A negotiable instrument is an unconditional promise or order to pay a fixed
amount of money, with or without interest or other charges described in the promise or
order. As stated by Miller, 2014, “Negotiable instrumen
...
A negotiable instrument is an unconditional promise or order to pay a fixed
amount of money, with or without interest or other charges described in the promise or
order. As stated by Miller, 2014, “Negotiable instruments may also be classified as
either demand instruments or time instruments. A demand instrument is payable on
demand—that is, it is payable immediately after it is issued and thereafter for a
reasonable period of time" (pg, 221). An example of a negotiable instrument a
promissory note. Negotiable instrument can be classified into two groups, orders to pay
(drafts and checks) and promises to pay (promissory notes and CDs). Negotiable
instruments can be considered as a small piece of paper given from one person to
another person (negotiation) which serves as an agreement for the exchange for
money.
A promissory note is an example of a negotiable instrument. It is a promise to
pay money by one individual to another or to a bearer. For a promissory note to be
considered a negotiable instrument they must meet certain requirements. It should “be
in writing, be signed by the maker or the drawer, be an unconditional promise or order to
pay, state a fixed amount of money, be payable on demand or at a definite time, be
payable to order or to bearer" (Miller, 2014).
One of the simplest ways to make a negotiable instrument into a non-negotiable
instrument would be a writing which does not contain the words "to the order of" (within
the four corners of the instrument or in endorsement on the note or in allonge). The
instrument should indicate that it is payable to the individual holding the contract
document (analogous to the holder in due course). If someone writes non-negotiable
on the instrument, then it not negotiable. This does not apply to a check. Another
change you could make would be to change the person who the check is payable to to
a company that does not exist this would take the negotiable instrument and make it a
non-negotiable instrument.
There are certain factors that does not affect negotiability. Three factors that the
UCC have develop that does not generally affect negotiability are the date on the face
of the instrument. Having no date or having a negotiable instrument post-dated does not
affect the negotiability. The second factor involves business negotiations that can
sometimes be lengthy, the negotiable instruments will be modified after they are initially
drawn up. Lastly, if the negotiable instrument specifically has a note on it that says that
it is "non-negotiable" or "not governed by Article 3," it still may remain negotiable if it is a
check” (Business law.com).
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