1. An action seeking return of personal property wrongfully taken or held by the defendant. Rules on replevin actions vary by jurisdiction. See State Civil Procedure Rules; Rule 64 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Creditors use replevin actions to recover collateral when debtors default on secured loans. For example, a bank might file a replevin action against a borrower to repossess the borrower's car after he missed too many payments. See Debtor and Creditor Law.
2. A writ authorizing the retaking of property by its rightful owner (i.e., the remedy sought by replevin actions). Replevin may be ordered as a final judgment, or in some jurisdictions, as a provisional remedy.