ExecutionWrit of Execution and Notice of Levy

Section § 699.510

Explanation

This law explains the process for issuing a writ of execution after a money judgment, which allows the creditor to collect what's owed. Once the court decides someone must pay money (a money judgment), the court clerk can issue a writ of execution to help collect it. Priority is given to support orders like child or spousal support. Each county where property might be taken needs its own writ, and there's a wait period of 180 days between writs for the same county unless returned early. When dealing with family-related judgments, the creditor must follow extra rules from the Family Code. The writ names the debtor, unless their debt is resolved through bankruptcy or satisfaction of judgment. If additional debtor names are included, a court-approved affidavit of identity is required. If someone other than the debtor holds the property, they must wait for a notice before surrendering it. If someone's assets are incorrectly targeted due to mistaken identity, they can claim attorney fees and costs to free their property, plus any extra legal penalties they qualify for.

(a)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(a) Subject to subdivision (b), after entry of a money judgment, a writ of execution shall be issued by the clerk of the court, upon application of the judgment creditor, and shall be directed to the levying officer in the county where the levy is to be made and to any registered process server. The clerk of the court shall give priority to the application for, and issuance of, writs of execution on orders or judgments for child support and spousal support. A separate writ shall be issued for each county where a levy is to be made. Writs may be issued successively until the money judgment is satisfied, except that a new writ may not be issued for a county until the expiration of 180 days after the issuance of a prior writ for that county unless the prior writ is first returned.
(b)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(b) If the judgment creditor seeks a writ of execution to enforce a judgment made, entered, or enforceable pursuant to the Family Code, in addition to the requirements of this article, the judgment creditor shall satisfy the requirements of any applicable provisions of the Family Code.
(c)Copy CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(c)
(1)Copy CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(c)(1) The writ of execution shall be issued in the name of the judgment debtor as listed on the judgment, except that the judgment creditor shall omit the name of a judgment debtor from the application for a writ of execution if the liability of that judgment debtor has ceased with regard to the judgment, including either of the following occurrences:
(A)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(c)(1)(A) The judgment debtor has obtained a discharge of the judgment pursuant to Title 11 of the United States Code and notice thereof has been filed with the court.
(B)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(c)(1)(B) The judgment creditor files an acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment with regard to the judgment debtor pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 724.010) of Division 5.
(2)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(c)(2) The writ of execution shall include the additional name or names, and the type of legal entity, by which the judgment debtor is known, as set forth in the affidavit of identity, as defined in Section 680.135, filed by the judgment creditor with the application for issuance of the writ of execution. Prior to the clerk of the court issuing a writ of execution containing any additional name or names by which the judgment debtor is known that are not listed on the judgment, the court shall approve the affidavit of identity. If the court determines, without a hearing or a notice, that the affidavit of identity states sufficient facts upon which the judgment creditor has identified the additional names of the judgment debtor, the court shall authorize the issuance of the writ of execution with the additional name or names.
(d)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(d) In any case where the writ of execution lists any name other than that listed on the judgment, the person in possession or control of the levied property, if other than the judgment debtor, shall not pay to the levying officer the amount or deliver the property being levied upon until being notified to do so by the levying officer. The levying officer may not require the person, if other than the judgment debtor, in possession or control of the levied property to pay the amount or deliver the property levied upon until the expiration of 15 days after service of notice of levy.
(e)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.510(e) If a person who is not the judgment debtor has property erroneously subject to an enforcement of judgment proceeding based upon an affidavit of identity, the person shall be entitled to the recovery of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs from the judgment creditor incurred in releasing the person’s property from a writ of execution, in addition to any other damages or penalties to which an aggrieved person may be entitled to by law, including Division 4 (commencing with Section 720.010).
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Section § 699.520

Explanation

This law explains what a writ of execution must include for the levying officer to enforce a money judgment. It should detail the judgment's court information, the type of debt (like wages or support payments), names and addresses of the creditor and debtor, judgment dates, the total and satisfiable amounts owed, interest details, any requested sale notices, extra fees, additional debtor names, and whether the case is limited or not.

The writ of execution shall require the levying officer to whom it is directed to enforce the money judgment and shall include the following information:
(a)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(a) The date of issuance of the writ.
(b)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(b) The title of the court in which the judgment is entered and the cause and number of the action.
(c)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(c) Whether the judgment is for wages owed, child support, or spousal support. This subdivision shall become operative on September 1, 2020.
(d)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(d) The name and address of the judgment creditor and the name and last known address of the judgment debtor. If the judgment debtor is other than a natural person, the type of legal entity shall be stated.
(e)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(e) The date of the entry of the judgment and of any subsequent renewals and where entered in the records of the court.
(f)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(f) The total amount of the money judgment as entered or renewed, together with costs thereafter added to the judgment pursuant to Section 685.090 and the accrued interest on the judgment from the date of entry or renewal of the judgment to the date of issuance of the writ, reduced by any partial satisfactions and by any amounts no longer enforceable.
(g)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(g) The amount required to satisfy the money judgment on the date the writ is issued.
(h)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(h) The amount of interest accruing daily on the principal amount of the judgment from the date the writ is issued.
(i)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(i) Whether any person has requested notice of sale under the judgment and, if so, the name and mailing address of that person.
(j)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(j) The sum of the fees and costs added to the judgment pursuant to Section 6103.5 or Article 6 (commencing with Section 68630) of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Government Code, and which is in addition to the amount owing to the judgment creditor on the judgment.
(k)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(k) Whether the writ of execution includes any additional names of the judgment debtor pursuant to an affidavit of identity, as defined in Section 680.135.
(l)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.520(l) A statement indicating whether the case is limited or unlimited.
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Section § 699.530

Explanation

This law explains the process for executing a writ of execution, which is a court order to enforce a judgment. Once the writ is given to the officer in charge, along with instructions from the person who is owed money (the creditor), the officer must follow the legal steps to carry it out. However, the officer has a time limit of 180 days from when the writ is issued to seize any property under that order.

(a)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.530(a) Upon delivery of the writ of execution to the levying officer to whom the writ is directed, together with the written instructions of the judgment creditor, the levying officer shall execute the writ in the manner prescribed by law.
(b)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.530(b) The levying officer may not levy upon any property under the writ after the expiration of 180 days from the date the writ was issued.
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Section § 699.540

Explanation

This law explains the requirements for a notice of levy, which is a document informing someone that their property is being used to satisfy a debt. The notice must include details such as how the person is involved, what property is affected, and their rights and duties regarding the levy. It also has to list any names on the relevant legal documents. People notified have rights to claim certain exemptions and make third-party claims.

The notice of levy required by Article 4 (commencing with Section 700.010) shall inform the person notified of all of the following:
(a)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(a) The capacity in which the person is notified.
(b)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(b) The property that is levied upon.
(c)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(c) The person’s rights under the levy, including all of the following:
(1)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(c)(1) The right to claim an exemption pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 703.010).
(2)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(c)(2) The right to make a third-party claim pursuant to Division 4 (commencing with Section 720.010).
(3)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(c)(3) The right to, and the limitations of, the automatic exemption pursuant to Section 704.220. This paragraph shall become operative on September 1, 2020.
(d)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(d) The person’s duties under the levy.
(e)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.540(e) All names listed in the writ of execution pursuant to an affidavit of identity, as defined in Section 680.135, if any.
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Section § 699.545

Explanation

This law states that if a notice of levy (a legal command to seize property) and an affidavit of identity (a document confirming someone's identity) is served to a third party holding someone else's property, then just a copy of that notice and affidavit is needed to inform the person who owes the money or any other relevant person about the levy.

A copy of the original notice of levy which has been served upon a third party holding the property sought to be levied upon and the affidavit of identity, as defined in Section 680.135, if any, if served upon the judgment debtor or any other party, shall suffice as the notice of levy to that person.
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Section § 699.550

Explanation

This law states that if property is seized to satisfy a debt and the required documents like the writ of execution and notice of levy are not posted, served, or mailed to the debtor, it won't invalidate the legal claim on the property. Additionally, not sending a list of exemptions to the debtor also doesn't impact the claim.

In any case where property has been levied upon and, pursuant to a levy, a copy of the writ of execution and a notice of levy are required by statute to be posted or to be served on or mailed to the judgment debtor or other person, failure to post, serve, or mail the copy of the writ and the notice does not affect the execution lien created by the levy. Failure to serve on or mail to the judgment debtor a list of exemptions does not affect the execution lien created by the levy.
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Section § 699.560

Explanation

This law explains when a writ of execution, which is a court order allowing the collection of a debt, must be returned to the court by the officer carrying it out. Generally, the writ must be returned after two years, once duties are finished, if the creditor requests it in writing, if no action occurs within 180 days, or when the time for collecting the debt ends. There are exceptions based on specific circumstances like dealing with an estate, pension, or wage garnishment. In these cases, the timing is determined by other laws. The officer can also file the return electronically.

(a)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the writ expires and the levying officer to whom the writ of execution is delivered shall return the writ to the court, or store the writ as provided in Section 263.6, and file a return with the court reporting the levying officer’s actions and an accounting of amounts collected, and costs incurred, at the earliest of the following times:
(1)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a)(1) Two years from the date of issuance of the writ, unless paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 706.022 is applicable.
(2)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a)(2) Promptly after all of the duties under the writ are performed.
(3)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a)(3) When return is requested in writing by the judgment creditor.
(4)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a)(4) If no levy takes place under the writ within 180 days after its issuance, promptly after the expiration of the 180-day period.
(5)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(a)(5) Upon expiration of the time for enforcement of the money judgment.
(b)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(b) If a levy has been made under Section 700.200 upon an interest in personal property in the estate of a decedent, the writ shall be returned within the time prescribed in Section 700.200.
(c)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(c) If a levy has been made under Section 5103 of the Family Code on the judgment debtor’s right to the payment of benefits from an employee pension benefit plan, the writ shall be returned within the time prescribed in that section.
(d)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(d) If a levy has been made under the Wage Garnishment Law (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 706.010)), and the earnings withholding order remains in effect, the writ of execution shall be returned as provided in subdivision (a) and a supplemental return shall be made as provided in Section 706.033.
(e)CA Civil Procedure Code § 699.560(e) Subject to the limitations in subdivision (c) of Section 263, a levying officer may electronically file with the court the return, containing the information required by subdivision (a), pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 263) of Title 4 of Part 1.
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