Title 31 › Subtitle SUBTITLE III— FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT › Chapter 35— ACCOUNTING AND COLLECTION › Subchapter IV— COLLECTION › § 3542
A marshal must take and sell an official’s personal property under a distress warrant. The marshal must give 10 days’ notice by posting in at least two public places in the town and county where the property was taken or where the owner lives. If the sale does not cover the amount due, the official may be jailed until the law releases them. The amount due becomes a lien on the official’s real property from the warrant date and is recorded in district court until the law removes it. If personal property isn’t enough, the marshal may sell real property after advertising for at least 3 weeks in 3 public places; buyers get clear title, and any remaining money after paying the debt and sale costs goes to the official.
Full Legal Text
Money and Finance — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
31 U.S.C. § 3542
Title 31 — Money and Finance
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60