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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 7Ch. 6§ 7601 Lost Document Replacement Orders

§ 7601 Lost Document Replacement Orders

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 7601 Lost Document Replacement Orders

Key Takeaways

  • •If important papers for goods (like a title) are lost or stolen, a court can help get the goods back or make new papers.
  • •If the papers were special (negotiable), the person asking for help might need to promise money (post security) to protect others who might lose out.
  • •If someone gives away goods without a court order when the special papers are missing, they can be in trouble and might have to pay for mistakes.
  • •If the person giving away goods does it honestly and the claimant promises enough money (double the goods' value), they might avoid big trouble.

Example

Imagine you lose the title to your car, and someone else claims it’s theirs.

The court can help you get a new title or get your car back, but you might need to promise money to protect the other person if they turn out to be the real owner. If a tow yard gives your car to the wrong person without checking, they could be in trouble unless they made sure everything was fair and safe.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 7601 Lost Document Replacement Orders

(a) If a document of title is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a court may order delivery of the goods or issuance of a substitute document and the bailee may without liability to any person comply with the order. If the document was negotiable, a court may not order delivery of the goods or issuance of a substitute document without the claimant’s posting security unless it finds that any person that may suffer loss as a result of nonsurrender of possession or control of the document is adequately protected against the loss. If the document was nonnegotiable, the court may require security. The court may also order payment of the bailee’s reasonable costs and attorney’s fees in any action under this subdivision. (b) A bailee that, without a court order, delivers goods to a person claiming under a missing negotiable document of title is liable to any person injured thereby. If the delivery is not in good faith, the bailee is liable for conversion. Delivery in good faith is not conversion if the claimant posts security with the bailee in an amount at least double the value of the goods at the time of posting to indemnify any person injured by the delivery which files a notice of claim within one year after the delivery. (Repealed and added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 254, Sec. 49. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

document of titlebaileenegotiablenonnegotiablesecurity

Related Statutes

  • § 7104 Negotiable Documents Of Title
  • § 7602 Bailee Goods Lien Protection
  • § 7603 Bailee Dispute Resolution Rights
  • § 2503 Seller Delivery Obligations
  • § 7401 Issuer Obligations Despite Defects

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 7601.
View Official Source