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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68831</law_id><section_number>8.9A-307</section_number><catch_line>Location of debtor</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>8.1A-301</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="3">Perfection and Priority</unit><unit label="subpart" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Law Governing Perfection and Priority</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>(a)&#x201D;Place of business.&#x201D; In this section, &#x201C;place of business&#x201D; means a place where a debtor conducts its affairs.</p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Debtor&#x2019;s location; general rules. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the following rules determine a debtor&#x2019;s location: <a id="paragraph-249160" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A debtor who is an individual is located at the individual&#x2019;s principal residence. <a id="paragraph-249161" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#b1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A debtor that is an organization and has only one place of business is located at its place of business. <a id="paragraph-249162" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#b2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> A debtor that is an organization and has more than one place of business is located at its chief executive office. <a id="paragraph-249163" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#b3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Limitation of applicability of subsection (b). Subsection (b) applies only if a debtor&#x2019;s residence, place of business, or chief executive office, as applicable, is located in a <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> whose <span class="dictionary">law</span> generally requires information concerning the existence of a nonpossessory security interest to be made generally available in a filing, recording, or registration system as a condition or result of the security interest&#x2019;s obtaining priority over the rights of a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> with respect to the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span>. If subsection (b) does not apply, the debtor is located in the District of Columbia. <a id="paragraph-249164" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> Continuation of location; cessation of existence, etc. A person that ceases to exist, have a residence, or have a place of business continues to be located in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> specified by subsections (b) and (c). <a id="paragraph-249165" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> Location of registered organization organized under state <span class="dictionary">law</span>. A registered organization that is organized under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of a state is located in that state. <a id="paragraph-249166" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f"><p><span class="prefix-number">f.</span> Location of registered organization organized under federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>; bank branches and agencies. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (i), a registered organization that is organized under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the United States and a branch or agency of a bank that is not organized under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the United States or a state are located: <a id="paragraph-249167" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#f"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> in the state that the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the United States designates, if the <span class="dictionary">law</span> designates a state of location; <a id="paragraph-249168" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#f1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> in the state that the registered organization, branch, or agency designates, if the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the United States authorizes the registered organization, branch, or agency to designate its state of location, including by designating its main office, home office, or other comparable office; or <a id="paragraph-249169" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#f2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> in the District of Columbia, if neither paragraph (1) nor paragraph (2) applies. <a id="paragraph-249170" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#f3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g"><p><span class="prefix-number">g.</span> Continuation of location; change in status of registered organization. A registered organization continues to be located in the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> specified by subsection (e) or (f) notwithstanding: <a id="paragraph-249171" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#g"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the suspension, <span class="dictionary">revocation</span>, forfeiture, or lapse of the registered organization&#x2019;s status as such in its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of organization; or <a id="paragraph-249172" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#g1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the dissolution, winding up, or cancellation of the existence of the registered organization. <a id="paragraph-249173" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#g2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="h"><p><span class="prefix-number">h.</span> Location of United States. The United States is located in the District of Columbia. <a id="paragraph-249174" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#h"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i"><p><span class="prefix-number">i.</span> Location of foreign bank branch or agency if licensed in only one state. A branch or agency of a bank that is not organized under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the United States or a state is located in the state in which the branch or agency is licensed, if all branches and agencies of the bank are licensed in only one state. <a id="paragraph-249175" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#i"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="j"><p><span class="prefix-number">j.</span> Location of foreign air carrier. A foreign air carrier under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, is located at the designated office of the agent upon which <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> may be made on behalf of the carrier. <a id="paragraph-249176" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#j"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="k"><p><span class="prefix-number">k.</span> Applies only to this part. This section applies only for purposes of this part. <a id="paragraph-249177" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-307/#k"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 55-9; 1964, c. 219, &#xA7; 8.9-103; 1973, c. 509; 1984, c. 613; 1996, c. 216; 1997, c. 343; 2000, c. 1007; 2012, c. 155.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
