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Distrain (Verb)

Levy a distress on.

Verbs of buying, selling, owning.

The landlord has the right to distrain on the tenant's goods for unpaid rent.
If the taxes are not paid by the deadline, the government may distrain on the individual's properties.
The court order allows the creditors to distrain on the company's assets.
As the debt remains unpaid, the court has decided to distrain on the debtor's personal belongings.
In some cases, authorities can distrain on one's income to cover outstanding fines.

Confiscate by distress.

Verbs of buying, selling, owning.

The authorities had the right to distrain the tenant's goods for non-payment of rent.
To settle the debt, the bailiffs were instructed to distrain the goods from the defaulter's premises.
The exacting landlord would often distrain his tenants' livestock if they failed to pay on time.
A sheriff's officer may distrain a tenant's property for non-compliance with the terms of the lease.
In medieval times, a lord's steward might distrain the goods of any vassal who refused to provide the required services.

Legally take something in place of a debt payment.

Verbs of buying, selling, owning.

The landlord's lawyer advised him to distrain the tenant's goods to recover the rent arrears.
In an attempt to recover the debt, the creditor obtained a court order to distrain the debtor's property.
The bailiff was authorized to distrain the assets of the company that had failed to pay its taxes.
To settle the outstanding invoice, the supplier sent a distraint notice to the customer.
Due to non-payment of the loan, the bank decided to distrain the borrower's expensive car.