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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 2Pt. 4Ch. 2§ 1025 Ownership Of Combined Property

§ 1025 Ownership Of Combined Property

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1025 Ownership Of Combined Property

This law says that when two people's separate items get glued together into one thing that can't be split without breaking it, the whole thing belongs to the person whose part makes up the biggest part, but they must pay the other person for the leftover value or give the whole thing back.

Key Takeaways

  • •If separate owned items fuse into one inseparable thing, ownership goes to the owner of the main part.
  • •The main part owner must compensate the other owner for the value of the leftover portion.
  • •Compensation can be money or returning the entire fused item.

Example

Two neighbors accidentally mix their cement and gravel to fix a driveway, creating a single chunk that can't be separated without destroying it.

Because the driveway repair makes up the main part of the mixed material, the neighbor who contributed the larger portion gets to keep the whole chunk, but they must pay the other neighbor the value of the smaller portion they used.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1025 Ownership Of Combined Property

When things belonging to different owners have been united so as to form a single thing, and cannot be separated without injury, the whole belongs to the owner of the thing which forms the principal part; who must, however, reimburse the value of the residue to the other owner, or surrender the whole to him. (Enacted 1872.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

principal partreimburse the value of the residue

Related Statutes

  • § 1026 Accessory Ownership Rights
  • § 1027 Principal Part Determination
  • § 1028 Material Ownership Rights
  • § 1029 Joint Ownership Of Materials
  • § 1030 Mixture Ownership Rights

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 1025.
View Official Source