CHAPTER 6. Temporary Protective Order [486.010. - 486.110.]

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP 6.
in effect

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.010. Section 486.010.

(a) At the time of applying for a right to attach order under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 484.010), the plaintiff may apply pursuant to this chapter for a temporary protective order by filing an application for the order with the court in which the action is brought. (b) The application shall state what relief is requested and shall be supported by an affidavit, which may be based on information and belief, showing that the plaintiff would suffer great or irreparable injury (within the meaning of Section 485.010) if the temporary protective order were not issued.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.020. Section 486.020.

The court shall examine the application, supporting affidavit, and other papers on record and shall issue a temporary protective order, which shall state the amount sought to be secured by the attachment under the application for the right to attach order, upon the filing of an undertaking as provided by Sections 489.210 and 489.220, if it finds all of the following: (a) The claim upon which the application for attachment is based is one upon which an attachment may be issued. (b) The plaintiff has established the probable validity of the claim upon which the application for the attachment is based. (c) The order is not sought for a purpose other than the recovery upon the claim upon which the application for the attachment is based. (d) The plaintiff will suffer great or irreparable injury (within the meaning of Section 485.010) if the temporary protective order is not issued.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.030. Section 486.030.

(a) In any case where the plaintiff has applied for a right to attach order and writ of attachment under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 485.010), the court may in its discretion deny the application for the order and writ and issue instead a temporary protective order under this chapter if it determines that the requirements of Section 485.220 are satisfied but that the issuance of the temporary protective order instead of the right to attach order and writ would be in the interest of justice and equity to the parties, taking into account the effect on the defendant of issuing a writ of attachment ex parte, the effect on the plaintiff of issuing the temporary protective order instead of the writ, and other factors that bear on equity and justice under the circumstances of the particular case. (b) If the court issues a temporary protective order under this section, the plaintiff’s application for a right to attach order and writ shall be treated as an application for a right to attach order and writ under Article 1 (commencing with Section 484.010) of Chapter 4 and the plaintiff shall comply with the requirements of service provided in Section 484.040.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.040. Section 486.040.

The temporary protective order issued under this chapter shall contain such provisions as the court determines would be in the interest of justice and equity to the parties, taking into account the effects on both the defendant and the plaintiff under the circumstances of the particular case.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.050. Section 486.050.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 486.040, the temporary protective order may prohibit a transfer by the defendant of any of the defendant’s property in this state subject to the levy of the writ of attachment. The temporary protective order shall describe the property in a manner adequate to permit the defendant to identify the property subject to the temporary protective order. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if the property is farm products held for sale or is inventory, the temporary protective order shall not prohibit the defendant from transferring the property in the ordinary course of business, but the temporary protective order may impose appropriate restrictions on the disposition of the proceeds from that type of transfer.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.060. Section 486.060.

(a) Notwithstanding any terms of the temporary protective order, the defendant may issue any number of checks against any of the defendant’s accounts in a financial institution in this state to the extent permitted by this section. (b) The defendant may issue any number of checks in any amount for the following purposes: (1) Payment of any payroll expense (including fringe benefits and taxes and premiums for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance) falling due in the ordinary course of business prior to the levy of a writ of attachment. (2) Payment for goods thereafter delivered to the defendant C.O.D. for use in the defendant’s trade, business, or profession. (3) Payment of taxes if payment is necessary to avoid penalties which will accrue if there is any further delay in payment. (4) Payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs and expenses required for the representation of the defendant in the action. (c) In addition to the checks permitted to be issued by subdivision (b), the defendant may issue any number of checks for any purpose so long as the total amount of the checks does not exceed the greater of the following: (1) The amount by which the total amount on deposit exceeds the sum of the amount sought to be secured by the attachment and the amounts permitted to be paid pursuant to subdivision (b). (2) One thousand dollars ($1,000).

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.070. Section 486.070.

Except as otherwise provided by Section 486.110, a temporary protective order issued under this chapter binds only the defendant, whether or not any other person knows of or is served with a copy of the temporary protective order.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.090. Section 486.090.

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the temporary protective order shall expire at the earliest of the following times: (a) Forty days after the issuance of the order or, if an earlier date is prescribed by the court in the order, on such earlier date. (b) As to specific property described in the order, when a levy of attachment upon that property is made by the plaintiff.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.100. Section 486.100.

Upon ex parte application of the defendant or, if the court so orders, after a noticed hearing, the court may modify or vacate the temporary protective order if it determines that such action would be in the interest of justice and equity to the parties, taking into account the effect on the defendant of the continuance of the original order, the effect on the plaintiff of modifying or vacating the order, and any other factors.

Cal. Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 486.110. Section 486.110.

(a) The service upon the defendant of a temporary protective order pursuant to Section 486.080 creates a lien upon any property, or the proceeds thereof, which is described in the order, is owned by the defendant at the time of such service, and is subject to attachment pursuant to this title. The lien continues on property subject to the lien, notwithstanding the transfer or encumbrance of the property subject to the lien, unless the person receiving the property, whether real or personal, is a person listed in Section 697.740. (b) The lien terminates upon the date of expiration of the temporary protective order except with respect to property levied upon while the temporary protective order is in effect under a writ of attachment issued upon application of the plaintiff.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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