Title 11. Money Judgments of Other Jurisdictions · Chapter 2. Foreign-Country Money Judgments · Enacted 2007 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1715 limits this chapter to foreign-country judgments that award or deny a sum of money and are final, conclusive, and enforceable abroad, excludes tax judgments, penalties, and most domestic-relations judgments, and places the burden of proving entitlement to recognition on the party seeking it.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), this chapter applies to a foreign-country judgment to the extent that the judgment both:
(1)Grants or denies recovery of a sum of money.
(2)Under the law of the foreign country where rendered, is final, conclusive, and enforceable.
(b)This chapter does not apply to a foreign-country judgment, even if the judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money, to the extent that the judgment is any of the following:
(1)A judgment for taxes.
(2)A fine or other penalty.
(3)
(A)A judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance, or other judgment rendered in connection with domestic relations.
(B)A judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance, or other judgment rendered in connection with domestic relations may be recognized by a court of this state pursuant to Section 1723.
(c)A party seeking recognition of a foreign-country judgment has the burden of establishing that the foreign-country judgment is entitled to recognition under this chapter.
Plain-English Summary
Not every judgment from abroad falls within this chapter, and this section draws the line. The judgment must both grant or deny recovery of a sum of money and be final, conclusive, and enforceable under the law of the country where it was rendered. A judgment still working its way through appeals abroad, or one that never resolved a money claim in the first place, does not qualify.
Even a money judgment can fall outside this chapter for other reasons. Tax judgments and fines or other penalties are excluded entirely, on the theory that recognizing a foreign government's revenue or punitive judgments raises different concerns than recognizing an ordinary private money judgment. Judgments for divorce, support, maintenance, or other domestic-relations matters are likewise excluded from this chapter's coverage, though the chapter does not prevent a California court from recognizing such a judgment separately under principles of comity. Whatever category a judgment falls into, the party asking a California court to recognize it bears the burden of showing that it qualifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this chapter apply to a judgment that grants an injunction rather than money damages?
No. It applies only to the extent a foreign-country judgment grants or denies recovery of a sum of money.
Are foreign tax judgments covered by this chapter?
No. Judgments for taxes, along with fines and other penalties, are excluded from this chapter entirely.
What about a foreign divorce or child support judgment?
Those are excluded from this chapter's coverage, though a California court may still recognize such a judgment under principles of comity outside this chapter.
Who has to prove the judgment qualifies for recognition?
The party seeking recognition bears the burden of establishing that the foreign-country judgment is entitled to it under this chapter.
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:what foreign judgments does this chapter coverexcluded foreign judgments tax divorce penalty