As used in this chapter: (a) "Claim" includes a legal or equitable right, title, estate, lien, or interest in property or cloud upon title. (b) "Property" includes real property, and to the extent applicable, personal property. Ca. Civ. Proc. Code § 760.010 Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 44, Sec. 15.
The provisions of this Code, so far as they are substantially the same as existing statutes or the common law, must be construed as continuations thereof, and not as new enactments. Ca. Civ. Code § 5 Enacted 1872.
(a) In addition to the persons required to be named as defendants in the action, the plaintiff may name as defendants "all persons unknown, claiming any legal or equitable right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the property described in the complaint adverse to plaintiff's title, or any cloud upon plaintiff's title thereto," naming them in that manner. (b) In an action under this section, the plaintiff shall name as defendants the persons having adverse claims that are of record or known to the