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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82133</law_id><section_number>8.9A-316</section_number><catch_line>Effect of change in governing law</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>29.1-733.15</reference><reference>8.9A-308</reference><reference>8.9A-311</reference><reference>8.9A-313</reference><reference>8.9A-326</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="2">Perfection</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="a"><p><span class="prefix-number">a.</span> General rule; effect on perfection of change in governing <span class="dictionary">law</span>. A security interest perfected pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> designated in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests" href="/8.9A-301/">8.9A-301</a> (1), <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property" href="/8.9A-305/">8.9A-305</a> (c), <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in chattel paper" href="/8.9A-306.1/">8.9A-306.1</a> (d), or <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, and controllable payment intangibles" href="/8.9A-306.2/">8.9A-306.2</a> (b) remains perfected until the earliest of: <a id="paragraph-294351" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#a"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the time perfection would have ceased under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of that <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; <a id="paragraph-294352" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#a1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the expiration of four months after a change of the debtor&#x2019;s location to another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; or <a id="paragraph-294353" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#a2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="a3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> the expiration of one year after a transfer of <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> to a person that thereby becomes a debtor and is located in another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. <a id="paragraph-294354" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#a3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="b"><p><span class="prefix-number">b.</span> Security interest perfected or unperfected under <span class="dictionary">law</span> of new <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. If a security interest described in subsection (a) becomes perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earliest time or event described in that subsection, it remains perfected thereafter. If the security interest does not become perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earliest time or event, it becomes unperfected and is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> for value. <a id="paragraph-294355" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#b"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c"><p><span class="prefix-number">c.</span> Possessory security interest in <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> moved to new <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. A possessory security interest in <span class="dictionary">collateral</span>, other than goods covered by a certificate of title and as-extracted <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> consisting of goods, remains continuously perfected if: <a id="paragraph-294356" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#c"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is located in one <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> and subject to a security interest perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of that <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; <a id="paragraph-294357" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#c1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> thereafter the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> is brought into another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; and <a id="paragraph-294358" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#c2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="c3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> upon entry into the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the security interest is perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. <a id="paragraph-294359" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#c3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="d"><p><span class="prefix-number">d.</span> Goods covered by certificate of title from the Commonwealth. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (e), a security interest in goods covered by a certificate of title which is perfected by any method under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> when the goods become covered by a certificate of title from the Commonwealth remains perfected until the security interest would have become unperfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> had the goods not become so covered. <a id="paragraph-294360" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#d"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e"><p><span class="prefix-number">e.</span> When subsection (d) security interest becomes unperfected against purchasers. A security interest described in subsection (d) becomes unperfected as against a purchaser of the goods for value and is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the goods for value if the applicable requirements for perfection under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Perfection of security interests in property subject to certain statutes, regulations, and treaties" href="/8.9A-311/">8.9A-311</a> (b) or <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> are not satisfied before the earlier of: <a id="paragraph-294361" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#e"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the time the security interest would have become unperfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> had the goods not become covered by a certificate of title from the Commonwealth; or <a id="paragraph-294362" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#e1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="e2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the expiration of four months after the goods had become so covered. <a id="paragraph-294363" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#e2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f"><p><span class="prefix-number">f.</span> Change in <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of chattel paper, controllable electronic record, bank, issuer, nominated person, securities intermediary, or commodity intermediary. A security interest in chattel paper, controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, controllable payment intangibles, deposit accounts, letter-of-credit rights, or investment property which is perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the chattel paper&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the controllable electronic record&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the bank&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the issuer&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, a nominated person&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the securities intermediary&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, or the commodity intermediary&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, as applicable, remains perfected until the earlier of: <a id="paragraph-294364" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#f"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> the time the security interest would have become unperfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of that <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>; or <a id="paragraph-294365" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#f1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="f2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> the expiration of four months after a change of the applicable <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> to another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. <a id="paragraph-294366" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#f2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="g"><p><span class="prefix-number">g.</span> Subsection (f) security interest perfected or unperfected under <span class="dictionary">law</span> of new <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>. If a security interest described in subsection (f) becomes perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier of the time or the end of the period described in that subsection, it remains perfected thereafter. If the security interest does not become perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier of that time or the end of that period, it becomes unperfected and is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> for value. <a id="paragraph-294367" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#g"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="h"><p><span class="prefix-number">h.</span> Effect on filed financing statement of change in governing <span class="dictionary">law</span>. The following rules apply to <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> to which a security interest attaches within four months after the debtor changes its location to another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>: <a id="paragraph-294368" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#h"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="h1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A financing statement filed before the change pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> designated in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests" href="/8.9A-301/">8.9A-301</a> (1) or <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property" href="/8.9A-305/">8.9A-305</a> (c) is effective to perfect a security interest in the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> if the financing statement would have been effective to perfect a security interest in the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> if the debtor had not changed its location. <a id="paragraph-294369" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#h1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="h2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If a security interest perfected by a financing statement that is effective under paragraph (1) becomes perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier of the time the financing statement would have become ineffective under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> designated in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests" href="/8.9A-301/">8.9A-301</a> (1) or <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property" href="/8.9A-305/">8.9A-305</a> (c) or the expiration of the four-month period, it remains perfected thereafter. If the security interest does not become perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier time or event, it becomes unperfected and is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> for value. <a id="paragraph-294370" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#h2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i"><p><span class="prefix-number">i.</span> Effect of change in governing <span class="dictionary">law</span> on financing statement filed against original debtor. If a financing statement naming an original debtor is filed pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> designated in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests" href="/8.9A-301/">8.9A-301</a> (1) or <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property" href="/8.9A-305/">8.9A-305</a> (c) and the new debtor is located in another <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span>, the following rules apply: <a id="paragraph-294371" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#i"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The financing statement is effective to perfect a security interest in <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> in which the new debtor has or acquires rights before or within four months after the new debtor becomes bound under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Attachment and enforceability of security interest; proceeds, supporting obligations; formal requisites" href="/8.9A-203/">8.9A-203</a>(d), if the financing statement would have been effective to perfect a security interest in the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> if the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> had been acquired by the original debtor. <a id="paragraph-294372" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#i1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="i2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A security interest that is perfected by the financing statement and which becomes perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier of the expiration of the four-month period or the time the financing statement would have become ineffective under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> designated in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests" href="/8.9A-301/">8.9A-301</a> (1) or <a class="law" title="Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property" href="/8.9A-305/">8.9A-305</a> (c) remains perfected thereafter. A security interest that is perfected by the financing statement but which does not become perfected under the <span class="dictionary">law</span> of the other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> before the earlier time or event becomes unperfected and is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> for value. <a id="paragraph-294373" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/8.9A-316/#i2"><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; 2024, c. 652.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
