The arbitration award shall be in writing, signed by the arbitrator and filed in the court in which the action is pending. If there is no request for a de novo trial or a request for dismissal in the form required by the Judicial Council and the award is not vacated, the award shall be entered in the judgment book in the amount of the award. Such award shall have the same force and effect as a judgment in any civil action or proceeding, except that it is not subject to appeal and it may not be attacked or set aside except as provided by Section 473, 1286.2, or Judicial Council rule.
§ 1141.23.Requirements of Award; Entry In Judgment Book; Force and Effect of Award
Title 3. Of Summary Proceedings · Chapter 2.5. Judicial Arbitration · Last amended 2012 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1141.23 requires a written, signed arbitration award to be filed with the court, and directs that an award not challenged by a timely trial de novo or dismissal request, and not vacated, be entered in the judgment book with the force of a judgment, except that it isn't appealable and may only be attacked through § 473, § 1286.2, or Judicial Council rule.
Full Text of § 1141.23
Plain-English Summary
This is where an arbitration award becomes an enforceable judgment, unless a party stops it first. The arbitrator's award has to be in writing, signed, and filed with the court where the action is pending. If nobody files a timely trial de novo request or a request for dismissal under § 1141.20, and no one has succeeded in vacating the award, the award is entered in the judgment book for the amount awarded.
Once entered, that award carries the same force and effect as a judgment reached in any other civil action — it can be enforced and it creates the same preclusive effects a judgment would. But two features set it apart: it can't be appealed, and it can't be attacked or set aside through ordinary post-judgment motions. The only paths available are relief from a mistake or excusable neglect under § 473, the grounds for vacating a private arbitration award under § 1286.2, or whatever additional ground the Judicial Council specifies by rule under § 1141.22.
Frequently Asked Questions
What form must an arbitration award take?
It must be in writing, signed by the arbitrator, and filed in the court where the action is pending.
When does an arbitration award get entered as a judgment?
When no timely trial de novo request or dismissal request has been filed under § 1141.20, and the award hasn't been vacated — it's then entered in the judgment book for the award amount.
Can a party appeal an entered arbitration award?
No. Section 1141.23 makes the entered award unappealable.
How can a party challenge an award that has already been entered?
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2011 ch 49 (SB 731),s 4, eff. 1/1/2012.
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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