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. 9Ch. 3§ 9301 Security Interest Perfection Rules

§ 9301 Security Interest Perfection Rules

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

§ 9301 Security Interest Perfection Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •The law where the person who owes money lives usually decides how to secure the loan and who gets paid first if there's a problem.
  • •If the item used to secure the loan (like a car or jewelry) is in a certain place, the law of that place decides the rules for that item.
  • •For things like timber or crops, the law where they are located decides the rules for securing the loan with them.
  • •For oil, gas, or minerals, the law where the well or mine is located decides the rules for securing the loan with them.

Example

You borrow money from a bank and use your car as security. You live in California, but your car is kept in Nevada.

The law in Nevada will decide the rules for using your car as security because that's where the car is located.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9301 Security Interest Perfection Rules

Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9303 to 9306.2, inclusive, the following rules determine the law governing perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a security interest in collateral: (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, while a debtor is located in a jurisdiction, the local law of that jurisdiction governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a security interest in collateral. (2) While collateral is located in a jurisdiction, the local law of that jurisdiction governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a possessory security interest in that collateral. (3) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), while negotiable tangible documents, goods, instruments, or tangible money is located in a jurisdiction, the local law of that jurisdiction governs all of the following: (A) Perfection of a security interest in the goods by filing a fixture filing. (B) Perfection of a security interest in timber to be cut. (C) The effect of perfection or nonperfection and the priority of a nonpossessory security interest in the collateral. (4) The local law of the jurisdiction in which the wellhead or minehead is located governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a security interest in as-extracted collateral. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 36. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

perfectioneffect of perfection or nonperfectionpriority of a security interestlocal lawjurisdictionpossessory security interestnonpossessory security interestas-extracted collateral

Related Statutes

  • § 9302 Farm Product Lien Rules
  • § 9303 Certificate Of Title Goods
  • § 9304 Bank Deposit Account Security
  • § 9305 Security Interest Perfection Rules
  • § 9306.1 Electronic Chattel Paper Perfection

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 9301.
View Official Source