California CodesCode of Civil Procedure - CCPPreliminary ProvisionsSection 26
An obligation is a legal duty, by which one person is bound to do or not to do a certain thing, and arises from either of the following:
(a) Contract.
(b) Operation of law.
Notes
Defines an obligation as a legal duty binding one person to do or not do a certain thing and provides that such a duty arises from either contract or operation of law. The definition identifies only those two sources and states no timing, monetary, enforcement, party-status, or subject-matter exception within the provision.
Use as reference
Lexinter.net | California Code, Code of Civil Procedure - CCP § 26 | https://laws.lexinter.net/codes/california/code-of-civil-procedure/preliminary-provisions/section-26