§ 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•If someone working on a government project (like building a road) isn't paid, they can send a 'stop payment notice' to get their money first.
•Even if the main contractor already promised that money to someone else (like a bank), the worker who sent the notice gets paid first.
•If the main contractor owes money to other people (like credit card companies), those debts come after paying the workers who sent the notice.

Example

A company is building a new school for the city. They hire a plumber to install pipes but don’t pay him. The plumber sends a 'stop payment notice' to the city.

The city must pay the plumber first, even if the company already promised that money to a bank or other creditors. The plumber’s notice jumps to the front of the line.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority

(a) A stop payment notice takes priority over an assignment by a direct contractor of any amount due or to become due pursuant to a public works contract, including contract changes, whether made before or after the giving of a stop payment notice, and the assignment has no effect on the rights of the claimant. (b) Any garnishment of an amount due or to become due pursuant to a public works contract by a creditor of a direct contractor under Article 8 (commencing with Section 708.710) of Chapter 6 of Division 2 of Title 9 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure and any statutory lien on that amount is subordinate to the rights of a claimant. (Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 697, Sec. 20. (SB 189) Effective January 1, 2011. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 105 of Ch. 697 and by Section 8052.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

stop payment notice public works contract direct contractor claimant garnishment statutory lien

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 9456.

§ 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority

Key Takeaways

•If someone working on a government project (like building a road) isn't paid, they can send a 'stop payment notice' to get their money first.
•Even if the main contractor already promised that money to someone else (like a bank), the worker who sent the notice gets paid first.
•If the main contractor owes money to other people (like credit card companies), those debts come after paying the workers who sent the notice.

Example

A company is building a new school for the city. They hire a plumber to install pipes but don’t pay him. The plumber sends a 'stop payment notice' to the city.

The city must pay the plumber first, even if the company already promised that money to a bank or other creditors. The plumber’s notice jumps to the front of the line.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

stop payment notice public works contract direct contractor claimant garnishment statutory lien

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 9456.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References