Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3509. Section 3509.
The maxims of jurisprudence hereinafter set forth are intended not to qualify any of the foregoing provisions of this code, but to aid in their just application.
PART 4. MAXIMS OF JURISPRUDENCE [3509. - 3548.]
Cal. Civil Code - CIV 4.
in effectCal. Civil Code - CIV § 3510. Section 3510.
When the reason of a rule ceases, so should the rule itself.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3511. Section 3511.
Where the reason is the same, the rule should be the same.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3512. Section 3512.
One shall not change their purpose to the injury of another.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3513. Section 3513.
Any one may waive the advantage of a law intended solely for their benefit. But a law established for a public reason cannot be contravened by a private agreement.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3514. Section 3514.
One must so use his own rights as not to infringe upon the rights of another.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3515. Section 3515.
A person who consents to an act is not wronged by it.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3516. Section 3516.
Acquiescence in error takes away the right of objecting to it.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3517. Section 3517.
No one can take advantage of their own wrong.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3518. Section 3518.
A person who has fraudulently dispossessed themselves of a thing may be treated as if they still had possession.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3519. Section 3519.
A person who can and does not forbid that which is done on their behalf, is deemed to have bidden it.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3520. Section 3520.
No one should suffer by the act of another.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3521. Section 3521.
A person who takes the benefit must bear the burden.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3522. Section 3522.
One who grants a thing is presumed to grant also whatever is essential to its use.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3523. Section 3523.
For every wrong there is a remedy.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3524. Section 3524.
Between those who are equally in the right, or equally in the wrong, the law does not interpose.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3525. Section 3525.
Between rights otherwise equal, the earliest is preferred.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3526. Section 3526.
No person is responsible for that which no person can control.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3527. Section 3527.
The law helps the vigilant, before those who sleep on their rights.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3528. Section 3528.
The law respects form less than substance.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3529. Section 3529.
That which ought to have been done is to be regarded as done, in favor of a person to whom, and against a person from whom, performance is due.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3530. Section 3530.
That which does not appear to exist is to be regarded as if it did not exist.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3531. Section 3531.
The law never requires impossibilities.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3532. Section 3532.
The law neither does nor requires idle acts.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3533. Section 3533.
The law disregards trifles.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3534. Section 3534.
Particular expressions qualify those which are general.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3535. Section 3535.
Contemporaneous exposition is in general the best.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3536. Section 3536.
The greater contains the less.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3537. Section 3537.
Superfluity does not vitiate.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3538. Section 3538.
That is certain which can be made certain.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3539. Section 3539.
Time does not confirm a void act.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3540. Section 3540.
The incident follows the principal, and not the principal the incident.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3541. Section 3541.
An interpretation which gives effect is preferred to one which makes void.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3542. Section 3542.
Interpretation must be reasonable.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3543. Section 3543.
Where one of two innocent persons must suffer by the act of a third, the person, by whose negligence it happened, must be the sufferer.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3545. Section 3545.
Private transactions are fair and regular.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3546. Section 3546.
Things happen according to the ordinary course of nature and the ordinary habits of life.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3547. Section 3547.
A thing continues to exist as long as is usual with things of that nature.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 3548. Section 3548.
The law has been obeyed.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026