§ 25.Civil actions arise out of obligations or injuries

Preliminary Provisions · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceSection 25 provides that a civil action arises out of either an obligation or an injury.

Full Text of § 25

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A civil action arises out of: 1. An obligation; 2. An injury.

Plain-English Summary

Section 25 identifies the two sources a civil action can spring from: an obligation, defined in Section 26, or an injury, defined and divided further in Sections 27 through 29.

Every civil action traces back to one of those two starting points.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can a civil action arise from under California law?

Section 25 lists two sources: an obligation or an injury.

Where are “obligation” and “injury” defined?

Section 26 defines obligation, and Sections 27 through 29 define and divide injury.

Amendment History

Enacted 1872.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: sources of a civil action CaliforniaCCP section 25