Section 11420 Of Chapter 2. General Provisions From California Probate Code >> Division 7. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 2.
11420
. (a) Debts shall be paid in the following order of priority
among classes of debts, except that debts owed to the United States
or to this state that have preference under the laws of the United
States or of this state shall be given the preference required by
such laws:
(1) Expenses of administration. With respect to obligations
secured by mortgage, deed of trust, or other lien, including, but not
limited to, a judgment lien, only those expenses of administration
incurred that are reasonably related to the administration of that
property by which obligations are secured shall be given priority
over these obligations.
(2) Obligations secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other
lien, including, but not limited to, a judgment lien, in the order of
their priority, so far as they may be paid out of the proceeds of
the property subject to the lien. If the proceeds are insufficient,
the part of the obligation remaining unsatisfied shall be classed
with general debts.
(3) Funeral expenses.
(4) Expenses of last illness.
(5) Family allowance.
(6) Wage claims.
(7) General debts, including judgments not secured by a lien and
all other debts not included in a prior class.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by statute, the debts of each
class are without preference or priority one over another. No debt of
any class may be paid until all those of prior classes are paid in
full. If property in the estate is insufficient to pay all debts of
any class in full, each debt in that class shall be paid a
proportionate share.