Article 1 Words and Phrases Defined
Article 2 Writ of Possession
Article 3 Temporary Restraining Order
Article 4 Levy and Custody
Article 5 Undertakings
Article 6 Miscellaneous Provisions

Terms Used In California Codes > Code of Civil Procedure > Part 2 > Title 7 > Chapter 2 - Claim and Delivery of Personal Property

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Approved: as used in this article , means the approval of the legislative body of the local agency, as the result of investigation and tests conducted by such agency or by reason of the accepted principles or tests by recognized national or state authorities, technical, or scientific organizations. See California Government Code 50022.1
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • at-risk: means there is evidence of, or there are indications of, any of the following:

    California Penal Code 14215

  • Authorized agency activities: includes ministerial functions such as providing loan applications, assembling documents, providing a location for returning documents necessary for making a loan, providing loan account information, receiving payments, disbursing loan funds, evaluating loan applications, and other activities that the commissioner may specify by rule or order. See California Financial Code 18660
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • board: means any entity listed in Section 101, the entities referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600, the State Bar, the Department of Real Estate, and any other state agency that issues a license, certificate, or registration authorizing a person to engage in a business or profession. See California Business and Professions Code 31
  • Board: as used in this chapter means the board of supervisors in the case of a county or city and county, and city council or board of trustees in the case of a city. See California Government Code 50798.3
  • Bonds: as used in this chapter means the written evidence of any obligation incurred by the board payable out of revenues as provided in this chapter in order to secure funds with which to carry out the purposes of this chapter irrespective of the form of such obligation whether in the form of bonds, notes, debentures, interest bearing certificates or other forms prescribed by the board. See California Government Code 50798.1
  • bureau: means the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.4
  • candidate: includes any officeholder who is subject to a recall election. See California Elections Code 305
  • Capital: as used in this division , consists of all of the following:

    California Financial Code 18018

  • Capital Stock: as used in this division , means one-class voting common stock. See California Financial Code 18019
  • center: means the Violent Crime Information Center. See California Penal Code 14215
  • Charges: as used in this division , include the aggregate interest, fees, bonuses, commissions, brokerage, discounts, expenses, and other forms of costs charged, contracted for, or received by an industrial loan company or any other person in connection with the investigating, arranging, negotiating, procuring, guaranteeing, making, servicing, collecting, or enforcing of a loan, or for forbearance of money, credit, goods, things in action, or any other service or services rendered. See California Financial Code 18007
  • Charity: An agency, institution, or organization in existence and operating for the benefit of an indefinite number of persons and conducted for educational, religious, scientific, medical, or other beneficent purposes.
  • chief: means the Chief of the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.5
  • child: is a ny person under 18 years of age. See California Penal Code 14215
  • City: includes "city and county" and "incorporated town" but does not include "unincorporated town" or "village. See California Government Code 20
  • City: includes "city and county. See California Insurance Code 15
  • City: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 18
  • Code: as used in this article , means any statute, or any published compilation of rules, regulations or standards adopted by the federal government or the State of California, or by any agency of either of them. See California Government Code 50022.1
  • Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner of this State. See California Insurance Code 20
  • Commissioner: means any county agricultural commissioner. See California Food and Agricultural Code 26
  • Community health center facilities: as used in this article , means those licensed, nonprofit primary care clinics as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1204. See California Health and Safety Code 129355
  • company: as used in this division means a premium finance agency as defined in Section 18560. See California Financial Code 18003
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • County: includes city and county. See California Government Code 19
  • County: includes city and county. See California Health and Safety Code 14
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Insurance Code 14
  • County: includes city and county. See California Business and Professions Code 17
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • county: includes "city and county". See California Penal Code 7
  • County: includes "city and county. See California Public Resources Code 14
  • County: includes city and county. See California Financial Code 14
  • County: includes city and county. See California Food and Agricultural Code 29
  • Covered parking lot: means an area designated for the parking of vehicles that is enclosed or contains a roof or ceiling. See California Government Code 7596
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • department: means State Department of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 20
  • Department: means the Department of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 32
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • director: means the Director of Consumer Affairs, unless the context indicates otherwise. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.1
  • Director: means "State Director of Health Services. See California Health and Safety Code 21
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Domestic: means organized under the laws of this State, whether or not admitted. See California Insurance Code 26
  • Election: means any election including a primary that is provided for under this code. See California Elections Code 318
  • Elections official: means any of the following:

    California Elections Code 320

  • Elector: means a person who is a United States citizen 18 years of age or older and, except as specified in subdivision (b), is a resident of an election precinct in this state on or before the day of an election. See California Elections Code 321
  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • employee: means an individual who works for an employer, is listed on the employer's payroll records, and is under the employer's direction and control. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.9
  • employer: means a person who employs an individual for wages or salary, lists the individual on the employer's payroll records, and withholds all legally required deductions and contributions. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.8
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • escrow agent: as used in this division includes joint control agents and Internet escrow agents. See California Financial Code 17005.6
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Executive session: A portion of the Senate's daily session in which it considers executive business.
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: A government corporation that insures the deposits of all national and state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Source: OCC
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • firearm permit: includes "firearms permit" "firearms qualification card" "firearms qualification" and "firearms qualification permit. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.11
  • Forbearance: A means of handling a delinquent loan. A
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Foreign: means not organized under the laws of this State, whether or not admitted. See California Insurance Code 27
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • General election: means either of the following:

    California Elections Code 324

  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • Guarantor: A party who agrees to be responsible for the payment of another party's debts should that party default. Source: OCC
  • Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Inside a public building: includes all indoor areas of the building, except for covered parking lots and residential space. See California Government Code 7596
  • Insurance agent: means a person authorized, by and on behalf of an insurer, to transact all classes of insurance other than life, disability, or health insurance, on behalf of an admitted insurance company. See California Insurance Code 31
  • Insurance policy: as used in this article , means a commercial general liability policy of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to transact business in this state that provides minimum limits of insurance of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for any one loss or occurrence due to bodily injury, including death, or property damage, or both. See California Business and Professions Code 7583.40 v2
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
  • Legislative body: as used in this division , means board of supervisors in the case of a county or city and county, and city council or board of trustees in the case of a city, unless the context otherwise requires. See California Government Code 50002
  • legislative body: means board of trustees, city council, or other governing body of a city. See California Government Code 34000
  • Legislative body: means the legislative body of a local agency. See California Government Code 50230
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • license: means license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Section 1000 or 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.7
  • licensee: means a person licensed under this chapter and includes, but is not limited to, private patrol operator and armored contract carrier. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.6
  • Licensee: means any person authorized by a license, certificate, registration, or other means to engage in a business or profession regulated by this code or referred to in Sections 1000 and 3600. See California Business and Professions Code 23.8
  • Limited life preferred: as used in this division , means preferred stock which has a maturity or which may be redeemed at the option of the holder. See California Financial Code 18018.5
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Local agency: as used in this division means county, city, or city and county, unless the context otherwise requires. See California Government Code 50001
  • Local agency: means a city, a city and county, or a county. See California Government Code 50230
  • magistrate: signifies any one of the officers mentioned in Section 808. See California Penal Code 7
  • manager: means the individual under whose direction, control, charge, or management the business of a licensee is operated. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.7
  • Mandatory convertible debt: as used in this division , means a subordinated debt instrument which requires the issuer to convert that instrument into common or perpetual preferred stock by a date at or before the maturity of the debt instrument. See California Financial Code 18018.4
  • mayor: includes president of the legislative body. See California Government Code 34002
  • Measure: means any constitutional amendment or other proposition submitted to a popular vote at any election. See California Elections Code 329
  • Military or overseas voter: means an elector absent from the county in which he or she is otherwise eligible to vote who is any of the following:

    California Elections Code 300

  • missing person: includes , but is not limited to, any of the following:

    California Penal Code 14215

  • month: means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed. See California Penal Code 7
  • Monthly average escrow liability: as used in this chapter , means the average escrow liability for the 12-month period as reported in the most recent report made by the member to the commissioner pursuant to Section 17348. See California Financial Code 17305
  • Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
  • National Credit Union Administration: The federal regulatory agency that charters and supervises federal credit unions. (NCUA also administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which insures the deposits of federal credit unions.) Source: OCC
  • New resident: means a person who meets all requirements of an elector of the State of California except that his or her residency was established subsequent to the 15th day prior to the election. See California Elections Code 332
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See California Elections Code 335
  • Out-of-state emergency worker: means a voter who is officially engaged in responding to the proclamation of an out-of-state emergency and whose vocation has been identified in an executive order relating to the state of emergency. See California Elections Code 336.7
  • Outlays: Outlays are payments made (generally through the issuance of checks or disbursement of cash) to liquidate obligations. Outlays during a fiscal year may be for payment of obligations incurred in prior years or in the same year.
  • Outstanding loans and obligations: as used in this division , means total outstanding loans and obligations, including lease obligations, less unearned interest or charges, unearned discount, reserve or allowance for losses, and other applicable allowances or deductions as determined by regulation of the commissioner. See California Financial Code 18013
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Party: means a political party or organization that has qualified for participation in any primary or presidential general election. See California Elections Code 338
  • peace officer: signify any one of the officers mentioned in Chapter 4. See California Penal Code 7
  • peace officer: means a sheriff, undersheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, or deputy marshal of a county or city and county, or a marshal or police officer of a city or town, employed and compensated as such, whether the members are volunteer, partly paid, or fully paid, except those whose principal duties are clerical, such as stenographers, telephone operators, and other workers not engaged in law enforcement operations, or the protection or preservation of life or property, and not under suspension or otherwise lacking in good standing. See California Government Code 50920
  • Perpetual preferred stock: as used in this division , means a preferred stock that does not have a stated maturity date or that can not be redeemed at the option of the holder. See California Financial Code 18018.3
  • Person: includes any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation, or company. See California Government Code 17
  • person: includes any individual, firm, company, association, organization, partnership, and corporation. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.3
  • Person: means any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, limited liability company, or company. See California Health and Safety Code 19
  • Person: means any person, association, organization, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or corporation. See California Insurance Code 19
  • Person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
  • person: as used in this article in reference to a person liable to pay a charge includes districts formed for the purpose of constructing or maintaining sewers. See California Government Code 50142
  • Person: includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, limited liability company, syndicate, estate, trust, business trust, or organization of any kind. See California Financial Code 18
  • Person: means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, or any organized group of persons whether incorporated or not. See California Food and Agricultural Code 38
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Polling place: means a location where a voter casts a ballot and includes the following terms, as applicable: poll, polling location, and vote center. See California Elections Code 338.5
  • Precinct: means a geographical area within a county that is made up of voters and is formed pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12200) of Division 12. See California Elections Code 338.6
  • Primary capital: as used in this division , means the sum of common stock, perpetual preferred stock, capital surplus, undivided profits, capital reserves, and mandatory convertible debt (to the extent of 20 percent of primary capital exclusive of that debt). See California Financial Code 18018.1
  • Primary code: as used in this article , means any code which is directly adopted by reference, in whole or in part, by any ordinance passed pursuant to this article. See California Government Code 50022.1
  • Primary election: includes all primary nominating elections provided for by this code. See California Elections Code 341
  • Principal amount: as used in this division , means the net amount of money, credit, goods, or things in action received by the debtor or borrower or disbursed on the borrower's instructions at the time of entering into the transaction. See California Financial Code 18009
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Process: includes a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings of either a civil or criminal nature. See California Government Code 22
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See California Penal Code 7
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Public building: means a building owned and occupied, or leased and occupied, by the state, a county, a city, a city and county, or a California community college district. See California Government Code 7596
  • Public employee: means an employee of a state agency or an employee of a county or city. See California Government Code 7596
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Published: as used in this article , means issued in printed, lithographed, multigraphed, mimeographed or similar form. See California Government Code 50022.1
  • qualified manager: means the individual under whose direction, control, charge, or management the business of a licensee is operated, who has qualified pursuant to Section 7582. See California Business and Professions Code 7580.7 v2
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Recourse: An arrangement in which a bank retains, in form or in substance, any credit risk directly or indirectly associated with an asset it has sold (in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) that exceeds a pro rata share of the bank's claim on the asset. If a bank has no claim on an asset it has sold, then the retention of any credit risk is recourse. Source: FDIC
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Remote accessible vote by mail system: means a mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic system and its software that is used for the sole purpose of marking an electronic vote by mail ballot for a voter who shall print the paper cast vote record to be submitted to the elections official. See California Elections Code 303.3
  • Residential space: means a private living area, but it does not include common areas such as lobbies, lounges, waiting areas, elevators, stairwells, and restrooms that are a structural part of a multicomplex building such as a dormitory. See California Government Code 7596
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Revenue: as used in this chapter shall mean all fees, rates, charges, rentals or other income and revenue actually received or receivable by or for the account of the board from the operation of any particular project including without limiting the generality of the foregoing interest allowed on any moneys or securities and any proceeds derived from the sale of any securities and any consideration in any way derived from the particular project owned, operated or maintained by the board. See California Government Code 50798.2
  • School measure: means any proposition, including but not limited to, a proposal for the issuance of bonds by a school district or community college district, an increase in the maximum tax rate of a school district or community college district, or the acceptance, expenditure, and repayment of state funds by a school district or community college district to enable the district to construct buildings and other facilities, submitted to the voters of the district at any election held in the district. See California Elections Code 350
  • Secondary code: as used in this article , means any code which is incorporated by reference, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in any primary code or in any secondary code. See California Government Code 50022.1
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture. See California Food and Agricultural Code 35
  • Sell: includes offer for sale, expose for sale, possess for sale, exchange, barter, or trade. See California Food and Agricultural Code 44
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Sheriff: includes marshal. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Signature: includes either of the following:

    California Elections Code 354.5

  • Signature stamp: means a stamp that contains the impression of any of the following:

    California Elections Code 354.5

  • Software: includes all programs, voting devices, cards, ballot cards or papers, operating manuals or instructions, test procedures, printouts, and other nonmechanical or nonelectrical items necessary to the operation of a voting system. See California Elections Code 355
  • Sole ownership: The type of property ownership in which one individual holds legal title to the property and has full control of it.
  • Special election: is a n election, the specific time for the holding of which is not prescribed by law. See California Elections Code 356
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Insurance Code 12.2
  • Spouse: includes "registered domestic partner" as required by §. See California Government Code 12.2
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Government Code 18
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Health and Safety Code 23
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Insurance Code 28
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Business and Professions Code 21
  • State: includes the District of Columbia and the territories when applied to the different parts of the United States, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
  • state agency: means a state agency, as defined pursuant to Section 11000, the Legislature, the Supreme Court and the courts of appeal, and each campus of the California State University and the University of California. See California Government Code 7596
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Food and Agricultural Code 49
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which the term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Government Code 10
  • Subordinated notes and debentures: as used in this division , means an obligation other than an investment certificate obligation that:

    California Financial Code 18018.6

  • subscription: includes mark when the signer or subscriber can not write, such signer's or subscriber's name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer's or subscriber's name. See California Public Resources Code 17
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Surplus line broker: means a person licensed under Section 1765 and authorized to do business under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760) of Part 2 of Division 1. See California Insurance Code 47
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Town: includes "unincorporated town" and "village. See California Government Code 21
  • Trust account: A general term that covers all types of accounts in a trust department, such as estates, guardianships, and agencies. Source: OCC
  • Trustor: The person who makes or creates a trust. Also known as the grantor or settlor.
  • Truth in Lending Act: The Truth in Lending Act is a federal law that requires lenders to provide standardized information so that borrowers can compare loan terms. In general, lenders must provide information on Source: OCC
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Vote center: means a location established for holding elections that offers the services described in Sections 2170 and 4005. See California Elections Code 357.5
  • Voter: means any elector who is registered under this code. See California Elections Code 359
  • will: includes codicil. See California Penal Code 7
  • Will: includes codicil. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ: means an order or precept in writing, issued in the name of the people, or of a court or judicial officer. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Writing: includes printing and typewriting. See California Code of Civil Procedure 17
  • Writing: includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. See California Financial Code 8