Negotiable instruments Flashcards
What is a negotiable instrument
An unconditional promise or order to apy a fixed amount of money if the following apply:
- Must be payable to bearer or to order at the time it is issued or comes into possession of a holder.
- Must be payable on demand at a definite time.
- Must not state any other undertaking by person promising to pay to do any other act in addition to paying money
How to establish status as Holder in Due Course
Must take the instrument in good faith, for value, and without notice that the instrument contains an unauthorized signature or that any party has a defense to payment of the instrument.
Which UCC article?
Article 3. UCC applies to two instruments: notes and drafts. Not to money
Holder in Due Course Rule
If an instrument is negotiable and is transferred by way of negotiation to a person who takes the instrument for value, in good faith, and without notice of any defense or claim to the instrument, the HDC will be able to force someone to pay on the instrument unless a real defense exists.
Note definition
Promise to pay. Promisor is the maker. Promissee is the payee or bearer.
Certificate of deposit
Like a note. instrument from bank acknlowedging money received and promise to repay
Draft definition
Draft is an order to pay. A drawer draws a draft that orders the drawee to pay money to a third party payee or bearer.
To be negotiable an instrument must be a….
- written and signed
- unconditional
- promise to pay
- a fixed amount of money that is
i. payable to order or bearer when issued or first in possession of holder
ii. payable on demand or at a definite time and
iii. states no authorized undertaking or instruction by the promisor
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: unconditional
an instrument is conditional if
-it expressly states a condition for payment
-states the promise or order is subject to or governed by another writing.
not conditional merely because it limits funds to a aprticular source or refers to another writings acceleration terms.
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: promise or order to pay
Note = promise to pay draft = order to pay
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: Fixed amount of $
Must require payment in currency, not any other medium. Principal due must be fixed. Ok if it says it will be payable with interest.
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: Payable to order or bearer
Payable to order = payable to identified person or to an identified person “or order”
payable to bearer =
1. states payable to bearer or otherwise indicates that the possessor is entitled to payment
2. does not name a payee
3. is payable to cash
Person to whom instrument is addressed is governed by intent of maker.
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: on demand or at a definite time
Demand = fails to state a time or states on demand
definite time = payable on fixed date, after elapse of specified period or at a time readily ascertainable when issued.
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: are accelerations and extension clauses allowed?
Acceleration clauses = yes
extensions are the option of the maker = yes if extension is to further definite time.
Extensions by option of holder = yes
Formal Reqs of Negotiabiity: no unauthorized undertakings or instructions
3 undertakings or instructions allowed by the UCC:
- undertaking or power to give, maintain, or protect collateral
- authorization or power given to holder to confess judgment or to realize on or dispose of collateral
- A waiver of the benefit of the law the protects the obligor
Rules of construction–Which controls: handwriting or type/print
handwriting
Rules of construction–Which controls: type vs print
type
Rules of construction–Which controls: unambiguous words or figures
words
Opting Out rule
Negotiability is destroyed by conspicuous statement on the instrument that it is non-negotiable. Doesn’t apply to checks.
If two or more people sign the instrument who is liable?
They are jointly and separately liable.
How to treat an incomplete instrument
- may be enforced according to its incomplete terms
- may be treated as augmented by an authorized completion.
How to treat an instrument that is completed without authority?
Treat as a fraudlently altered instrument
What is a holder?
A person in possession of the instrument with the right to enforce it.
How do you become a holder?
Through a transfer that qualifies as a negotiation
How to negotiate: bearer instrument
negotiated by transferring possession of the instrument.
How to negotiate: order instruments
negotiated by transferring possession along with the identified person’s indorsement
Negotiating order instruments: Payee’s indorsement must be valid
Right to enforce will not pass unless the payee’s indorsement is authorized and valid.
Negotiating order instruments: what is the effect of forging the payee’s name in an indorsement?
breaks the chain of title and no subsequent possessor can qualify as a holder.