Weak Areas Flashcards
Negotiability
An instrument must be a written and signed:
- Unconditional
- Promise or order to pay
- A fixed amount of money (with or without interest) that:
a. is payable to order or bearer when issued or first in possession of holder
b. is payable on demand or at a definite time; and
c. states no unauthorized undertaking or instruction by the person promising or ordering payment.
Note: principal due under the instrument must be fixed. Variable or indexed interest rates are acceptable.
Unconditional
An instrument is unconditional (not negotiable) if:
- expressly states a condition for payment; or
- it states that the promise or order is subject to or governed by another writing.
NOT conditional merely because it:
- Refers to another writing regarding collateral, prepayment, or acceleration
- limits payment to a particular source or fund
- requires a countersignature of a specimen signature (ex: traveler’s check); or
- contains a statement required by law that the holder is subject to claims and defenses of the original payee.
When is an instrument payable to the bearer
- states that it is payable to bearer or otherwise indicated the possessor is entitled to payment
- does not name a payee; or
- is payable to “cash” or otherwise indicated that it is not payable to an identified person.
Criteria for when an instrument is payable at a “definite time?
- On a fixed date
- after elapse of a specified period after sight; or
- at a time readily ascertainable when the instrument is issued.
Note: Events that will occur on an uncertain date (ex: at my death) are not readily ascertainable.
Note: Acceleration clauses do not destroy negotiability. Extensions at the option of the maker, and extensions that are automatic on the happening of an event are acceptable if the extension is to a further definite time stated in the instrument.
Which undertaking instruments will not destroy negotiability?
- An undertaking or power to give, maintain, or protect collateral;
- An authorization or power given to the holder to confess judgment or to realize on or dispose of collateral; and
- a waiver of the benefit of a law that protects the obligor.
How does one become a holder in due course (HDC)?
Through a transfer that qualifies as a negotiation. The stepds needed to negotiate an instrument depend on whether the instrument is payable to bearer or to order.
How do you negotiate a bearer instrument?
By transferring possession of the instrument.
How do you negotiate an order instrument?
By transferrin possession along with the identified persons indorsement.
Note: Payees indorsement must be authorized and valid.
Steps to become a HDC?
- Must be a holder: person in possession of an instrument with the right to enforce th einstrument. The instrument must be payable to bearer or to the person in possession and free of forgery.
- Must be in due course: Holder takes for value, in good faith, and without notice.
What counts as value?
- persomance of the agreed consideration
- Acquisition b the holder of a lien or a security interest in the instrument
- takign the instrument as payment of or security for an antecedent debt
- trading a negotiable insturment for another instrument; or
- giving the instrument in exchange for incurring an irrevocable obligation to a third person b the person taking the instrument.
Note: An executory promise not value unless it is an irrevocable obligation to a third party.
Note: Discounts are allows so long as the full price agreed on has been given
What is good faith?
Honesty in fact (subjective) and observance of reasonable commercial standards (objective)
When is an instrument overdue?
- Any part of the principal is overdue
- an acceleration has been made; or
- more than a reasonable time has elapsed after issue of a demand instrument (for checks, 90 days)
What facts constitute notice?
- Instrument overdue
- claims to the instrument
- defenses or claims in recoupment
- unauthorized signature or alteration
- noticenot received in a time and manner to give a reasonable opportunity to act on it
What facts DO NOT constitute notice?
- instrment antedated, postdated, undated
- instrument was issued in return for an executory promise, unless the purchaser has notice that a defense or claim has arisen from the terms thereof
- any party signed for accommodation
- an incomplete instrument has been completed, unless the purchaser has notice of any improper completion.
- any person negotiating the instrument was a fiduciary, unless the purchaser also knows that the negotiation constituted a breach of trust.
- that there has been a default in payment of interest
- there is a public filing or recording of a document concerning the instrument
- the instrument was sold at a discount; and
- notice of discharge of a party, other than a discharge in an insolvency proceedings.
When is HDC status determined?
At the moment the instrment is negotiated to the holder or when sh gives value, whichever occurs later.
HDC Shelter Rule
A transferee acquires whatever rights her transferor had and takes shelter int he status of her trasnferor. Purpose of the rule is to protect the negotiability f commercial paper
Exception: No HDC rights to persons who were parties to fraud or illegality affecting the instrument.
Remote transferees: do not acquire rights of transferror id you are a transferee after the holder failed to obtain HDC rights because she was a party to fraud or illegality.