2006 Ohio Revised Code - 1303.25. (UCC 3-205) Special, blank, anomalous indorsement.

§ 1303.25. (UCC 3-205) Special, blank, anomalous indorsement.
 

(A)  A "special indorsement" means an indorsement that is made by the holder of an instrument, whether payable to an identified person or payable to the bearer, and that identifies a person to whom it makes the instrument payable. An instrument, when specially indorsed, becomes payable to the identified person and may be negotiated only by the indorsement of that person. Section 1303.08 of the Revised Code applies to special indorsements. 

(B)  "Blank indorsement" means an indorsement that is made by the holder of the instrument and that is not a special indorsement. When an instrument is indorsed in blank, the instrument becomes payable to bearer and may be negotiated by transfer of possession alone until specially indorsed. 

(C)  The holder may convert a blank indorsement that consists only of a signature into a special indorsement by writing above the signature of the indorser words identifying the person to whom the instrument is made payable. 

(D)  "Anomalous indorsement" means an indorsement made by a person who is not the holder of the instrument. An "anomalous indorsement" does not affect the manner in which the instrument may be negotiated. 
 

HISTORY: 129 v S 5 (Eff 7-1-62); 145 v S 147. Eff 8-19-94.
 

Not analogous to former RC § 1303.25 (RS § 3175a; 95 v 185; GC § 8215; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53), repealed 129 v S 5, § 2, eff 7-1-62.

 

Official Comment

1. Subsection (a) is based on subsection (1) of the former section 3-204. It states the test of a special indorsement to be whether the indorsement identifies a person to whom the instrument is payable. Section 3-110 states rules for identifying the payee of an instrument. Section 3-205(a) incorporates the principles stated in section 3-110 in identifying an indorsee. The language of section 3-110 refers to language used by the issuer of the instrument. When that section is used with respect to an indorsement, section 3-110 must be read as referring to the language used by the indorser. 

2.  Subsection (b) is based on subsection (2) of former section 3-204.  An indorsement made by the holder is either a special or blank indorsement.  If the indorsement is made by a holder and is not a special indorsement, it is a blank indorsement.  For example, the holder of an instrument, intending to make a special indorsement, writes the words "Pay to the order of" without completing the indorsement by writing the name of the indorsee.  The holder's signature appears under the quoted words.  The indorsement is not a special indorsement because it does not identify a person to whom it makes the instrument payable.  Since it is not a special indorsement it is a blank indorsement and the instrument is payable to bearer. The result is analogous to that of a check in which the name of the payee is left blank by the drawer.  In that case the check is payable to bearer. See the last paragraphs of comment 2 to section 3-115. 

A blank indorsement is usually the signature of the indorser on the back of the instrument without other words.  Subsection (c) is based on subsection (3) of former section 3-204.  A "restrictive indorsement" described in section 3-206 can be either a blank indorsement or a special indorsement.  "Pay to T, in trust for B" is a restrictive indorsement.  It is also a special indorsement because it identifies T as the person to whom the instrument is payable.  "For deposit only" followed by the signature of the payee of a check is a restrictive indorsement.  It is also a blank indorsement because it does not identify the person to whom the instrument is payble. 

3.  The only effect of an "anomalous indorsement," defined in subsection (d), is to make the signer liable on the instrument as an indorser.  Such an indorsement is normally made by an accommodation party.  Section 3-419.