California Commercial Code. California

      GENERAL PROVISIONS

      482.010. This title shall be known and may be cited as "The Attachment Law."

      482.020. Nothing in this title precludes the granting of relief pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7.

      482.030. (a) The Judicial Council may provide by rule for the practice and procedure in proceedings under this title.

      (b) The Judicial Council shall prescribe the form of the applications, notices, orders, and other documents required by this title.

      482.040. The facts stated in each affidavit filed pursuant to this title shall be set forth with particularity. Except where matters are specifically permitted by this title to be shown by information and belief, each affidavit shall show affirmatively that the affiant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently to the facts stated therein. As to matters shown by information and belief, the affidavit shall state the facts on which the affiant's belief is based, showing the nature of his information and the reliability of his informant. The affiant may be any person, whether or not a party to the action, who has knowledge of the facts. A verified complaint that satisfies the requirements of this section may be used in lieu of or in addition to an affidavit.

      482.050. (a) If the plaintiff so requests in writing at the time he files his complaint, the clerk of the court with whom the complaint is filed shall not make available to the public the records and documents in such action before either (1) 30 days after the filing of the complaint or (2) the filing pursuant to this title of the return of service of the notice of hearing and any temporary protective order, or of the writ of attachment if issued without notice, whichever event occurs first.

      (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the clerk of the court shall make the entire file in the action available for inspection at any time to any party named in the complaint or to his attorney.

      (c) The request by plaintiff that the fact of filing of a complaint or application for relief not be made public may take the form of a notation to that effect, made by rubber stamp or other suitable means, at the top of the first page of the complaint filed with the clerk.

      482.060. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the judicial duties to be performed under this title are subordinate judicial duties within the meaning of Section 22 of Article VI of the California Constitution and may be performed by appointed officers such as court commissioners.

      (b) The judicial duties to be performed in the determination of the following matters are not subordinate judicial duties:

      (1) A contested claim of exemption.

      (2) A contested motion for determination of the liability and damages for wrongful attachment.

      (3) A contested third-party claim.

      (4) A contested proceeding to enforce a third person's liability.

      (c) Nothing in subdivision (b) limits the power of a court to appoint a temporary judge pursuant to Section 21 of Article VI of the California Constitution.

      482.070. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a writ, notice, order, or other paper required or permitted to be served under this title may be served personally or by mail.

      (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, service of a writ, notice, order, or other paper under this title is governed by Article 1 (commencing with Section 684.010) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 684.110) of Chapter 4 of Division 1 of Title 9, including the provisions of Section 684.120 extending time when service is made by mail.

      (c) For the purpose of subdivision (b), in Article 1 (commencing with Section 684.010) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 684.110) of Chapter 4 of Division 1 of Title 9:

      (1) References to the "judgment debtor" shall be deemed references to the defendant.

      (2) References to the "judgment creditor" shall be deemed references to the plaintiff.

      (3) References to a "writ" shall be deemed references to a writ of attachment.

      (4) References to a "notice of levy" shall be deemed references to a notice of attachment.

      (d) If the defendant has not appeared in the action and a writ, notice, order, or other paper is required to be personally served on the defendant under this title, service shall be made in the same manner as a summons is served under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10) of Title 5.

      (e) Except for service of a subpoena or other process to require the attendance of the defendant or service of a paper to bring the defendant into contempt, if the defendant has an attorney of record in the action, service shall be made on the attorney rather than on the defendant.

      (f) Proof of service under this title is governed by Article 3 (commencing with Section 684.210) of Chapter 4 of Division 1 of Title 9.

      482.080. (a) If a writ of attachment is issued, the court may also issue an order directing the defendant to transfer to the levying officer either or both of the following:

      (1) Possession of the property to be attached if the property is sought to be attached by taking it into custody.

      (2) Possession of documentary evidence of title to property of or a debt owed to the defendant that is sought to be attached. An order pursuant to this paragraph may be served when the property or debt is levied upon or thereafter.

      (b) The order shall be personally served on the defendant and shall contain a notice to the defendant that failure to comply with the order may subject the defendant to arrest and punishment for contempt of court.

      482.090. (a) Several writs in the same form may be issued simultaneously or from time to time upon the same undertaking, whether or not any writ previously issued has been returned.

      (b) After the return of the writ of attachment, or upon the filing by the plaintiff of an affidavit setting forth the loss of the writ of attachment, the clerk, upon demand of the plaintiff at any time before judgment, may issue an alias writ which shall be in the same form as the original without requirement of a new undertaking.

      (c) The date of issuance of a writ of attachment shall be deemed to be the date the writ is first issued.

      482.100. (a) The defendant may claim an exemption provided in Section 487.020 for property levied upon pursuant to a writ issued under this title if the right to the exemption is the result of a change in circumstances occurring after (1) the denial of a claim of exemption for the property earlier in the action or (2) the expiration of the time for claiming the exemption earlier in the action.

      (b) A claim of exemption under this section shall follow the procedure provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 703.510) of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of Title 9 except that, subject to subdivision (a), the defendant may claim the exemption at any time. For this purpose, references in Article 2 (commencing with Section 703.510) of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of Title 9 to the "judgment debtor" shall be deemed references to the defendant, and references to the "judgment creditor" shall be deemed references to the plaintiff.

      (c) The