§ 12-1642 — Determination of issue between principal and surety; finding for surety and order of levy

A. When an action is brought against two or more defendants upon a contract, and one or more of the defendants are surety for the others, the surety may cause the issue of suretyship between the defendants to be tried and determined at any time before the trial, but such proceedings shall not delay the action of the plaintiff.

B. If the issue is determined in favor of the surety, the court shall order the sheriff to levy the execution first upon the property of the principal which is subject to execution and situate in the county in which the judgment was rendered before a levy is made upon the property of the surety, if enough property of the principal is found as in the opinion of the sheriff or constable is sufficient to make the amount of the execution, otherwise the levy shall be made on so much property of the principal as is found, if any, and upon so much of the property of the surety as is necessary to make the amount of the execution. The clerk shall make a memorandum of such order on the execution.