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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 9Ch. 3§ 9317 Priority Of Security Interests

§ 9317 Priority Of Security Interests

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

§ 9317 Priority Of Security Interests

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone has a legal claim on property (like a loan), others might get priority if they file first or meet certain conditions.
  • •A buyer or renter can get property free of any loan claims if they pay for it, get it, and didn’t know about the loan before it was officially recorded.
  • •If a lender files a loan claim within 20 days of giving the property, they get priority over others who might have claimed it in that time.
  • •For digital or paper records (like contracts), a buyer gets them free of loan claims if they pay, get control of them, and didn’t know about the loan.

Example

You buy a used car from a seller who still owes money on it to a bank.

If you pay for the car, get the keys, and didn’t know about the bank’s loan, you own the car free and clear—unless the bank had already officially recorded their loan before you bought it.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9317 Priority Of Security Interests

(a) A security interest or agricultural lien is subordinate to the rights of both of the following: (1) A person entitled to priority under Section 9322. (2) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), a person that becomes a lien creditor before the earlier of the time the security interest or agricultural lien is perfected, or one of the conditions specified in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 9203 is met and a financing statement covering the collateral is filed. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), a buyer, other than a secured party, of goods, instruments, tangible documents, or a certificated security takes free of a security interest or agricultural lien if the buyer gives value and receives delivery of the collateral without knowledge of the security interest or agricultural lien and before it is perfected. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), a lessee of goods takes free of a security interest or agricultural lien if the lessee gives value and receives delivery of the collateral without knowledge of the security interest or agricultural lien and before it is perfected. (d) Subject to subdivisions (f) to (i), inclusive, a licensee of a general intangible or a buyer, other than a secured party, of collateral other than electronic money, goods, instruments, tangible documents, or a certificated security takes free of a security interest if the licensee or buyer gives value without knowledge of the security interest and before it is perfected. (e) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 9320 and 9321, if a person files a financing statement with respect to a purchase money security interest before or within 20 days after the debtor receives delivery of the collateral, the security interest takes priority over the rights of a buyer, lessee, or lien creditor which arise between the time the security interest attaches and the time of filing. (f) A buyer, other than a secured party, of chattel paper takes free of a security interest if, without knowledge of the security interest and before it is perfected, the buyer gives value and both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The buyer receives delivery of each authoritative tangible copy of the record evidencing the chattel paper. (2) If each authoritative electronic copy of the record evidencing the chattel paper can be subjected to control under Section 9105, the buyer obtains control of each authoritative electronic copy. (g) A buyer of an electronic document takes free of a security interest if, without knowledge of the security interest and before it is perfected, the buyer gives value and, if each authoritative electronic copy of the document can be subjected to control under Section 7106, obtains control of each authoritative electronic copy. (h) A buyer of a controllable electronic record takes free of a security interest if, without knowledge of the security interest and before it is perfected, the buyer gives value and obtains control of the controllable electronic record. (i) A buyer, other than a secured party, of a controllable account or a controllable payment intangible takes free of a security interest if, without knowledge of the security interest and before it is perfected, the buyer gives value and obtains control of the controllable account or controllable payment intangible. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 47. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

security interestagricultural lienlien creditorperfectedfinancing statementbuyerlesseecollateralpriority

Related Statutes

  • § 9308 Security Interest Perfection
  • § 9311 Security Interest Exemptions
  • § 9315 Security Interest In Proceeds
  • § 9320 Buyer Protection From Security Interests
  • § 9325 Security Interest Subordination

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 9317.
View Official Source