Does Priority Transfer When a Promissory Note is Transferred?

Full question:

During the transfer of a note referenced in a Deed of Trust for value received from one party to another, will it hold its' position as the first note when a second note exists?

  • Category: Real Property
  • Subcategory: Deeds
  • Date:
  • State: Nevada

Answer:

A promissory note may be secured or unsecured. When it is secured, it means that property, called collateral, may be taken by the lender if the borrower fails to pay the loan payment. If the debtor files bankruptcy, the lender may be able to recover the value of the loan by taking possession of the specified collateral instead of receiving only a portion of the borrowers property after it is divided among all creditors. Collateral may be many different types of property, such as shares of stock of a company, inventory, accounts receivable, etc.

In order to have the right to be first or ahead of the rights or claims of others against the property (have priority), the note may be "perfected", which typically means filing the note on the recorder's office in the county where the property is located. The general rule is that those who file first are ahead in line to collect on a claim and have priority over subsequent filers. If a note has already been recorded, so as to create a lien on the property, the priority of the creditor will generally be automatically transferred to a new creditor if the note is transferred. However, this may be altered by contractual terms.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

The note on a deed of trust is a legal document that outlines the borrower's promise to repay a loan. It includes details such as the loan amount, interest rate, and repayment terms. The deed of trust itself secures the note by giving the lender a claim to the property if the borrower defaults. Essentially, the note represents the debt, while the deed of trust secures that debt with real property.