In California, there are two types of homesteads: (1) automatic and (2) declared. Although the filing of a declared homestead does add a little to the homestead protection that California law automatically provides to all homeowners, similar protections are enjoyed by homeowners who have not properly recorded a homestead declaration.

As implied, [...]

A.B. 456 amends California Civil Code Sections 3084 and 8416, relating to mechanics liens. Existing law requires a claim of mechanics' lien to be served on the "owner or reputed owner" of the property. Accompanying the lien is a proof of service affidavit which is required to state the name of the person upon whom the mechanics' lien was served. Effective January 1, 2012, for a mechanics' lien to be valid, the service of process affidavit (proof of service) must state not only the name of the owner or reputed [...]

In Junkin v. Golden West Foreclosure Service, Inc.,180 Cal.App.4th 1150 (2009), Gary Bennett (a hard money lender) loaned Donald Junkin III (a licensed real estate agent and investor) $856,000 to purchase a property for $1.975 million. The balance of the purchase price came from a licensed financial institution [...]

Effective April 1, 2012, S.B. 4 amends California Civil Code §2924(f) to require a notice of trustee's sale for the non-judicial foreclosure of a single family residence, and properties with one-to-four residential units, to contain two (2) additional written notices:

1. a notice to the property owner facing foreclosure about the foreclosure process and that the sale date may be postponed one or more times pursuant to California Civil Code §2924g; and
2. a notice to potential bidders at a foreclosure sale that describes some of the risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction.

Beginning January 1, 2012, the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit will increase from $7,500 to $10,000 for personal claims, other than bodily injury resulting from a car accident. For a claim of bodily injury resulting from a car accident, the increase to $10,000 will not occur until January 1, 2014.

It should be noted that the jurisdictional limit of the Small Claims Court for business related disputes and claims brought by a corporation shall remain at $5,000.