attachment
legal status that happens when the creditor gives something of value for the security interest, the debtor has the right to control the collateral, and the debtor either signs the security agreement or hands over the collateral
buyer in ordinary course of business (BIOC)
person who buys goods, without knowing that the sale violates the rights of another, from a seller who is in the business of selling such goods
collateral
property used to secure a loan with the understanding that its owner will forfeit it in the event of default of the loan
intangible property
personal property that does not have a physical form but is usually represented by a piece of writing; for example, patents and copyrights
judicial lien
right granted by a court for a creditor to keep another person's property until that other person pays a debt
lien
security interest granted for an asset or property on behalf of a creditor by a debtor
lien creditor
unsecured creditor who won a judgment against the debtor and is allowed to keep specific property of the debtor until a debt is paid
oversecured
when a creditor has a claim against a debtor but the property that the debtor is using as collateral is worth more than the creditor's claim
perfection
security interest that is typically protected from the claims of others; happens by filing a financing statement in the required public office, by actually possessing the collateral, by controlling the collateral, or through having a purchase-money security interest
personal property
all property, either tangible or intangible, that can be owned and moved, excluding real property, land, or buildings
purchase-money security interest (PMSI)
interest created when a debtor receives credit from the creditor to buy goods and those goods serve as collateral to protect the creditor's interest. For example, when a manufacturer seeks a loan from a bank to buy new machines, those machines are collateral.
real property
land and everything attached to it that cannot be easily moved, such as buildings, crops, and mineral rights; not the same as personal property
secured creditor
one who has a specific right to property that the debtor designated as collateral in accordance with a security agreement
secured transaction
transaction in which a debt is guaranteed by a debtor's personal property, usually through a security agreement
security agreement
document in which a borrower allows a lender to take and sell some of the borrower's property if the borrower stops making payments. This agreement means that the lender faces less risk.
tangible property
personal belongings that can be touched and moved. Jewelry, cars, and cash are tangible property, but land and bank accounts are not.
undersecured
when a creditor has a claim against a debtor but the property that the debtor is using as collateral is worth less than the creditor's claim
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
uniform set of laws, adopted by all states and the District of Columbia, that govern commercial transactions within the United States. Different jurisdictions enforce the UCC differently.
unsecured creditor
one who is owed money but who have no claim against specific property of the debtor
writ of attachment
court order that tells a sheriff to seize specific property from a debtor because a legal action is in progress against that debtor. Rather than turning the property over to the creditor, the court holds the property in a trust or escrow until there is resolution between the creditor and debtor.
writ of execution
court order that tells a sheriff to seize specific property from a debtor in order for that property to be sold off to satisfy a judgment against the debtor.
writ of garnishment
court order that tells a third party to seize specific property (generally wages and tax refunds) from a debtor to deliver to a creditor because a debt is overdue; can happen during or after a lawsuit