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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74128</law_id><section_number>8.9A-203</section_number><catch_line>Attachment and enforceability of security interest; proceeds, supporting obligations; formal requisites</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.13-302</reference><reference>8.13-303</reference><reference>8.4-208</reference><reference>8.5A-117.1</reference><reference>8.9A-102</reference><reference>8.9A-109</reference><reference>8.9A-110</reference><reference>8.9A-316</reference><reference>8.9A-317</reference><reference>8.9A-508</reference><reference>8.9A-703</reference><reference>8.9A-704</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="8.9A">Commercial Code &#x2014; Secured Transactions</unit><unit label="part" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Effectiveness of Security Agreement; Attachment of Security Interest; Rights of Parties to Security Agreement</unit><unit label="subpart" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Effectiveness and Attachment</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> <span class="dictionary">Attachment</span>. A security interest attaches to <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> when it becomes enforceable against the debtor with respect to the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span>, unless an agreement expressly postpones the time of <span class="dictionary">attachment</span>. <a id="paragraph-266582" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Enforceability. Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) through (i), a security interest is enforceable against the debtor and third parties with respect to the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> only if: <a id="paragraph-266583" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> value has been given; <a id="paragraph-266584" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the debtor has rights in the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> or the power to transfer rights in the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> to a secured <span class="dictionary">party</span>; and <a id="paragraph-266585" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> one of the following conditions is met: <a id="paragraph-266586" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#b3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> the debtor has signed a security agreement that provides a description of the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> and, if the security interest covers timber to be cut, a description of the land concerned; <a id="paragraph-266587" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is not a certificated security and is in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the secured <span class="dictionary">party</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When possession by or delivery to secured party perfects security interest without filing" href="/8.9A-313/">8.9A-313</a> pursuant to the debtor&#x2019;s security agreement; <a id="paragraph-266588" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is a certificated security in registered form and the security certificate has been delivered to the secured <span class="dictionary">party</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Delivery" href="/8.8A-301/">8.8A-301</a> pursuant to the debtor&#x2019;s security agreement; <a id="paragraph-266589" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, controllable payment intangibles, deposit accounts, electronic documents, electronic money, investment property, or letter-of-credit rights, and the secured <span class="dictionary">party</span> has control under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Control of electronic document" href="/8.7-106/">8.7-106</a>, <a class="law" title="Control of deposit account" href="/8.9A-104/">8.9A-104</a>, <a class="law" title="Control of electronic copy of record evidencing chattel paper" href="/8.9A-105/">8.9A-105</a>, <a class="law" title="Control of electronic money" href="/8.9A-105.1/">8.9A-105.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Control of investment property" href="/8.9A-106/">8.9A-106</a>, <a class="law" title="Control of letter-of-credit right" href="/8.9A-107/">8.9A-107</a>, or <a class="law" title="Control of controllable electronic record, controllable account, or controllable payment intangible" href="/8.9A-107.1/">8.9A-107.1</a> pursuant to the debtor&#x2019;s security agreement; or <a id="paragraph-266590" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is chattel paper and the secured <span class="dictionary">party</span> has <span class="dictionary">possession</span> and control under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Perfection by possession and control of chattel paper" href="/8.9A-314.1/">8.9A-314.1</a> pursuant to the debtor&#x2019;s security agreement. <a id="paragraph-266591" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Other Uniform Commercial Code provisions. Subsection (b) is subject to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Presentment by notice of item not payable by, through or at a bank; liability of drawer or endorser" href="/8.4-210/">8.4-210</a> on the security interest of a collecting bank, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Applicability" href="/8.5A-118/">8.5A-118</a> on the security interest of a letter-of-credit issuer or nominated person, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Security interests arising under Title 8.2 or Title 8.2A" href="/8.9A-110/">8.9A-110</a> on a security interest arising under Title 8.2 or Title 8.2A, and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Security interest arising in purchase or delivery of financial asset" href="/8.9A-206/">8.9A-206</a> on security interests in investment property. <a id="paragraph-266592" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> When person becomes bound by another person&#x2019;s security agreement. A person becomes bound as debtor by a security agreement entered into by another person if, by operation of <span class="dictionary">law</span> other than this title or by <span class="dictionary">contract</span>: <a id="paragraph-266593" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the security agreement becomes effective to create a security interest in the person&#x2019;s property; or <a id="paragraph-266594" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#d1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the person becomes generally obligated for the obligations of the other person, including the obligation secured under the security agreement, and acquires or succeeds to all or substantially all of the <span class="dictionary">assets</span> of the other person. <a id="paragraph-266595" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#d2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> Effect of new debtor becoming bound. If a new debtor becomes bound as debtor by a security agreement entered into by another person: <a id="paragraph-266596" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the agreement satisfies subdivision (b) (3) with respect to existing or after-acquired property of the new debtor to the extent the property is described in the agreement; and <a id="paragraph-266597" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#e1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> another agreement is not necessary to make a security interest in the property enforceable. <a id="paragraph-266598" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#e2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f"><p><span class="prefix-number">f.</span> Proceeds and supporting obligations. The <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> gives the secured <span class="dictionary">party</span> the rights to proceeds provided by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Secured party's rights on disposition of collateral and in proceeds" href="/8.9A-315/">8.9A-315</a> and is also <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in a supporting obligation for the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span>. <a id="paragraph-266599" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#f"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g"><p><span class="prefix-number">g.</span> <span class="dictionary">Lien</span> securing right to payment. The <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in a right to payment or performance secured by a security interest or other <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on personal or real property is also <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in the security interest, mortgage, or other <span class="dictionary">lien</span>. <a id="paragraph-266600" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#g"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="h"><p><span class="prefix-number">h.</span> Security entitlement carried in securities account. The <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in a securities account is also <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in the security entitlements carried in the securities account. <a id="paragraph-266601" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#h"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i"><p><span class="prefix-number">i.</span> Commodity <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> carried in commodity account. The <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in a commodity account is also <span class="dictionary">attachment</span> of a security interest in the commodity <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> carried in the commodity account. <a id="paragraph-266602" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-203/#i"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 6-551; 1964, c. 219, &#xA7; 8.9-203; 1973, c. 509; 1984, c. 613; 1996, c. 216, &#xA7; 8.9-115; 2000, c. 1007; 2004, c. 200; 2024, c. 652.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
