In an action for the recovery of real property, it must be described in the complaint with such certainty as to enable an officer, upon execution, to identify it.
§ 455.Description of Real Property
Title 6. Of the Pleadings In Civil Actions · Chapter 7. General Rules of Pleading · Enacted 1872 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 455 requires a complaint seeking recovery of real property to describe that property with enough certainty that an officer executing a judgment could identify it.
Full Text of § 455
Plain-English Summary
A lawsuit to recover real property is not just about winning a judgment — it is about being able to enforce one. Section 455 requires the complaint to describe the property with enough certainty that an officer carrying out a writ of execution can go find it and identify it correctly.
The rule does not prescribe a fixed format, such as a full legal description with metes and bounds, but a description vague enough to leave an officer guessing will not satisfy it. Practitioners typically use the same legal description found in the deed or other recorded instrument to remove any doubt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How precise does a property description in a complaint need to be?
Section 455 requires enough certainty that an officer executing a judgment could identify the property from the description alone.
Is a street address enough to describe real property under § 455?
The section does not name a required format, but the description must let an enforcing officer locate the specific property with certainty, which is why parties typically use the recorded legal description.
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: describing real property in a complaint californiarecovery of real property pleading