(a) The judgment debtor's interest in an alcoholic beverage license may be applied to the satisfaction of a money judgment only as provided in this section.
§ 708.630.Receiver Appointed For Purpose of Transferring Debtor's Interest In Alcoholic Beverage License
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 2 · Chapter 6. Miscellaneous Creditors' Remedies · Article 7. Receiver to Enforce Judgment · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 708.630 lets the court appoint a receiver specifically to transfer a debtor's transferable alcoholic beverage license, unless the debtor shows delinquent taxes and higher-priority creditor claims would exceed the license's probable sale price, and requires the receiver to follow Alcoholic Beverage Control Act procedures and obtain a temporary retail permit.
Full Text of § 708.630
(b) The court may appoint a receiver for the purpose of transferring the judgment debtor's interest in an alcoholic beverage license that is transferable under Article 5 (commencing with Section 24070) of Chapter 6 of Division 9 of the Business and Professions Code, unless the judgment debtor shows in the proceeding to appoint a receiver that the amount of delinquent taxes described in Section 24049 of the Business and Professions Code and claims of creditors with priority over the judgment creditor pursuant to Section 24074 of the Business and Professions Code exceed the probable sale price of the license.
(c) The receiver may exercise the powers of the licensee as necessary and in exercising such powers shall comply with the applicable provisions of Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000) of the Business and Professions Code and applicable regulations of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. An application shall be filed to transfer the license to the receiver and a temporary retail permit shall be obtained during the pendency of the transfer.
Plain-English Summary
An alcoholic beverage license is valuable but cannot be levied on like ordinary property, since transfers are tightly regulated. Section 708.630 addresses that by letting the court appoint a receiver for the specific purpose of transferring the debtor's interest in a license that is transferable under the Business and Professions Code.
The debtor gets one built-in defense at the appointment proceeding: showing that delinquent taxes described in Business and Professions Code § 24049, combined with the claims of creditors who have priority over the judgment creditor under § 24074, exceed what the license would probably sell for. If the debtor makes that showing, appointing a receiver would accomplish little for the creditor, since the license's proceeds would be consumed before reaching the judgment.
Once appointed, the receiver steps into the licensee's shoes as needed, but has to follow the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act's provisions and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's regulations. That includes filing an application to transfer the license to the receiver and obtaining a temporary retail permit while the transfer is pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a debtor's alcoholic beverage license be applied to a judgment through ordinary levy?
No. Section 708.630 requires this specific receivership procedure to reach the debtor's interest in a transferable license.
What defense can a debtor raise against this kind of receivership?
Showing that delinquent taxes under Business and Professions Code § 24049, plus the claims of creditors with priority over the judgment creditor under § 24074, exceed the license's probable sale price.
What must the receiver do once appointed?
Comply with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and Department regulations, file an application to transfer the license to the receiver, and obtain a temporary retail permit during the transfer.
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: receiver alcoholic beverage license californiatransferring liquor license judgment debtor