§ 701.020

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.
(a)If a third person is required by this article to deliver property to the levying officer or to make payments to the levying officer and the third person fails or refuses without good cause to do so, the third person is liable to the judgment creditor for whichever of the following is the lesser amount:
(1)The value of the judgment debtor’s interest in the property or the amount of the payments required to be made.
(2)The amount required to satisfy the judgment pursuant to which the levy is

made.

(b)The third person’s liability continues until the earliest of the following times:
(1)The time when the property levied upon is delivered to the levying officer or the payments are made to the levying officer.
(2)The time when the property levied upon is released pursuant to Section 699. 060.
(3)The time when the judgment is satisfied or discharged.
(c)If the third person’s liability is established, the court that determines the liability may, in its discretion, require the third person to pay the costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the judgment creditor in establishing the liability.

Other sections in Article 5 - Duties and Liabilities of Third Persons After Levy

This content is for reference, learning, and study purposes only. All legal text should be verified against the official California Legislative Information website, which is the authoritative source for California law. Data last processed: February 14, 2026.