Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.010. Section 481.010.
Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this title.
CHAPTER 1. Words and Phrases Defined [481.010. - 481.225.]
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP 1.
in effectCal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.020. Section 481.020.
“Account debtor” means “account debtor” as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.030. Section 481.030.
“Account receivable” means “account” as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.040. Section 481.040.
“Chattel paper” means “chattel paper” as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.055. Section 481.055.
“Costs” means costs and disbursements, including, but not limited to, statutory fees, charges, commissions, and expenses.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.060. Section 481.060.
“Complaint” includes a cross-complaint.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.070. Section 481.070.
“Defendant” includes a cross-defendant.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.080. Section 481.080.
“Deposit account” means “deposit account” as defined in paragraph (29) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.090. Section 481.090.
“Document of title” means “document” as defined in paragraph (30) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. A document of title is negotiable if it is negotiable within the meaning of Section 7104 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.100. Section 481.100.
“Equipment” means tangible personal property in the possession of the defendant and used or bought for use primarily in the defendant’s trade, business, or profession if it is not included in the definitions of inventory or farm products.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.110. Section 481.110.
“Farm products” means crops or livestock or supplies used or produced in farming operations or products of crops or livestock in their unmanufactured states (such as ginned cotton, wool clip, maple syrup, milk, and eggs), while in the possession of a defendant engaged in raising, fattening, grazing, or other farming operations. If tangible personal property is a farm product, it is neither equipment nor inventory.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.113. Section 481.113.
“Financial institution” means a state or national bank, state or federal savings and loan association or credit union, or like organization, and includes a corporation engaged in a safe deposit business.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.115. Section 481.115.
“General intangibles” means “general intangibles,” as defined in paragraph (42) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code, consisting of rights to payment.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.117. Section 481.117.
“Instrument” means “instrument” as defined in paragraph (47) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.120. Section 481.120.
“Inventory” means tangible personal property in the possession of a defendant that (a) is held by the defendant for sale or lease or to be furnished under contracts of service or (b) is raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in his trade, business, or profession. Inventory of a person is not to be classified as his equipment.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.140. Section 481.140.
“Levying officer” means the sheriff or marshal who is directed to execute a writ or order issued under this title.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.170. Section 481.170.
“Person” includes a natural person, a corporation, a partnership or other unincorporated association, a limited liability company, and a public entity.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.175. Section 481.175.
“Personal property” includes both tangible and intangible personal property.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.180. Section 481.180.
“Plaintiff” means a person who files a complaint or cross-complaint.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.190. Section 481.190.
A claim has “probable validity” where it is more likely than not that the plaintiff will obtain a judgment against the defendant on that claim.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.195. Section 481.195.
“Property” includes real and personal property and any interest therein.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.200. Section 481.200.
“Public entity” includes the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, a city, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.203. Section 481.203.
“Real property” includes any right in real property, including, but not limited to, a leasehold interest in real property.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.205. Section 481.205.
“Registered process server” means a person registered as a process server pursuant to Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 22350) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.207. Section 481.207.
“Secured party” means “secured party” as defined in paragraph (73) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.210. Section 481.210.
“Security” means a “security” as defined by Section 8102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.220. Section 481.220.
“Security agreement” means a “security agreement” as defined by paragraph (74) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.223. Section 481.223.
“Security interest” means “security interest” as defined in Section 1201 of the Commercial Code.
Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 481.225. Section 481.225.
“Tangible personal property” includes chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, securities, and money.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026