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.
§ 708.200.Protective Orders
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 6. Miscellaneous Creditors' Remedies · Article 2. Examination Proceedings · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 708.200 lets the court issue whatever protective orders justice requires in an examination proceeding, whether on its own motion or on the motion of the person being examined.
Full Text of § 708.200
Plain-English Summary
Debtor's examinations can dig into sensitive financial and personal detail, and this section gives the court an open-ended tool to keep that process fair. It can issue protective orders in any proceeding under this article, limiting what has to be disclosed or how it's disclosed, whenever justice calls for it.
Either side can put the question in front of the court. The person being examined can move for a protective order, or the court can act entirely on its own, without waiting for anyone to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can ask the court for a protective order in an examination proceeding?
The person being examined, though the court can also issue one on its own motion without a request from anyone.
What standard governs whether a protective order should issue?
Whatever justice may require — the statute leaves the specific content of the order to the court's discretion.
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: protective order debtor examination california