The writ of mandamus may be denominated a writ of mandate.
§ 1084.Denominated Writ of Mandate
Title 1. Of Writs of Review, Mandate, and Prohibition · Chapter 2. Writ of Mandate · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1084 establishes that the writ of mandamus and the writ of mandate are the same remedy under California law, so every rule in this chapter about mandamus applies equally to what courts and litigants call a writ of mandate.
Full Text of § 1084
Plain-English Summary
This section does one small but useful job: it tells you that "mandamus" and "mandate" name the same writ. California statutes, court rules, and older case law sometimes use the Latin term and sometimes use the English one, and this section removes any doubt that they mean the same remedy.
Everything that follows in this chapter — who can petition for the writ under § 1085, how the alternative and peremptory forms work under § 1087, and the special administrative-mandamus procedure in § 1094.5 — applies no matter which name a court order or a party's papers happen to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a writ of mandate the same thing as a writ of mandamus in California?
Yes. Section 1084 says the writ of mandamus may be denominated a writ of mandate — they are the same remedy under the same chapter of rules.
Does it matter which term a petition uses?
No. Courts and litigants use both terms interchangeably, and § 1084 confirms that choosing one name over the other has no legal significance.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2016 ch 86 (SB 1171),s 39, eff. 1/1/2017.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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