Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 2872. Section 2872.
A lien is a charge imposed in some mode other than by a transfer in trust upon specific property by which it is made security for the performance of an act.
ARTICLE 1. Definition of Liens [2872. - 2877.]
Cal. Civil Code - CIV 1.
in effectCal. Civil Code - CIV § 2873. Section 2873.
Liens are either general or special.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 2874. Section 2874.
A general lien is one which the holder thereof is entitled to enforce as a security for the performance of all the obligations, or all of a particular class of obligations, which exist in his favor against the owner of the property.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 2875. Section 2875.
A special lien is one which the holder thereof can enforce only as security for the performance of a particular act or obligation, and of such obligations as may be incidental thereto.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 2876. Section 2876.
Where the holder of a special lien is compelled to satisfy a prior lien for his own protection, he may enforce payment of the amount so paid by him, as a part of the claim for which his own lien exists.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 2877. Section 2877.
Contracts of mortgage, pledge, bottomry, or respondentia are subject to all of the provisions of this chapter.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026