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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 6Ch. 4Art. 4§ 9502 Stop Payment Notice Enforcement

§ 9502 Stop Payment Notice Enforcement

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

§ 9502 Stop Payment Notice Enforcement

Key Takeaways

  • •If you send a stop payment notice, you have 10 days to start a legal case to get your money.
  • •You must start the case within 90 days after the deadline to send the stop payment notice, or it won’t work anymore.
  • •The case can’t go to trial or get a judgment before those 90 days are up.
  • •If you don’t start the case on time, the notice is canceled, and the money being held will be released.

Example

Imagine you worked on a school project and didn’t get paid. You send a stop payment notice to the school and the main contractor.

You have to start a legal case to get your money within 10 days of sending the notice. If you wait too long—more than 90 days after the deadline to send the notice—the notice expires, and the school can release the money they were holding. You won’t get paid unless you act fast.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9502 Stop Payment Notice Enforcement

(a) The claimant shall commence an action against the public entity and the direct contractor to enforce payment of the claim stated in a stop payment notice at any time after 10 days from the date the claimant gives the stop payment notice. (b) The claimant shall commence an action against the public entity and the direct contractor to enforce payment of the claim stated in a stop payment notice not later than 90 days after expiration of the time within which a stop payment notice must be given. (c) An action under this section may not be brought to trial or judgment entered before expiration of the time provided in subdivision (b). (d) If a claimant does not commence an action to enforce payment of the claim stated in a stop payment notice within the time provided in subdivision (b), the notice ceases to be effective and the public entity shall release funds withheld pursuant to the notice. (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

claimantpublic entitydirect contractorstop payment noticeactionenforce payment

Related Statutes

  • § 9358 Public Entity Payment Withholding
  • § 9364 Public Contractor Release Bonds
  • § 9400 Contractor Funds Release Grounds
  • § 9456 Stop Payment Notice Priority
  • § 9500 Stop Payment Notice Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 9502.
View Official Source