In any proceeding under this article, the court may, on motion of the person to be examined or on its own motion, make such protective orders as justice may require.
§ 491.180.Protective Orders
Title 6.5. Attachment · Chapter 11. Attaching Plaintiff's Miscellaneous Remedies · Article 1. Examination of Third Person · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 491.180 lets the court issue any protective order justice requires in an examination proceeding, whether the person to be examined asks for one or the court raises it on its own.
Full Text of § 491.180
Plain-English Summary
Examination proceedings can pry into sensitive financial and business information, and § 491.180 gives the court broad discretion to protect against overreach. On motion of the person to be examined, or entirely on its own motion, the court may make protective orders as justice requires.
The rule does not list specific categories of protection, leaving the court free to tailor an order to whatever concern the particular examination raises -- limiting the scope of questioning, sealing sensitive records, or restricting who may attend, for example.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court limit what a third person is asked during an attachment examination?
Yes. Section 491.180 lets the court make protective orders as justice requires, either on the examined person's motion or on the court's own motion.
Does the person being examined have to ask for protection, or can the court act on its own?
Either way. Section 491.180 authorizes a protective order on motion of the person to be examined or on the court's own motion.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1198, Sec. 57. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 70 of Ch. 1198.
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: protective order examination attachment california