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Title 9: Enforcement of Judgments | Division 1: Definitions and General Provisions | Chapter 1: Short Title and Definitions

California Code of Civil Procedure – 2026

Back to Part Part 2: Of Civil Actions ← Previous Part 2: Of Civil Actions | Title 8.5: Uniform Foreign-money Claims Act Next → Part 2: Of Civil Actions | Title 9: Enforcement of Judgments | Division 1: Definitions and General Provisions | Chapter 2: General Provisions

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Title 1: Of the Form of Civil Actions Chapter 1: The Time of Commencing Actions in General Chapter 2: The Time of Commencing Actions for the Recovery of Real Property Chapter 3: The Time of Commencing Actions Other Than for the Recovery of Real Property Chapter 4: General Provisions as to the Time of Commencing Actions Chapter 5: The Commencement of Actions Based Upon Professional Negligence Chapter 6: Time of Commencement of Action After Person’s Death Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: Married Person Chapter 3: Disability of Party Article 1: Definitions Article 2: Survival and Continuation Article 3: Decedent’s Cause of Action Article 4: Cause of Action Against Decedent Article 5: Insured Claims Article 6: Wrongful Death Chapter 5: Permissive Joinder Chapter 6: Interpleader Chapter 7: Intervention Chapter 8: Compulsory Joinder Title 3A: Vexatious Litigants Chapter 1: Place of Trial Chapter 2: Reclassification of Civil Actions and Proceedings Chapter 3: Coordination Chapter 1: Definitions and General Provisions Chapter 2: Recordation Service and Filing Chapter 3: Expungement and Other Relief Chapter 4: Withdrawal Chapter 5: Effect of Withdrawal or Expungement of Notice Article 1: Jurisdiction Article 2: Forum Article 3: Jurisdiction in Action Chapter 2: Commencing Civil Actions Chapter 3: Summons Article 1: General Article 2: Persons Who May Serve Summons Article 3: Manner of Service of Summons Article 4: Persons Upon Whom Summons May Be Served Article 5: Proof of Service Chapter 5: Objection to Jurisdiction Chapter 1: The Pleadings in General Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Compulsory Cross-Complaints Article 3: Permissive Joinder of Causes of Action Article 4: Cross-Complaints Article 5: Contents of Documents in Particular Actions or Proceedings Article 1: Objections to Pleadings Article 2: Denials and Defenses Article 3: Time to Respond to Cross-Complaint Chapter 4: Motion to Strike Chapter 5: Summary Judgments and Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings [437c - 439] Chapter 6: Verification of Pleadings Chapter 7: General Rules of Pleading Chapter 8: Variance—Mistakes in Pleadings and Amendments Chapter 1: Words and Phrases Defined Chapter 2: General Provisions Chapter 3: Actions in Which Attachment Authorized Article 1: Right to Attach Order; Issuance of Writ of Attachment Article 2: Noticed Hearing Procedure for Obtaining Additional Writs Article 3: Ex Parte Procedure for Obtaining Additional Writs Article 1: Great or Irreparable Injury Requirement Article 2: Order Determining Right to Attach; Issuance of Writ of Attachment Article 3: Procedure for Obtaining Additional Writs Article 4: Claim of Exemption Chapter 6: Temporary Protective Order Chapter 7: Property Subject to Attachment Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Methods of Levy Article 3: Lien of Attachment Article 4: Duties and Liabilities of Third Persons After Levy Article 5: Management and Disposition of Attached Property Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Undertakings to Obtain Writ of Attachment or Protective Order Article 3: Undertaking to Obtain Release of Attachment or Protective Order Article 4: Undertaking on Appeal Chapter 10: Liability for Wrongful Attachment Article 1: Examination of Third Person Article 2: Creditor’s Suit Article 3: Lien in Pending Action or Proceeding Chapter 12: Nonresident Attachment Chapter 13: Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings and General Assignments for the Benefit of Creditors Chapter 1: General Provisions Article 1: Words and Phrases Defined Article 2: Writ of Possession Article 3: Temporary Restraining Order Article 4: Levy and Custody Article 5: Undertakings Article 6: Miscellaneous Provisions Chapter 3: Injunction Chapter 5: Receivers Chapter 5A: Undertaking of Persons Handling Private Property or Funds Chapter 6: Deposit in Court Title 7a: Pretrial Conferences Chapter 1: Judgment in General Article 1: Definitions and General Provisions Article 2: Mandatory Time for Service of Summons Article 3: Mandatory Time for Bringing Action to Trial or New Trial Article 4: Discretionary Dismissal for Delay Chapter 2: Judgment Upon Failure to Answer Chapter 3: Issues—The Mode of Trial and Postponements Article 2: Conduct of the Trial Article 3: The Verdict Chapter 4.5: Voluntary Expedited Jury Trials Chapter 4.6: Mandatory Expedited Jury Trials in Limited Civil Cases Chapter 5: Trial by the Court Chapter 6: Of References and Trials by Referees Article 1: Exceptions Article 1.5: View by Trier of Fact Article 2: New Trials Chapter 8: The Manner of Giving and Entering Judgment Title 8.5: Uniform Foreign-money Claims Act Chapter 1: Short Title and Definitions Chapter 2: General Provisions Article 1: Period for Enforcement of Judgments Article 2: Renewal of Judgments Article 3: Application of Chapter Article 1: Service on Attorney of Creditor or Debtor Article 2: Manner of Service Generally Article 3: Proof of Service Article 4: Application of Chapter Chapter 5: Interest and Costs Chapter 6: Enforcement After Death of Judgment Creditor or Judgment Debtor Chapter 7: Levying Officers Article 1: Enforcement Pursuant to Warrant or Notice of Levy Article 2: Enforcement of Judgment for Taxes Chapter 9: Enforcement of Support Judgments Chapter 10: Enforcement of Judgments by Labor Commissioner Chapter 20: Transitional Provisions Article 1: Property Subject to Enforcement of Money Judgment Article 2: Amount to Satisfy Money Judgment Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Judgment Lien on Real Property Article 3: Judgment Lien on Personal Property Article 4: Execution Lien Article 5: Other Liens Created by Enforcement Process Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Writ of Execution and Notice of Levy Article 3: Property Subject to Execution Article 4: Methods of Levy Article 5: Duties and Liabilities of Third Persons After Levy Article 6: Sale and Collection Article 7: Distribution of Proceeds of Sale or Collection Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Procedure for Claiming Exemptions After Levy Article 3: Exempt Property Article 4: Homestead Exemption Article 5: Declared Homesteads Article 1: Short Title; Definitions Article 2: General Provisions Article 3: Restrictions on Earnings Withholding Article 4: Earnings Withholding Order for Taxes Article 5: Procedure for Earnings Withholding Orders and Exemption Claims Article 6: Forms; Employer’s Instructions Article 7: Administration and Enforcement Article 1: Written Interrogatories to Judgment Debtor Article 2: Examination Proceedings Article 3: Creditor’s Suit Article 4: Charging Orders Article 5: Lien in Pending Action or Proceeding Article 6: Assignment Order Article 7: Receiver to Enforce Judgment Article 8: Collection of Judgment Where Judgment Debtor Is Creditor of Public Entity Article 9: Enforcement Against Franchise Article 10: Other Enforcement Procedures Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: Judgment for Possession of Personal Property Chapter 3: Judgment for Possession of Real Property Chapter 4: Judgment for Sale of Property Chapter 5: Other Judgments Chapter 1: Definitions Chapter 2: Third-Party Claims of Ownership and Possession Chapter 3: Third-Party Claim of Security Interest or Lien Chapter 4: Hearing on Third-Party Claim Chapter 5: Creditor’s Demand for Third-Party Claim by Secured Party or Lienholder Chapter 6: Third-Party Undertaking to Release Property Chapter 7: Undertakings Chapter 1: Satisfaction of Judgment Chapter 2: Acknowledgment of Partial Satisfaction of Judgment Chapter 3: Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Matured Installments Under Installment Judgment Chapter 1: Actions for the Foreclosure of Mortgages [725a - 730.5] Chapter 2: Actions for Nuisance, Waste,and Willful Trespass, in Certain Cases,on Real Property Chapter 3: Actions for the Recovery of Real Property, and Other Provisions Relating to Actions Concerning Real Property Chapter 3.5: Actions to Re-establish Destroyed Land Records Chapter 3.6: Cullen Earthquake Act Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Commencement of Action Article 3: Defendants Article 4: Service of Process Article 5: Judgment Article 6: Liens and Encumbrances Article 1: Identity of Person in Chain of Title Article 2: Land Dedicated for Public Improvement Article 3: Right of Entry or Occupation of Surface Lands Under Oil or Gas Lease Chapter 4.6: Actions Concerning Real Property Titles Affected by Public Improvement Assessments Chapter 5: Actions for the Usurpation of an Office or Franchise Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Scope of Action Article 3: Notice and Service of Complaint Article 4: Intervention Article 5: Judge Article 6: Electronic Service Article 7: Case Management Article 8: Basin Boundaries Article 9: Initial Disclosures Article 10: Expert Witnesses Article 11: Written Testimony Article 12: Special Master Article 13: Preliminary Injunction Article 14: Stay Article 15: Physical Solution Article 16: Judgment Article 17: Judgment Binding on Successors Article 18: Continuing Jurisdiction Chapter 8: Actions Against Coowners of Mines Chapter 9: Validating Proceedings Chapter 10: Good Faith Improver of Property Owned by Another Chapter 11: Actions to Recover COVID-19 Rental Debt Chapter 12: Actions for Restitution for or Replacement of Certain Motor Vehicles Article 1: Preliminary Provisions Article 2: Powers of Court Article 1: Complaint and Lis Pendens Article 2: Summons Article 3: Answer Article 4: Parties Article 1: Determination of Interests of Parties Article 2: Determination of Right to Partition Article 3: Determination of Manner of Partition Article 1: General Provisions Article 2: Contracts of Referee Chapter 5: Division of the Property Article 1: Manner of Sale Article 2: Sales Procedures Article 3: Consummation of Sale Article 4: Disposition of Proceeds of Sale Chapter 7: Partition by Appraisal Article 1: Allowance and Apportionment of Costs of Partition Article 2: Payment of Costs of Partition Chapter 9: Judgment Chapter 10: Partition of Real Property Act Chapter 1: Releases From and Contribution Among Joint Tortfeasors Chapter 2: Contribution Among Other Judgment Debtors Chapter 1: Appeals in General Chapter 2: Stay of Enforcement and Other Proceedings Chapter 1: Proceedings Against Joint Debtors Article 1: Preliminary Provisions and Definitions Article 2: General Provisions Article 3: Execution and Filing Article 4: Approval and Effect Article 5: Personal Sureties Article 6: Admitted Surety Insurers Article 7: Deposit in Lieu of Bond Article 8: Bonds to the State of California Article 9: Objections to Bonds Article 10: Insufficient and Excessive Bonds Article 11: Release or Substitution of Sureties on Bond Given in Action or Proceeding Article 12: New, Additional, and Supplemental Bonds Article 13: Cancellation of Bond or Withdrawal of Sureties Article 14: Liability of Principal and Sureties Article 15: Enforcement Lien Chapter 3: Offers by a Party to Compromise Chapter 3.2: Time-Limited Demands Chapter 3.5: Confidential Settlement Agreements Chapter 3.6: Agreements Settling Employment Disputes Chapter 3.7: Enrollment Agreements Chapter 4: Motions and Orders Chapter 5: Notices, and Filing and Service of Papers Chapter 6: Of Costs Chapter 7: General Provisions Chapter 8: Declaratory Relief Chapter 9: Actions to Enforce Real Property and Mobilehome Sales Agreements Chapter 10: Computer Assistance Chapter 11: Foster Family Agency Accountability
§ 680.010 This title shall be known and may be cited as the Enforcement of Judgments Law. § 680.110 Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this title. § 680.120 “Account debtor” means “account debtor” as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.130 “Account receivable” means “account” as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.135 “Affidavit of Identity” means an affidavit or declaration executed by a judgment creditor, under penalty of perjury, that is filed with the clerk of t… § 680.140 “Chattel paper” means “chattel paper” as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.145 “Child support” includes family support. § 680.150 “Costs” means costs and disbursements, including but not limited to statutory fees, charges, commissions, and expenses. § 680.160 “Court” means the court where the judgment sought to be enforced was entered. § 680.170 “Deposit account” means “deposit account” as defined in paragraph (29) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.180 “Document of title” means “document” as defined in paragraph (30) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.190 “Equity” means the fair market value of the interest of the judgment debtor in property, or in the case of community property the fair market value of… § 680.200 “Financial institution” means a state or national bank, state or federal savings and loan association or credit union, or like organization, and inclu… § 680.210 “General intangibles” means “general intangibles,” as defined in paragraph (42) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code, consisting … § 680.220 “Instrument” means “instrument”, as defined in paragraph (47) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.230 “Judgment” means a judgment, order, or decree entered in a court of this state. § 680.240 “Judgment creditor” means the person in whose favor a judgment is rendered or, if there is an assignee of record, means the assignee of record. § 680.250 “Judgment debtor” means the person against whom a judgment is rendered. § 680.260 “Levying officer” means the sheriff or marshal. § 680.270 “Money judgment” means that part of a judgment that requires the payment of money. § 680.280 “Person” includes a natural person, a corporation, a partnership or other unincorporated association, a general partner of a partnership, a limited li… § 680.290 “Personal property” includes both tangible and intangible personal property. § 680.300 “Principal amount of the judgment” means the total amount of the judgment as entered or as last renewed, together with the costs thereafter added to t… § 680.310 “Property” includes real and personal property and any interest therein. § 680.320 “Real property” includes any right in real property, including but not limited to a leasehold interest in real property. § 680.330 “Registered process server” means a person registered as a process server pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 22350) of Division 8 of the … § 680.340 “Secured party” means “secured party” as defined in paragraph (73) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.345 “Security” means a “security” as defined in Section 8102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.350 “Security agreement” means “security agreement” as defined in paragraph (74) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. § 680.360 “Security interest” means “security interest” as defined in Section 1201 of the Commercial Code. § 680.365 “Spousal support” includes support for a former spouse. § 680.370 “Tangible personal property” includes chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, securities, and money. § 680.380 “Writ” includes a writ of execution, a writ of possession of personal property, a writ of possession of real property, and a writ of sale.