A statement of decision shall be made by the court, if requested pursuant to Section 632, whenever an order or judgment, except a special order after final judgment, is made that is appealable under this title.
§ 1291.Statement of Decision
Title 9. Arbitration · Chapter 5. General Provisions Relating to Judicial Proceedings · Article 1. Petitions and Responses · Last amended 1983 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1291 requires the court to issue a statement of decision, if a party requests one under the general statement-of-decision statute, whenever it makes an appealable order or judgment under this title other than a special order after final judgment.
Full Text of § 1291
Plain-English Summary
A statement of decision explains the reasoning behind a ruling, and this section ties that requirement to appealability. Whenever the court makes an order or judgment under this title that a party could appeal, the court must issue a statement of decision if a party asks for one under the general statute governing such requests.
The one carve-out is a special order after final judgment. Even though that kind of order is itself appealable under Section 1294, this section doesn't require a statement of decision for it, presumably because such orders tend to address narrower, later-stage questions rather than the merits the court already resolved earlier in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must the court issue a statement of decision in an arbitration proceeding?
Whenever it makes an order or judgment appealable under this title, other than a special order after final judgment, and a party has requested one under the general statement-of-decision statute.
Does the court have to issue a statement of decision automatically?
No. A party must request it under the general statement-of-decision procedure; the court doesn't provide one on its own.
Why is a special order after final judgment excluded from this requirement?
Section 1291 carves that category out on its face, even though such orders remain independently appealable under Section 1294.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 302, Sec. 2.
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: statement of decision arbitration order californiarequest statement of decision arbitration appeal