(a) Upon delivery of the writ of execution to the levying officer to whom the writ is directed, together with the written instructions of the judgment creditor, the levying officer shall execute the writ in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 699.530.Execution of Writ
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 3. Execution · Article 2. Writ of Execution and Notice of Levy · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 699.530 requires the levying officer to execute a writ of execution as prescribed by law once it is delivered along with the judgment creditor's written instructions, and bars any levy under that writ after 180 days from the date it was issued.
Full Text of § 699.530
(b) The levying officer may not levy upon any property under the writ after the expiration of 180 days from the date the writ was issued.
Plain-English Summary
Getting a writ issued is only half the process; someone still has to act on it. Subdivision (a) puts that duty on the levying officer, who executes the writ in the manner the law prescribes once the writ and the creditor's written instructions have both been delivered.
Subdivision (b) puts a clock on that authority. A writ is only good for 180 days from the date it issued — after that window closes, the officer cannot levy under it at all, no matter how much of the judgment remains unpaid. That is the same 180-day figure that governs how soon a creditor can get a new writ for the same county under § 699.510, and it is also the deadline that triggers a mandatory return under § 699.560 if no levy has occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the levying officer need before executing a writ of execution?
Delivery of the writ itself, together with the judgment creditor's written instructions.
How long is a writ of execution good for?
180 days from the date it was issued. The levying officer cannot levy under it after that period expires.
What happens if 180 days pass with no levy under the writ?
Section 699.560 requires the writ to be returned promptly after the 180-day period expires without a levy having taken place.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1364, Sec. 2. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 1364.
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: 180 day writ of execution californiaexecution of writ california