The people of the state of California, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: TITLE OF THE ACT. 1. This act shall be known as the Civil Code of the state of California, and is in four divisions, as follows: I. The first relating to persons. II. The second to property. III. The third to obligations. IV. The fourth contains general provisions relating to the three preceding divisions. En. March 21, 1872. Act, how cited: See sec. 21, post. PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS. When this code takes effect. Rules of construction. Provisions similar to existing laws, how construed. Actions, etc., not affected. Holidays. Same. Business days. Computation of time. Certain acts not to be done on holidays. § 2. § 3. Not retroactive. 4. 5. 6. 7. § 8. 9. 10. 11. § 12. § 13. $ 14. $ 15. Good faith, what constitutes. Joint authority construed. Words and phrases, how construed. (Repealed.) Degrees of care and diligence. (Repealed.) Notice, actual and constructive. Constructive notice, when deemed. § 2. When this code takes effect. This code takes effect at twelve o'clock noon on the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-three. En. March 21, 1872. Effect of codes generally: See Pol. Code, secs. 4478 et seq. Similar provision in other codes of California: See sec. 2 thereof. Publication of the codes: See Pol. Code, sec. 4494. § 3. Not retroactive. No part of it is retroactive, unless expressly so declared. En. March 21, 1872. Cal.Rep.Cit. 95, 201; 106, 680; 133, 527. 4. Rules of construction. The rule of the common law, that statutes in derogation thereof are to be strictly construed, has no application to this code. The code establishes the law of this state respecting the subjects to which it relates, and its provisions are to be liberally construed with a view to effect its objects and to promote justice. En. March 21, 1872. Effect of codes generally: See Pol. Code, secs. 4478 et seq. |