(a) This chapter governs the procedures by which the superior courts of the State of California recognize and enter tribal court money judgments of any federally recognized Indian tribe. Determinations regarding recognition and entry of a tribal court money judgment pursuant to state law shall have no effect upon the independent authority of that judgment. To the extent not inconsistent with this chapter, the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply.
§ 1731.Scope
Title 11. Money Judgments of Other Jurisdictions · Chapter 3. Tribal Court Civil Money Judgment Act · Last amended 2024 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1731 defines which tribal court money judgments California superior courts may recognize and enter, and excludes tax and penalty judgments, matters federal or state law already handles, and probate-type judgments, without expanding or limiting either the state's or a tribe's jurisdiction.
Full Text of § 1731
(b) This chapter does not apply to any of the following tribal court money judgments:
(1) For taxes, fines, or other penalties, except for tribal taxes as described in clause 3 of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 1616 of Article 10 of Chapter 4 of Division 2 of Title 18 of the California Code of Regulations, and related interest or penalties.
(2) For which federal law requires that states grant full faith and credit recognition, including child support orders under the Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act (28 U.S.C. Sec.1738B), except for the purposes of recognizing a tribal court order establishing the right of a child or other dependent of a participant in a retirement plan or other plan of deferred compensation to an assignment of all or a portion of the benefits payable.
(3) For which state law provides for recognition, including child support orders recognized under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (Part 3 (commencing with Section 3400) of Division 8 of the Family Code), other forms of family support orders under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (Part 6 (commencing with Section 5700.101) of Division 9 of the Family Code), except for the purposes of recognizing a tribal court order establishing the right of a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent of a participant in a retirement plan or other plan of deferred compensation to an assignment of all or a portion of the benefits payable.
(4) For decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, internal affairs of trusts, powers of attorney, or other tribal court money judgments that arise in proceedings that are or would be governed by the Probate Code.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed or construed to expand or limit the jurisdiction of either the state or any Indian tribe.
Plain-English Summary
Section 1731 marks the outer boundary of the whole chapter. It tells superior courts what this chapter governs: the procedures for recognizing and entering money judgments issued by tribal courts of any federally recognized Indian tribe, with the rest of the Code of Civil Procedure filling in wherever this chapter is silent. A California court's decision to recognize a tribal judgment doesn't change the independent force that judgment already carries in tribal law; recognition is about giving the judgment a path into state enforcement machinery, not about validating or invalidating it as a tribal matter.
Four categories fall outside this chapter entirely. Tax, fine, and penalty judgments are excluded, apart from certain tribal gaming-related taxes carved back in. Judgments federal law already requires California to honor, like child support orders under federal full faith and credit law, stay outside this chapter too, as do judgments state law already recognizes through other statutes, such as family support orders under existing interstate compacts. Probate-type judgments, covering decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and powers of attorney, are likewise left to the Probate Code rather than this chapter. A closing clause makes clear that none of this either broadens or narrows the underlying jurisdiction of the state or of any tribe; it only decides which judgments get funneled through this particular recognition procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of tribal court judgments does this chapter cover?
Civil money judgments issued by the court of any federally recognized Indian tribe, subject to the specific exclusions the section lists.
Are tax judgments and child support orders handled under this chapter?
No, generally. Tax, fine, and penalty judgments are excluded except for certain tribal taxes, and child support and similar family support orders are excluded because federal or state law already provides for their recognition elsewhere.
Does recognizing a tribal judgment under this chapter change what the tribal court itself can do?
No. Recognition affects enforcement in California courts only; the section says nothing in the chapter expands or limits the jurisdiction of the state or any tribe.
Are probate matters like guardianships covered here?
No. Judgments arising from decedents' estates, guardianships, conservatorships, trust administration, or powers of attorney are left to the Probate Code rather than this chapter.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2023 ch 138 (AB 1139),s 1, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by Stats 2021 ch 58 (AB 627),s 1, eff. 1/1/2022. Amended by Stats 2017 ch 168 (AB 905),s 11, eff. 1/1/2018. Amended by Stats 2015 ch 493 (SB 646),s 1, eff. 1/1/2016. Added by Stats 2014 ch 243 (SB 406),s 4, eff. 1/1/2015.
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: scope of tribal judgment actexclusions tribal court money judgment