Miscellaneous Creditors’ RemediesExamination Proceedings
Section § 708.110
If someone owes you money due to a court order and you want to enforce it, you can ask the court to make the person who owes you (the debtor) come and provide information on how they can pay. If you haven’t made them do this in the last 120 days, the court will grant your request easily. If you have, you need to prove there's a good reason for another examination. Once the court orders this, you have to personally give the debtor a copy of the order at least 30 days before the scheduled date. This order also puts a temporary hold on their property for a year. The order will state that if they don’t show up as instructed, they might get arrested, punished, or made to pay your legal fees.
Section § 708.111
This law outlines the procedures for dealing with judgments concerning consumer debt, specifically from January 1, 2025. "Consumer debt" refers to a person's obligation to pay for transactions primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, but doesn't include debts from fraud, torts, unpaid wages, or rental debts. If a judgment debtor is ordered to appear for an examination about consumer debt, they must be informed of their rights and may file a financial affidavit claiming exemptions. If this affidavit states that all income and assets are exempt, and is filed correctly, the court cancels the examination. Creditors can object, requiring a hearing to decide if the debtor must appear. The financial affidavit must include detailed financial information, and if the debtor fails to appear, no arrest warrant will be issued, but the court may compel attendance if necessary.
Section § 708.120
This California law section allows a person who is owed money (the judgment creditor) to ask a court to order someone else (a third person) who may have the debtor's property or owe them more than $250 to appear in court. The creditor must prove this to the court's satisfaction. If the court agrees, it issues an order for the third person to appear and answer questions. The debtor and third person must be notified at least 10 days before the hearing. If a third person is served with this order, it may create a claim or hold on any property or debt for one year. The debtor can claim some property or debt as exempt from being taken, but must do so before the hearing. The order warns the third person and debtor about consequences for not appearing and details what exemptions can be claimed. Additionally, whoever serves the court order must provide mileage fees to the third person as if they were a court witness.
If you claim that all or any portion of this property or debt is exempt from enforcement of the money judgment, you must file your exemption claim in writing with the court and personally serve a copy on the judgment creditor not later than three days before the date set for the examination. You must appear at the time and place set for this examination to establish your claim of exemption or your exemption may be waived.”
Section § 708.130
This section says that witnesses may be called to testify in a court examination just like they would in a trial. Also, certain confidentiality privileges that typically protect marital communications do not apply in this type of proceeding, meaning such information must be disclosed.
Section § 708.140
This law allows court examination proceedings to be handled by a court-appointed referee, who is a California Bar member. The referee can make or change certain orders, keep order, issue subpoenas, and adjourn proceedings. However, only the court can punish for contempt, award attorney fees, and decide on exemption or third-party claims. Previous referees from before July 1983 are exempt from needing to be a Bar member.
The court can still appoint temporary judges if needed, not limited by this law.
Section § 708.150
This law section explains what happens when a business or organization is ordered to appear for a financial examination. They need to choose someone who knows their assets and debts, like an officer or director, to attend. If the organization doesn't pick someone, certain people listed in the company's official filings, like the CFO or CEO, are expected to show up instead. The law also outlines how orders are served effectively and who should appear if no representatives are named. It clarifies that any official from the organization can attend the examination, even if they're not a lawyer, and states that the court can enforce these orders strictly without any changes through local rules.
Section § 708.160
This law is about where a person can be examined regarding a money judgment. Generally, the examination happens in the court where the judgment was made. However, a person doesn’t have to attend an examination in a court outside their county unless it's within 150 miles of their home or business. If they live elsewhere, the examination can occur in the county where they live or work. If the judgment creditor wants the examination in another court, they must apply and provide specific documents like an abstract of judgment, affidavits about the person's location, and pay a fee.
Section § 708.170
If someone is ordered by the court to show up for an examination about their finances, and they ignore the order, the court can issue a warrant to bring them in or even arrest them. If they miss the meeting without a good reason, they could also have to pay the creditor's legal fees, which will add to what they owe. Moreover, if someone deliberately messes up the delivery of the order causing someone's wrongful arrest, they might face criminal charges.
Section § 708.180
This law outlines what happens if someone else claims they have rights to property or a debt that a court thinks belongs to the person who lost a lawsuit. If the winning side asks, the court can decide if that's true. However, the court won't step in if the person making the claim is being genuine and it's better suited for another court or if there's already a case about it. While the court figures this out, it can temporarily stop the property or money from being transferred to the person who lost the lawsuit. If the court believes the losing party might own the property in question, they can also halt its transfer temporarily. The court can change these orders later if needed.
Section § 708.190
This law allows someone who believes they have a right to the property or money being discussed in a court proceeding to join in and have their claim evaluated. The court can decide what their rights are based on related rules.
Section § 708.200
This law says that during certain court proceedings, the court has the power to create protective orders if needed. This can happen either at the request of the person involved in the examination or initiated by the court itself to ensure fairness and justice.
Section § 708.205
This law explains that after a court proceeding, the court can order that the property or money owed to someone who owes a judgment (the judgment debtor) be used to pay off that debt unless the property can't be legally taken to do so. This creates a legal claim, called a lien, on the debtor's property or debt as a way to satisfy the judgment. However, if a third party claims they have rights to the property or denies that they owe the debtor money, the court generally won't apply that property or debt to the judgment unless another legal determination is made. In such cases, the court can issue an order to prevent transferring the property or making payments until the issue is settled.