§ 9—203. Attachment and enforceability of security interest; proceeds; supporting obligations;
formal requisites
(a) A security interest attaches to collateral when it becomes enforceable against the
debtor with respect to the collateral, unless an agreement expressly postpones the
time of attachment.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) through (i) of this section, a security
interest is enforceable against the debtor and third parties with respect to the collateral
only if:
(1) value has been given;
(2) the debtor has rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the collateral
to a secured party; and
(3) one of the following conditions is met:
(A) the debtor has signed a security agreement that provides a description of the collateral
and, if the security interest covers timber to be cut, a description of the land concerned;
(B) the collateral is not a certificated security and is in the possession of the secured
party under section 9—313 of this title pursuant to the debtor’s security agreement;
(C) the collateral is a certificated security in registered form and the security certificate
has been delivered to the secured party under section 8—301 of this title pursuant to the debtor’s security agreement;
(D) the collateral is controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, controllable
payment intangibles, deposit accounts, electronic documents, electronic money, investment
property, or letter-of-credit rights, and the secured party has control under section
7—106, 9—104, 9—105A, 9—106, 9—107, or 9—107A of this title pursuant to the debtor’s
security agreement; or
(E) the collateral is chattel paper and the secured party has possession and control under
section 9—314A of this title pursuant to the debtor’s security agreement.
(c) Subsection (b) of this section is subject to section 4—210 of this title on the security interest of a collecting bank, section 5—118 of this title on the security interest of a letter-of-credit issuer or nominated person, section 9—110 of this title on a security interest arising under Article 2 or 2A of this title, and section 9—206 of this title on security interests in investment property.
(d) A person becomes bound as debtor by a security agreement entered into by another person
if, by operation of law other than this article or by contract:
(1) the security agreement becomes effective to create a security interest in the person’s
property; or
(2) the person becomes generally obligated for the obligations of the other person, including
the obligation secured under the security agreement, and acquires or succeeds to all
or substantially all of the assets of the other person.
(e) If a new debtor becomes bound as debtor by a security agreement entered into by another
person:
(1) the agreement satisfies subdivision (b)(3) of this section with respect to existing
or after-acquired property of the new debtor to the extent the property is described
in the agreement; and
(2) another agreement is not necessary to make a security interest in the property enforceable.
(f) The attachment of a security interest in collateral gives the secured party the rights
to proceeds provided by section 9—315 of this title and is also attachment of a security interest in a supporting obligation for the
collateral.
(g) The attachment of a security interest in a right to payment or performance secured
by a security interest or other lien on personal or real property is also attachment
of a security interest in the security interest, mortgage, or other lien.
(h) The attachment of a security interest in a securities account is also attachment of
a security interest in the security entitlements carried in the securities account.
(i) The attachment of a security interest in a commodity account is also attachment of
a security interest in the commodity contracts carried in the commodity account. (Added 1999, No. 106 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. July 1, 2001; amended 2015, No. 51, § B.9, eff. June 3, 2015; 2025, No. 17, § 9, eff. July 1, 2025.)