As used in this article:

(a) “Dwelling” means a place where a person resides and may include but is not limited to the following:

Ask a litigation question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified litigation lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(1) A house together with the outbuildings and the land upon which they are situated.

(2) A mobilehome together with the outbuildings and the land upon which they are situated.

(3) A boat or other waterborne vessel.

(4) A condominium, as defined in § 783 of the Civil Code.

(5) A planned development, as defined in § 11003 of the Business and Professions Code.

(6) A stock cooperative, as defined in § 11003.2 of the Business and Professions Code.

(7) A community apartment project, as defined in § 11004 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b) “Family unit” means any of the following:

(1) The judgment debtor and the judgment debtor’s spouse if the spouses reside together in the homestead.

(2) The judgment debtor and at least one of the following persons who the judgment debtor cares for or maintains in the homestead:

(A) The minor child or minor grandchild of the judgment debtor or the judgment debtor’s spouse or the minor child or grandchild of a deceased spouse or former spouse.

(B) The minor brother or sister of the judgment debtor or judgment debtor’s spouse or the minor child of a deceased brother or sister of either spouse.

(C) The father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother of the judgment debtor or the judgment debtor’s spouse or the father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother of a deceased spouse.

(D) An unmarried relative described in this paragraph who has attained the age of majority and is unable to take care of or support himself or herself.

(3) The judgment debtor’s spouse and at least one of the persons listed in paragraph (2) who the judgment debtor’s spouse cares for or maintains in the homestead.

(c) “Homestead” means the principal dwelling (1) in which the judgment debtor or the judgment debtor’s spouse resided on the date the judgment creditor‘s lien attached to the dwelling, and (2) in which the judgment debtor or the judgment debtor’s spouse resided continuously thereafter until the date of the court determination that the dwelling is a homestead. Where exempt proceeds from the sale or damage or destruction of a homestead are used toward the acquisition of a dwelling within the six-month period provided by Section 704.720, “homestead” also means the dwelling so acquired if it is the principal dwelling in which the judgment debtor or the judgment debtor’s spouse resided continuously from the date of acquisition until the date of the court determination that the dwelling is a homestead, whether or not an abstract or certified copy of a judgment was recorded to create a judgment lien before the dwelling was acquired.

(d) “Spouse” does not include a married person following entry of a judgment decreeing legal separation of the parties, unless such married persons reside together in the same dwelling.

(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1159, Sec. 11. Operative July 1, 1984, by Sec. 17 of Ch. 1159.)