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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 7Ch. 2Art. 2§ 16378 Judgment Creditor Deposit Rules

§ 16378 Judgment Creditor Deposit Rules

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

§ 16378 Judgment Creditor Deposit Rules

This law explains what happens to money that someone deposits to cover a court judgment. It says the money is held safely and given to the person who won the court case if they ask for it.

Key Takeaways

  • •Money deposited to cover a court judgment is kept safe by the state.
  • •The person who won the court case can get the money if they ask for it.
  • •If no one asks for the money in two years, the person who deposited it gets it back.

Example

Imagine you owe someone money because a court said so, and you deposit that money with the state to prove you'll pay.

The state holds the money and gives it to the person you owe if they ask for it within two years. If they don’t ask for it in two years, you get the money back.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16378 Judgment Creditor Deposit Rules

(a) Money deposited pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16377 shall be: (1) Deposited by the department in the special deposit fund with the Treasurer. (2) Payable to the judgment creditor upon presentation of a valid claim establishing that he or she is the judgment creditor for which the deposit was made and that the judgment remains unsatisfied. (3) Refunded to the person making the deposit or to a person designated by himself or herself if the deposit remains unclaimed by the judgment creditor for a period of two years following the date of the deposit. (4) The Controller shall draw his or her warrant on the Treasurer for any payment ordered pursuant to this section as ordered by the department. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017. (Repealed (in Sec. 40) and added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 451, Sec. 41. (SB 491) Effective January 1, 2016. Section operative January 1, 2017, by its own provisions.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

special deposit fundjudgment creditorControllerTreasurer

Related Statutes

  • § 16373 Judgment Creditor Document Request
  • § 16381 Driver License Suspension Default
  • § 13200 Driver License Suspension Penalties
  • § 13200.5 Driver License Suspension
  • § 13201 Driver License Suspension Offenses

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 16378.
View Official Source