In a limited civil case in which the defendant has appeared, if the judgment or order is for the payment of money by the defendant, the defendant shall pay the judgment immediately or at any time and upon terms and conditions, including installment payments, that the court may prescribe. The court may amend the terms and conditions for payment of the judgment or order at any time to provide for installment payments for good cause upon motion by a party and notice to all affected parties, regardless of the nature of the underlying debt and regardless of whether the moving party appeared before entry of the judgment or order. In any determination regarding the imposition of terms and conditions upon the payment of the judgment, the court shall consider any factors that would be relevant to the determination of a claim for exemption pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 703.010) of Division 2 of Title 9 of Part 2 or the examination of a debtor pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 708.110) of Chapter 6 of Division 2 of Title 9.
§ 582.5.Payment of Judgment Or Order By Defendant In Limited Civil Case
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 1. Judgment in General · Enacted 1998 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 582.5 lets a defendant in a limited civil case who has appeared pay a money judgment immediately or on terms the court sets, including installments, and lets the court later amend those payment terms for good cause on a motion, considering the same factors relevant to exemption claims and debtor examinations.
Full Text of § 582.5
Plain-English Summary
Not every judgment debtor can pay all at once, and this section builds flexibility into limited civil case judgments for money. Once a defendant who has appeared owes a money judgment or order, that defendant pays it immediately or on whatever terms and conditions the court prescribes — which can include installment payments.
Those terms aren't locked in forever. The court can amend the payment terms at any time, for good cause, on a party's motion and with notice to everyone affected. That flexibility applies regardless of what kind of debt underlies the judgment, and regardless of whether the moving party even appeared in the case before judgment was entered.
In deciding what terms to impose, the court looks to the same considerations that would matter in an exemption claim under Chapter 4 (commencing with § 703.010) of Title 9, or in a judgment debtor examination under § 708.110 and following — effectively borrowing the judgment-enforcement law's framework for assessing what a debtor can reasonably pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a limited civil case defendant pay a money judgment in installments?
Yes, § 582.5 lets the court prescribe terms and conditions for payment, including installment payments, rather than requiring payment all at once.
Can those payment terms be changed later?
Yes, the court may amend the terms at any time for good cause, on motion and with notice to affected parties, regardless of the nature of the debt.
What does the court consider in setting payment terms?
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 931, Sec. 80. Effective September 28, 1998.
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: installment payment judgment limited civil case californiapayment terms money judgment california