ARTICLE 15. Enforcement Lien [996.510. - 996.560.]

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP 15.

in effect

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.510. Section 996.510.

This article applies to proceedings for the benefit of the state to enforce the liability on a bond executed to, in favor of, or payable to the state or the people of the state, including but not limited to an official bond.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.520. Section 996.520.

The person enforcing the liability may file with the court in the proceedings an affidavit stating the following: (a) The bond was executed by the defendant or one or more of the defendants (designating whom). (b) The bond is one to which this article applies. (c) The defendant or defendants have real property or an interest in real property (designating the county or counties in which the real property is situated). (d) The liability is being enforced for the benefit of the state.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.530. Section 996.530.

The clerk receiving the affidavit shall certify to the recorder of the county in which the real property is situated all of the following: (a) The names of the parties. (b) The court in which the proceedings are pending. (c) The amount claimed. (d) The date of commencement of the proceedings.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.540. Section 996.540.

(a) Upon receiving the certificate the county recorder shall endorse upon it the time of its receipt. (b) The certificate shall be filed and recorded in the same manner as notice of the pendency of an action affecting real property.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.550. Section 996.550.

(a) Any judgment recovered is a lien upon all real property belonging to the defendant situated in any county in which the certificate is filed, from the filing of the certificate. (b) The lien is for the amount for which the owner of the real property is liable upon the judgment.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 996.560. Section 996.560.

If an agreement to sell real property affected by the lien created by the filing of a certificate was made before the filing of the certificate and the purchase price under the agreement was not due until after the filing of the certificate, and the purchaser is otherwise entitled to specific performance of the agreement: (a) The court in an action to compel specific performance of the agreement shall order the purchaser to pay the purchase price, or so much of the purchase price as may be due, to the State Treasurer, and to take the State Treasurer’s receipt for payment. (b) Upon payment, the purchaser is entitled to enforcement of specific performance of the agreement. The purchaser takes the real property free from the lien created by the filing of the certificate. (c) The State Treasurer shall hold the payment pending the proceedings referred to in the certificate. The payment is subject to the lien created by the filing of the certificate.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026