In California, if someone owes you money based on a court judgment, almost any of their property can be taken and sold to pay off that debt. This is done through a legal process called a 'writ of execution', unless there's a specific law stating otherwise.

This law explains what types of property can't be taken to satisfy a debt through a process called execution, which is when the court goes after a debtor's property to pay off a creditor. Some examples of protected property include a transferable alcoholic beverage license, certain interests in businesses, legal claims that are still in progress, judgments that can still be appealed, debts owed by public entities (except wages), and life insurance policy loans. It also lists franchises from public entities, the interest of trust beneficiaries, and some future property interests that aren't yet guaranteed. However, the creditor can still seek other legal ways to claim money owed without using execution.

If you owe money primarily for personal or household expenses (consumer debt), and your main home wasn't used as security for that debt when you borrowed it, the home can't be sold to pay off the debt. However, this protection doesn't apply if the unpaid debt is for things like wages, taxes, child or spousal support, fines to the government, or if it's a large debt (over $75,000) owed to a financial institution, except for student loans.