Section 504 Of Article 4. Boaters Lien Law From California Harbors And Navigation Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 4.
504
. (a) For vessels with a value determined to be one thousand
five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less, the department shall promptly
furnish the lienholder with the names and addresses of the registered
and legal owners of record.
(b) The lienholder shall, immediately upon receipt of the names
and addresses, send by mail, with return receipt requested, a
completed notice of pending lien sale form, a blank declaration of
opposition form, and a return envelope preaddressed to the
department, to the registered owner and legal owner at their
addresses of record with the department, to any other person known to
have a proprietary interest in the vessel, and to the department.
(c) Upon receipt of the notice, the department shall mark its
records and thereafter notify any person having a proprietary
interest in the vessel that there is a pending lien sale and that
title will not be transferred until the lien is satisfied or
released.
(d) All notices shall be signed under penalty of perjury and shall
include all of the following information and statements:
(1) A description of the vessel, including make, identification
number, and state of registration, to the extent available.
(2) The specific date, exact time, and place of sale, which shall
be set not less than 35 days, but not more than 60 days, from the
date of mailing.
(3) The names and addresses of the registered and legal owners of
the vessel and any other person known to have an interest in the
vessel.
(4) All of the following statements:
(A) The amount of the lien and the facts that give rise to the
lien. The statement shall include, as a separate item, an estimate of
any additional storage costs accruing pending the lien sale.
(B) The person has a right to a hearing in court.
(C) If a court hearing is desired, a declaration of opposition
signed under penalty of perjury is required to be signed and returned
to the department within 15 days of the date the notice of pending
lien sale was mailed.
(D) If the declaration of opposition is signed and returned, the
lienholder will be allowed to sell the vessel only if he or she
obtains a court judgment or if he or she obtains a subsequent release
from the declarant.
(E) If a court action is filed, the declarant will be served by
mail with legal process in the court proceedings at the address shown
on the declaration of opposition and may appear to contest the
claim.
(F) The person may be liable for court costs if a judgment is
entered in favor of the lienholder.
(e) If the department receives the completed declaration of
opposition within the time provided, the department shall notify the
lienholder within 16 days that a lien sale shall not be conducted
unless the lienholder files an action in court within 20 days of the
notice and judgment is subsequently entered in favor of the
lienholder or the declarant subsequently releases his or her interest
in the vessel.
(f) Service on the declarant by mail with return receipt
requested, signed by the declarant or an authorized agent of the
declarant at the address shown on the declaration of opposition,
shall be effective. Return of a declaration of opposition shall
constitute consent by the declarant to service of legal process for
the desired court hearing upon him or her in the foregoing manner. If
the lienholder has attempted service upon the declarant by that
method at the address shown on the declaration of opposition and the
mail has been returned unclaimed, the lienholder may proceed with the
sale.