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HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 9Ch. 3§ 9338 Incorrect Financing Statement Priority

§ 9338 Incorrect Financing Statement Priority

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

§ 9338 Incorrect Financing Statement Priority

This law says that if a financing statement that perfects a security interest or agricultural lien has wrong information, the lien can be pushed down or can be ignored by buyers who rely on that wrong info.

Key Takeaways

  • •A financing statement with incorrect information can make a security interest or agricultural lien subordinate.
  • •A purchaser who relies on the incorrect information and gives value can take the collateral free of the lien.
  • •The protection applies only when the purchaser reasonably relies on the mistake and provides value.

Example

A farmer files a financing statement to perfect a lien on his tractor, but mistakenly lists the wrong buyer’s name. Later, a third party buys the tractor, pays money, and takes possession believing the lien does not exist.

Because the filing had incorrect information, the buyer’s reliance is reasonable, so the buyer gets the tractor free of the lien, and the original lien is treated as lower priority.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9338 Incorrect Financing Statement Priority

If a security interest or agricultural lien is perfected by a filed financing statement providing information described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 9516 which is incorrect at the time the financing statement is filed, both of the following apply: (1) The security interest or agricultural lien is subordinate to a conflicting perfected security interest in the collateral to the extent that the holder of the conflicting security interest gives value in reasonable reliance upon the incorrect information. (2) A purchaser, other than a secured party, of the collateral takes free of the security interest or agricultural lien to the extent that, in reasonable reliance upon the incorrect information, the purchaser gives value and, in the case of tangible chattel paper, tangible documents, goods, instruments, or a security certificate, receives delivery of the collateral. (Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 254, Sec. 62. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

security interestagricultural lienfinancing statementconflicting perfected security interestreasonable relianceincorrect information

Related Statutes

  • § 9317 Priority Of Security Interests
  • § 17304 Transitional Security Interest Perfection
  • § 9308 Security Interest Perfection
  • § 9311 Security Interest Exemptions
  • § 9315 Security Interest In Proceeds

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 9338.
View Official Source