Where the state is a defendant, the summons and the complaint shall be served on the Attorney General.
§ 1250.140.Service Where State Defendant
Title 7. Eminent Domain Law · Chapter 5. Commencement of Proceeding · Article 2. Commencement of Proceeding Generally · Enacted 1975 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1250.140 requires that when the State of California is named as a defendant in an eminent domain proceeding, the summons and complaint be served on the Attorney General rather than on any other state office or officer.
Full Text of § 1250.140
Plain-English Summary
This is a short but important rule about who receives papers when the state itself holds an interest in condemned property. Service on the state does not go to a random agency or office — it goes to the Attorney General.
Routing service this way ensures the office responsible for representing the state's legal interests is the one that receives the summons and complaint, and can respond within whatever time the case requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is served when the State of California is a defendant in an eminent domain case?
The Attorney General, under § 1250.140.
Does this rule apply to every state agency, or just the state itself as a party?
Section 1250.140 addresses service where the state is a defendant; it does not by its own terms redirect service on other governmental defendants.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1275.
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
Also known as: serving attorney general eminent domainstate as defendant condemnation california