ARTICLE 3. Creditor’s Suit [708.210. - 708.290.]

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP 3.

in effect

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.210. Section 708.210.

If a third person has possession or control of property in which the judgment debtor has an interest or is indebted to the judgment debtor, the judgment creditor may bring an action against the third person to have the interest or debt applied to the satisfaction of the money judgment.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.220. Section 708.220.

The judgment debtor shall be joined in an action brought pursuant to this article but is not an indispensable party. The residence of the judgment debtor may not be considered in the determination of proper venue unless otherwise provided by contract between the judgment debtor and the third person.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.230. Section 708.230.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), an action shall be commenced pursuant to this article before the expiration of the later of the following times: (1) The time when the judgment debtor may bring an action against the third person concerning the property or debt. (2) One year after creation of a lien on the property or debt pursuant to this title if the lien is created at the time when the judgment debtor may bring an action against the third person concerning the property or debt. (b) An action may not be commenced pursuant to this article after the period for enforcement of the money judgment has expired. (c) Notwithstanding Section 683.020, if an action is commenced pursuant to this article within the time permitted in this section, the action may be prosecuted to judgment.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.240. Section 708.240.

The judgment creditor may apply to the court in which an action under this article is pending for either or both of the following: (a) An order restraining the third person from transferring to the judgment debtor the property in which the judgment debtor is claimed to have an interest or from paying to the judgment debtor the alleged debt. The order shall be made on noticed motion if the court so directs or a court rule so requires. Otherwise, the order may be made on ex parte application. The order shall remain in effect until judgment is entered in the action or until such earlier time as the court may provide in the order. An undertaking may be required in the discretion of the court. The court may modify or vacate the order at any time with or without a hearing on such terms as are just. (b) A temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction or both, restraining the third person from transferring to any person or otherwise disposing of the property in which the judgment debtor is claimed to have an interest, pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7, and the court may make, dissolve, and modify such orders as provided therein.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.250. Section 708.250.

Service of summons on the third person creates a lien on the interest of the judgment debtor in the property or on the debt owed to the judgment debtor that is the subject of an action under this article.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.260. Section 708.260.

(a) In an action brought pursuant to this article, the judgment debtor may claim that all or any portion of the property or debt is exempt from enforcement of a money judgment. The claim shall be made by application to the court on noticed motion, filed with the court and served on the judgment creditor not later than 30 days before the date set for trial. Service shall be made personally or by mail. The judgment debtor shall execute an affidavit in support of the application that includes all of the matters set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 703.520. No notice of opposition to the claim of exemption is required. If the judgment debtor has not been named as a party to the action, the judgment debtor may obtain an order under Section 389 that the judgment debtor be made a party. Except as provided in subdivision (b), failure of the judgment debtor to make a claim of exemption is a waiver of the exemption. (b) Failure of the judgment debtor to make a claim of exemption in an action brought pursuant to this article is not a waiver of the exemption if both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The judgment debtor has not been served with process in the action that contains a description of the property or debt reasonably adequate to permit it to be identified. (2) The judgment debtor does not have actual notice of the pendency of the action and the identity of the property or the nature of the debt in issue.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.270. Section 708.270.

There is no right to a jury trial in an action under this article.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.280. Section 708.280.

(a) The court shall determine any exemption claim made in the action. If the judgment debtor establishes to the satisfaction of the court that the property or debt is exempt from enforcement of a money judgment, the court shall so adjudge and may not make the orders referred to in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d). (b) If the judgment creditor establishes that the third person has property in which the judgment debtor has an interest or is indebted to the judgment debtor, the court shall render judgment accordingly. The property or debt may be applied to the satisfaction of the judgment creditor’s judgment against the judgment debtor as ordered by the court. (c) If the court determines that the third person has property in which the judgment debtor has an interest, the court may order the third person not to transfer the property until it can be levied upon or otherwise applied to the satisfaction of the judgment. (d) If the court determines that the third person has transferred property that was subject to a lien in favor of the judgment creditor or, contrary to court order of which the third person has notice, has paid the debt to the judgment debtor or has transferred the property, the court shall render judgment against the third person in an amount equal to the lesser of the following: (1) The value of the judgment debtor’s interest in the property or the amount of the debt. (2) The amount of the judgment creditor’s judgment against the judgment debtor remaining unsatisfied.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 708.290. Section 708.290.

Costs incurred by or taxed against the judgment creditor in an action under this article may not be recovered from the judgment debtor as a cost of enforcing the judgment.

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