CHAPTER 7. Levying Officers [687.010. - 687.050.]

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP 7.

in effect

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 687.010. Section 687.010.

(a) The judgment creditor shall give the levying officer instructions in writing. The instructions shall be signed by the judgment creditor’s attorney of record or, if the judgment creditor does not have an attorney of record, by the judgment creditor. The instructions shall contain the information needed or requested by the levying officer to comply with this title, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (1) An adequate description of any property to be levied upon. (2) A statement whether the property is a dwelling. (3) If the property is a dwelling, whether it is real or personal property. (4) The name of the judgment debtor. If the judgment debtor is other than a natural person, the type of legal entity shall be stated. (b) Subject to subdivision (c), the levying officer shall act in accordance with the written instructions to the extent the actions are taken in conformance with the provisions of this title. (c) Except to the extent the levying officer has actual knowledge that the information is incorrect, the levying officer may rely on any information contained in the written instructions. (d) The levying officer instructions may be transmitted electronically to the levying officer pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 263) of Title 4 of Part 1. (e) If the instructions directing the levying officer to perform a levy are accompanied by a writ of execution for money, possession, or sale of personal or real property issued by the court as an electronic record, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 263.1, or a document printed from an electronic record issued by the court, the instructions shall also include all of the following information, as stated in the writ: (1) The date of issuance of the writ. (2) The name of each judgment creditor and judgment debtor. (3) The amount of the total judgment for money, a description of the property subject to a judgment for possession or sale, or both the amount and the description. (4) A statement indicating that the accompanying writ is either of the following: (A) An original writ, or a copy of the original writ issued by the court as an electronic record, not already in the possession of the levying officer. (B) A copy of the original writ already in possession of the levying officer. (f) Except to the extent the levying officer has actual knowledge that the information in the electronic writ has been altered, the levying officer may proceed in the same manner as if in possession of a paper version of the original writ.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 687.020. Section 687.020.

(a) As used in this section, “instrument” means a check, draft, money order, or other order for the withdrawal of money from a financial institution, the United States, any state, or any public entity within any state. (b) If an instrument is payable to the judgment debtor on demand and comes into the possession of a levying officer pursuant to this title, the levying officer shall promptly endorse and present the instrument for payment. (c) The levying officer shall endorse the instrument by writing on the instrument (1) the name of the judgment debtor, (2) the name and official title of the levying officer, (3) the title of the court where the judgment is entered, and (4) the date of entry of the judgment and where entered in the records of the court. The endorsement is as valid as if the instrument were endorsed by the judgment debtor. No financial institution or public entity on which the instrument is drawn is liable to any person for payment of the instrument to the levying officer rather than to the judgment debtor by reason of the endorsement. No levying officer is liable by reason of endorsing, presenting, and obtaining payment of the instrument. (d) If it appears from the face of the instrument that it has been tendered to the judgment debtor in satisfaction of a claim or demand and that endorsement of the instrument is considered a release and satisfaction by the judgment debtor of the claim or demand, the levying officer shall not endorse the instrument unless the judgment debtor has first endorsed it to the levying officer. If the judgment debtor does not endorse the instrument to the levying officer, the levying officer shall hold the instrument for 30 days and is not liable to the judgment debtor or to any other person for delay in presenting it for payment. At the end of the 30-day holding period, the levying officer shall return the instrument to the maker.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 687.030. Section 687.030.

Except as otherwise provided by statute, where the method of levy upon property requires that the property be taken into custody or where the levying officer is otherwise directed to take property into custody, the levying officer may do so by any of the following methods: (a) Removing the property to a place of safekeeping. (b) Installing a keeper. (c) Otherwise obtaining possession or control of the property.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 687.040. Section 687.040.

(a) The levying officer or registered process server is not liable for actions taken in conformance with the provisions of this title, including actions taken in conformance with the provisions of this title in reliance on information contained in the written instructions of the judgment creditor, or in reliance on information provided to the levying officer by a registered process server pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 699.080 or subdivision (e) of Section 706.101 or subdivision (b) of Section 715.040 or other provision, except to the extent the levying officer or registered process server has actual knowledge that the information is incorrect. Nothing in this subdivision limits any liability the judgment creditor may have if the levying officer or registered process server acts on the basis of incorrect information given in the written instructions. (b) Unless the levying officer is negligent in the care or handling of the property, the levying officer is not liable to either the judgment debtor or the judgment creditor for loss by fire, theft, injury, or damage of any kind to personal property while (1) in the possession of the levying officer either in a warehouse or other storage place or in the custody of a keeper or (2) in transit to or from a warehouse or other storage place.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 687.050. Section 687.050.

The levying officer has a special lien, dependent upon possession, on personal property levied upon in the amount of the levying officer’s costs for which an advance has not been made.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026