LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 3Ch. 2§ 3206 Negotiation Of Restricted Instruments

§ 3206 Negotiation Of Restricted Instruments

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3206 Negotiation Of Restricted Instruments

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone writes on a check 'only pay to John,' you can still give it to someone else. The note doesn't stop the check from being passed around.
  • •If a check says 'pay only if...' you can still cash it. The person cashing it doesn’t have to check if the condition was met.
  • •If a check is signed over to a bank for deposit, and someone else tries to cash it, they might be breaking the law unless the money goes to the right person.
  • •If a check is signed over to someone to help another person (like a trustee), the bank can still pay the person holding the check unless they know something fishy is going on.

Example

You find a check made out to your friend with 'For deposit only' written on the back. You try to cash it at the store.

The store can’t cash it for you because the check is supposed to go to your friend’s bank account. If they cash it for you anyway, they might be breaking the law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3206 Negotiation Of Restricted Instruments

(a) An indorsement limiting payment to a particular person or otherwise prohibiting further transfer or negotiation of the instrument is not effective to prevent further transfer or negotiation of the instrument. (b) An indorsement stating a condition to the right of the indorsee to receive payment does not affect the right of the indorsee to enforce the instrument. A person paying the instrument or taking it for value or collection may disregard the condition, and the rights and liabilities of that person are not affected by whether the condition has been fulfilled. (c) If an instrument bears an indorsement (i) described in subdivision (b) of Section 4201, or (ii) in blank or to a particular bank using the words “for deposit,” “for collection,” or other words indicating a purpose of having the instrument collected by a bank for the indorser or for a particular account, the following rules apply: (1) A person, other than a bank, who purchases the instrument when so indorsed converts the instrument unless the amount paid for the instrument is received by the indorser or applied consistently with the indorsement. (2) A depositary bank that purchases the instrument or takes it for collection when so indorsed converts the instrument unless the amount paid by the bank with respect to the instrument is received by the indorser or applied consistently with the indorsement. (3) A payor bank that is also the depositary bank or that takes the instrument for immediate payment over the counter from a person other than a collecting bank converts the instrument unless the proceeds of the instrument are received by the indorser or applied consistently with the indorsement. (4) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), a payor bank or intermediary bank may disregard the indorsement and is not liable if the proceeds of the instrument are not received by the indorser or applied consistently with the indorsement. (d) Except for an indorsement covered by subdivision (c), if an instrument bears an indorsement using words to the effect that payment is to be made to the indorsee as agent, trustee, or other fiduciary for the benefit of the indorser or another person, the following rules apply: (1) Unless there is notice of breach of fiduciary duty as provided in Section 3307, a person who purchases the instrument from the indorsee or takes the instrument from the indorsee for collection or payment may pay the proceeds of payment or the value given for the instrument to the indorsee without regard to whether the indorsee violates a fiduciary duty to the indorser. (2) A subsequent transferee of the instrument or person who pays the instrument is neither given notice nor otherwise affected by the restriction in the indorsement unless the transferee or payor knows that the fiduciary dealt with the instrument or its proceeds in breach of fiduciary duty. (e) The presence on an instrument of an indorsement to which this section applies does not prevent a purchaser of the instrument from becoming a holder in due course of the instrument unless the purchaser is a converter under subdivision (c) or has notice or knowledge of breach of fiduciary duty as stated in subdivision (d). (f) In an action to enforce the obligation of a party to pay the instrument, the obligor has a defense if payment would violate an indorsement to which this section applies and the payment is not permitted by this section. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 914, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

indorsementnegotiationfor depositfor collectionconverts the instrument

Related Statutes

  • § 3203 Instrument Transfer Rights
  • § 3201 Negotiation Of Instruments
  • § 3202 Negotiation Effectiveness Rules
  • § 3204 Indorsement Indorser Definition
  • § 7506 Right To Indorsement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 3206.
View Official Source