and, being once lawfully entered, he may break open an inner door or chest to seize the goods of the defendant, even without any request to open them. Although the sheriff is authorized to enter the house of the party to search for goods, he cannot enter that of a stranger for that purpose without being guilty of a trespass, unless the defendant's goods are actually in the house. The sheriff may break the outer door of a barn or of a store disconnected with the dwelling-house and forming no part of the curtilage. The fi. fa. may be executed at any time before and on the return day, but not on Sunday where it is forbidden by statute.

From here

But, from the google search, I would wait to hear from legal counsel. I think that you can still restrict the fund pending legal's response.
Did you check your state law?

Yeah, I read this prior to my post and am still confused. I guess I am looking for the wording "bank accounts" although I understand this falls under property. I will ask the attorney for the bank to clarify this. If I am served by the sheriff does this mean I have to seize the accounts? What if it was the attorney for the plaintiff that just dropped off the copy of the writ to the bank? Does that make it null and void because it was not served by the sheriff? ARGGGGHH, Why can't legal documents just state, 'hold the money until xxx and if you don't hear back from us, cut the court a check!!'

I would just tell them that you won't do anything but restrict the funds until you hear from bank counsel.

like us banks do not have enough trouble to deal with... arrrghhh

Amen, now if I could charge legal fees.....hummmm another source of non interest income!!! Maybe I could make the operations center into a profit center!! (ha ha ha)

I see you're in Georgia; I just took a quick look at some GA info and it appears this is a writ that works like a levy or garnishment (for most of the rest of us!). I'd definitely hold the funds until you get instructions from your attorney.

my x owes me $14000 in child support i just put a lien against his house how do you start this writ of fieri facias against personal stuff? and how do you put a freeze on bank accounts or get money from bank accounts i have the name of banks and account#s??