This chapter governs contribution among joint judgment debtors other than joint tortfeasors.
§ 881.Generally
Title 11. Contribution Among Joint Judgment Debtors · Chapter 2. Contribution Among Other Judgment Debtors · Enacted 1982 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 881 opens Chapter 2 of Title 11 by stating that this chapter governs contribution among joint judgment debtors other than joint tortfeasors, whose contribution rights instead fall under Chapter 1.
Full Text of § 881
Plain-English Summary
This one-sentence section marks the boundary between Title 11's two chapters. Chapter 1 (§§ 875-880) covers contribution among tortfeasors held jointly liable in tort. Chapter 2, beginning here, covers everyone else who might be jointly liable on a money judgment for reasons unrelated to tort — co-signers, sureties, and other joint contract debtors, among others.
The chapters share a common structural idea — a party who pays more than a fair share of a joint judgment can recover the excess from co-debtors who paid less — but Chapter 2 builds its own, simpler procedure rather than importing Chapter 1's pro rata and good-faith-settlement machinery wholesale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of judgment debtors does Chapter 2 cover?
Judgment debtors who are jointly liable on a money judgment for reasons other than joint tort liability — Chapter 1 already covers joint tortfeasors.
Does Chapter 2 use the same pro rata share rules as Chapter 1?
No. Chapter 2 sets out its own contribution and repayment rules in §§ 882 and 883, separate from Chapter 1's tortfeasor-specific framework.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 497, Sec. 63. Operative July 1, 1983, by Sec. 185 of Ch. 497.
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: contribution among joint judgment debtors californiachapter 2 title 11 ccp