The arbitrators, upon written application of a party to the arbitration, may correct the award upon any of the grounds set forth in subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 1286.6 not later than 30 days after service of a signed copy of the award on the applicant. Application for such correction shall be made not later than 10 days after service of a signed copy of the award on the applicant. Upon or before making such application, the applicant shall deliver or mail a copy of the application to all of the other parties to the arbitration. Any party to the arbitration may make written objection to such application. The objection shall be made not later than 10 days after the application is delivered or mailed to the objector. Upon or before making such objection, the objector shall deliver or mail a copy of the objection to the applicant and all the other parties to the arbitration. The arbitrators shall either deny the application or correct the award. The denial of the application or the correction of the award shall be in writing and signed by the arbitrators concurring therein, and the neutral arbitrator shall serve a signed copy of such denial or correction on each party to the arbitration personally or by registered or certified mail or as provided in the agreement. If no denial of the application or correction of the award is served within the 30-day period provided in this section, the application for correction shall be deemed denied on the last day thereof.
§ 1284.Application to Correct Award
Title 9. Arbitration · Chapter 3. Conduct of Arbitration Proceedings · Enacted 1961 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1284 lets a party ask the arbitrators to correct an award on the narrower correction grounds -- but not the exceeded-powers ground -- within 10 days of service of the signed award, sets a parallel written-objection procedure for other parties, and deems the application denied if the arbitrators do not act within 30 days.
Full Text of § 1284
Plain-English Summary
This section gives the arbitrators themselves a limited power to fix their own award, without anyone going to court. On a party's written application, the arbitrators may correct the award, but only on the grounds set out in subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 1286.6 -- an evident miscalculation or descriptive mistake, or an award imperfect in form. Notably absent is subdivision (b)'s "exceeded powers" ground: that correction path is reserved for the court, not for arbitrator self-correction under this section.
The timeline is tight and specific. The application must be made within 10 days of service of the signed award, with a copy delivered or mailed to every other party at or before filing. Any party can object in writing, within 10 days of receiving the application, serving that objection on the applicant and all other parties. The arbitrators then must either deny the application or correct the award -- either way, in writing, signed by the concurring arbitrators, and served on every party the same way the original award was served. All of this has to happen within 30 days of the original award's service; if the arbitrators do not act by then, the application is deemed denied on the last day of that 30-day period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grounds let arbitrators correct their own award under this section?
An evident miscalculation of figures or mistake in describing a person, thing, or property, or the award being imperfect in a matter of form -- not the exceeded-powers ground.
How long does a party have to apply for this kind of correction?
Ten days after service of the signed award.
What happens if the arbitrators never respond to the correction application?
The application is deemed denied on the last day of the 30-day period.
Can other parties object to a correction request?
Yes, within 10 days of receiving the application, with a copy served on the applicant and all other parties.
Amendment History
Repealed and added by Stats. 1961, Ch. 461.
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: correct arbitration award californiaarbitrator correction deadline california