§ 3412 Issuer Obligation To Pay

Commercial Code·California

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Key Takeaways

•If you write a check or sign a money order, you have to pay the amount you wrote.
•If you sign a blank check and someone fills it in later, you still have to pay what they wrote (but only if they followed the rules).
•You have to pay the person who is supposed to get the money, or someone who already paid it for them.

Example

You write a check for $50 to your friend for a video game.

You have to give your friend the $50 when they cash the check. If you don’t, you’re breaking the rule.

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

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 3412 Issuer Obligation To Pay

The issuer of a note or cashier’s check or other draft drawn on the drawer is obliged to pay the instrument (a) according to its terms at the time it was issued or, if not issued, at the time it first came into possession of a holder, or (b) if the issuer signed an incomplete instrument, according to its terms when completed, to the extent stated in Sections 3115 and 3407. The obligation is owed to a person entitled to enforce the instrument or to an indorser who paid the instrument under Section 3415. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 914, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1993.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

issuer note cashier’s check draft obligation person entitled to enforce indorser

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 3412.

Key Takeaways

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Key Terms

Related Statutes

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Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References