If an unincorporated association has filed a statement with the Secretary of State pursuant to statute, designating its principal office in this state, the proper county for the trial of an action against the unincorporated association is the same as it would be if the unincorporated association were a corporation and, for the purpose of determining the proper county, the principal place of business of the unincorporated association shall be deemed to be the principal office in this state listed in the statement.
§ 395.2.Action Against Unincorporated Association
Title 4. Of the Place of Trial, Reclassification, and Coordination of Civil Actions · Chapter 1. Place of Trial · Last amended 2005 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentence§ 395.2 lets an unincorporated association that has filed a principal-office statement with the Secretary of State be sued using the same venue rule as a corporation, treating that filed address as its principal place of business.
Full Text of § 395.2
Plain-English Summary
An unincorporated association -- a club, union, or similar group without corporate status -- does not automatically get the corporate venue treatment in § 395.5. § 395.2 extends that treatment only once the association has filed a statement with the Secretary of State designating its principal office in California, and it uses that filed address as the association's principal place of business for venue purposes.
Without that filing, an unincorporated association does not get this shortcut, and venue against it would instead follow whatever general rule applies to the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a club or unincorporated association the same way I'd sue a corporation?
Yes, if it has filed a principal-office statement with the Secretary of State -- venue then follows § 395.5's corporation rules, using that filed address.
What if the association never filed that statement?
§ 395.2's corporation-style venue treatment does not apply the same way, since it depends on that filing.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2004 ch 178 (SB 1746),s 2, eff. 1/1/2005
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: suing unincorporated association california venueclub or association lawsuit proper county