The return of a writ of possession or sale is governed by Section 699.560 (return of writ of execution).
§ 712.050.Return of Writ of Possession Or Sale
Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 3 · Chapter 1. General Provisions · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 712.050 provides that a writ of possession or sale is returned to the court under the same rule that governs the return of a writ of execution.
Full Text of § 712.050
Plain-English Summary
After a levying officer finishes acting on a writ, the officer reports back to the court on what happened — that report is the writ's "return." Rather than writing a separate return procedure for possession and sale writs, this section points back to § 699.560, the rule already used for returning a writ of execution.
That return matters beyond just closing the file. Section 712.010 lets a creditor obtain successive writs for the same county, but blocks a new one until 180 days have passed unless the earlier writ was already returned. A prompt return, in other words, can let a creditor move faster than waiting out the full 180 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What statute governs returning a writ of possession or sale?
Section 699.560, the same provision that governs the return of a writ of execution.
What is the "return" of a writ?
The levying officer's report back to the court describing what was done under the writ.
Why would a creditor want the writ returned promptly?
Under § 712.010, a new writ for the same county otherwise can't issue until 180 days after the earlier one, unless that earlier writ was already returned.
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: return of writ of possession california