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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 9Ch. 4§ 9406 Payment Obligation After Assignment

§ 9406 Payment Obligation After Assignment

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

§ 9406 Payment Obligation After Assignment

Key Takeaways

  • •If you owe money to someone and they tell you to pay someone else instead, you must pay the new person after you get the notice.
  • •The notice must clearly say what money is being assigned to the new person, or it doesn’t count.
  • •If you’re not sure the assignment is real, you can ask for proof. If they don’t give you proof, you can keep paying the original person.
  • •You can’t be forced to pay part of your bill to one person and part to another unless you agree to it.

Example

You have a monthly payment for your gym membership. One day, the gym tells you to start paying the money to a different company instead.

Once the gym sends you a clear notice saying to pay the new company, you must pay them. If the notice is confusing or you’re not sure, you can ask for proof. If they don’t give you proof, you can keep paying the gym like before.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9406 Payment Obligation After Assignment

(a) Subject to subdivisions (b) to (i), inclusive, and (l), an account debtor on an account, chattel paper, or a payment intangible may discharge its obligation by paying the assignor until, but not after, the account debtor receives a notification, signed by the assignor or the assignee, that the amount due or to become due has been assigned and that payment is to be made to the assignee. After receipt of the notification, the account debtor may discharge its obligation by paying the assignee and may not discharge the obligation by paying the assignor. (b) Subject to subdivisions (h) and (l), notification is ineffective under subdivision (a) as follows: (1) If it does not reasonably identify the rights assigned. (2) To the extent that an agreement between an account debtor and a seller of a payment intangible limits the account debtor’s duty to pay a person other than the seller and the limitation is effective under law other than this division. (3) At the option of an account debtor, if the notification notifies the account debtor to make less than the full amount of any installment or other periodic payment to the assignee, even if any of the following conditions is satisfied: (A) Only a portion of the account, chattel paper, or payment intangible has been assigned to that assignee. (B) A portion has been assigned to another assignee. (C) The account debtor knows that the assignment to that assignee is limited. (c) Subject to subdivisions (h) and (l), if requested by the account debtor, an assignee shall seasonably furnish reasonable proof that the assignment has been made. Unless the assignee complies, the account debtor may discharge its obligation by paying the assignor, even if the account debtor has received a notification under subdivision (a). (d) In this subdivision, “promissory note” includes a negotiable instrument that evidences chattel paper. Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (e) and (k) and in Sections 9407 and 10303, and subject to subdivision (h), a term in an agreement between an account debtor and an assignor or in a promissory note is ineffective to the extent that it does either of the following: (1) Prohibits, restricts, or requires the consent of the account debtor or person obligated on the promissory note to the assignment or transfer of, or the creation, attachment, perfection, or enforcement of a security interest in, the account, chattel paper, payment intangible, or promissory note. (2) Provides that the assignment or transfer or the creation, attachment, perfection, or enforcement of the security interest may give rise to a default, breach, right of recoupment, claim, defense, termination, right of termination, or remedy under the account, chattel paper, payment intangible, or promissory note. (e) Subdivision (d) does not apply to the sale of a payment intangible or promissory note, other than a sale pursuant to a disposition under Section 9610 or an acceptance of collateral under Section 9620. (f) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (k) and Sections 9407 and 10303, and subject to subdivisions (h) and (i), a rule of law, statute, or regulation, that prohibits, restricts, or requires the consent of a government, governmental body or official, or account debtor to the assignment or transfer of, or creation of a security interest in, an account or chattel paper is ineffective to the extent that the rule of law, statute, or regulation does either of the following: (1) Prohibits, restricts, or requires the consent of the government, governmental body or official, or account debtor to the assignment or transfer of, or the creation, attachment, perfection, or enforcement of a security interest in, the account or chattel paper. (2) Provides that the assignment or transfer or the creation, attachment, perfection, or enforcement of the security interest may give rise to a default, breach, right of recoupment, claim, defense, termination, right of termination, or remedy under the account or chattel paper. (g) Subject to subdivisions (h) and (l), an account debtor may not waive or vary its option under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). (h) This section is subject to law other than this division which establishes a different rule for an account debtor who is an individual and who incurred the obligation primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. (i) This section does not apply to an assignment of a health care insurance receivable. (j) Subdivision (f) does not apply to an assignment or transfer of, or the creation, attachment, perfection, or enforcement of a security interest in, a claim or right to receive compensation for injuries or sickness as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of Section 104 of Title 26 of the United States Code, as amended, or a claim or right to receive benefits under a special needs trust as described in paragraph (4) of subsection (d) of Section 1396p of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended, to the extent that subdivision (f) is inconsistent with those laws. (k) Subdivisions (d), (f), and (j) do not apply to a security interest in an ownership interest in a general partnership, limited partnership, or limited liability company. (l) Subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, and (g) do not apply to a controllable account or controllable payment intangible. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 57. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

account debtorassignorassigneenotificationpayment intangible

Related Statutes

  • § 9403 Assignment Claim Enforcement
  • § 9404 Account Debtor Defenses
  • § 9405 Contract Assignment Modifications
  • § 9209 Release Of Account Debtors
  • § 10401 Lease Performance Assurance Rights

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 9406.
View Official Source