Common Mistakes in Drafting Collateral Descriptions

Avoid These Costly Errors When Drafting Collateral Descriptions

When collateral descriptions are not properly drafted in security agreements and financing statements, secured creditors find themselves without the collateral they bargained for.

The making of a loan or the extension of credit in exchange for the granting of a security interest in property (‘collateral’) is one of the fundamental concepts on which many commercial transactions and corresponding legal controversies are built. While the concept is straightforward, the practical considerations underlying the concept can be quite complex and involved. The starting point for the consideration of security interests in personal property collateral is the Uniform Commercial Code (‘UCC’). The UCC has been adopted in every state (with limited variations) and generally governs the creation, validity, and enforcement of security interests in the United States.

There are two key concepts in the creation and operation of a security interest under the UCC: ‘attachment’ and ‘perfection.’ These two terms describe the key events in the creation of a security interest. Attachment occurs when the security interest is effective between the creditor and the debtor (i.e. owner of the collateral), which usually takes place when a security agreement is entered into between the parties (i.e. the ‘debtor’ granting the security interest and the ‘secured party’ or ‘secured creditor’ receiving the security interest). Perfection occurs when the secured creditor establishes its priority in relation to other creditors’ interests in the same collateral. In general, the secured creditor with priority over all other creditors is entitled to use the collateral to satisfy the debtor’s obligations when the debtor defaults, before other creditors subsequent in priority may do so.

A security interest attaches (becomes enforceable against the debtor) when the following have all occurred:

• value has been provided,
• the debtor has rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the collateral to a secured party; and
• a security agreement that provides a proper description of the collateral is entered into by the secured party and the debtor. The validity of a security interest in collateral most often rises or falls on the language used in the security agreement.

In general, a security interest in most types of personal property is perfected upon the proper filing of a financing statement (also known as a UCC-1). The financing statement outlines a secured creditor’s security interest in the collateral and upon filing endows the secured creditor with priority over third-party interests in the collateral. The language in the filed financing statement determines to what extent and with respect to what collateral a security interest is perfected.

This article discusses errors in describing collateral commonly found in security agreements and financing statements that can undermine the validity or priority of a secured party’s security interest in collateral.

Rules Applicable to the Sufficiency of Collateral Descriptions

Different rules apply in determining the sufficiency of collateral descriptions in a security agreement as compared to a financing statement. Recall that the security agreement is what creates the security interest in the collateral, while a UCC-1 financing statement does not create a security interest, rather it simply gives notice of the security interest to third parties. In light of the different purposes of security agreements and financing statements, the UCC imposes more exacting standards for collateral descriptions in security agreements than in financing statements.

UCC Section 9-108, Sufficiency of Description, requires a security agreement to “reasonably identify” the collateral. Examples of ways to reasonably identify the collateral include:

• Specific listing
• Category
• Type of collateral defined in the UCC
• Quantity
• Computational or allocational formula or procedure
• Any other method if the identity of the collateral is “objectively determinable” [i]

Some courts have interpreted the reasonable identification test to mean that a description is sufficient so long as it provides enough information to enable third parties to identify the collateral upon “reasonable inquiry.” [ii] Super generic collateral descriptions in security agreements, such as ‘all assets of the debtor’ or ‘all the debtor’s personal property,’ are not enforceable (in other words, the secured party will have no collateral interest). The UCC has no provisions forgiving minor errors or omissions in collateral descriptions within security agreements.

By contrast, a financing statement need only “indicate the collateral,” [iii] pursuant to UCC Section 9-502(a)(3). Section 9-504 provides that a financing statement sufficiently “indicates the collateral” if it includes either (i) a description of the collateral pursuant to Section 9-108, or (ii) an indication that the financing statement covers “all assets or all personal property”, thus specifically permitting super-generic collateral descriptions. According to Official Comment No. 1 to Section 9-504, this standard is satisfied if a third-party searcher for financing statements that cover the given collateral has notice that a person may have a security interest in that collateral. Even with minor errors or omissions, a financing statement that substantially satisfies these requirements is effective unless the errors or omissions make the financing statement “seriously misleading.”

In summary, a collateral description that satisfies the requirements of UCC Section 9-108 would be sufficient for either security agreements or financing statements; however, very generic descriptions are only suitable for financing statements. Courts are more forgiving of minor errors and omissions in financing statements, as financing statements exist only to provide notice of the security interest to third parties.

With these rules in mind, the following sections explore some common mistakes in drafting collateral descriptions.

Mistake #1: Incorrect Categorization

The UCC defines 25 types of collateral, some of which are subsets of broader categories, such as accounts, inventory, goods, and general intangibles. [iv] Since UCC 9-108 specifically approves of descriptions by collateral type, many collateral descriptions use these terms when possible.

Problems can arise, however, when the categories of collateral are incorrectly identified. It is an easy mistake to make. This can occur when an item is categorized as a particular type of collateral in one context, but a different type in another context. For example, automobiles on a dealer’s lot constitute inventory, but if the automobiles are sold, the dealer’s right to payment may be described as an account. In addition, that same automobile is not inventory if the debtor is not a dealer (and will likely need to be perfected in a manner other than filing a financing statement).

Sometimes the collateral description simply misidentifies the collateral type, such as in Farmers State Bank v. Graham. [v] In that case, the bank claimed a security interest in the debtor’s breach of contract claim against a third party. The financing statement, however, listed only accounts receivable, machinery, equipment, and proceeds. The court held that a breach of contract claim is properly categorized as a “general intangible” rather than an “account receivable,” and accordingly the interest was unperfected, to the detriment of the creditor.

Mistake #2: Wrong Dates or Numbers

Article 9 no longer requires the use of serial numbers for equipment. Nevertheless, collateral descriptions sometimes include serial or model numbers where only particular items of equipment are financed and the debtor owns other, similar items of equipment that are not encumbered (or are encumbered by a different secured party). Describing collateral by serial or model numbers can help where it is not possible to describe the collateral generically as ‘all equipment.’ However, transcription mistakes within the collateral description can result in a finding that the secured party does not have a security interest in such equipment or that a security interest cannot be perfected. Such a finding is more likely where the collateral description omits reasonable additional information that would aid in identifying the particular item of equipment.

Even under the comparatively forgiving standards for financing statements, a misstated model or serial number can cause a court to conclude that the financing statement is seriously misleading. For example, in In re Pickle Logging, Inc., the court found that a single-digit mistake in transcribing a model number and a single-digit mistake in the serial number rendered the financing statement seriously misleading. [vi] In that case, the erroneous numbers appeared to refer to a different model of equipment made by the same manufacturer. The court held that where the number is inaccurate, there must be additional information to identify the collateral.

Where additional information is provided about the equipment, courts may well forgive small errors in serial numbers, particularly with regard to financing statements. In Bishop v. Alliance Banking Company the court forgave a three-digit error in a serial number provided in a financing statement, where the financing statement also correctly described the equipment as a “1999 Case Backhoe 580L.” [vii]  The court reasoned that sufficient information was provided to identify the collateral with further inquiry, and a searcher could have discovered the mistake by asking the debtor how many backhoes of that model and year he owned, by calling the bank to determine whether the bank claimed any interest in this backhoe, or by calling the manufacturer (who could have told him that the serial number was invalid).

Mistakes can also be relevant in the description of the obligation that is secured. In In re Duckworth, a mistaken date was fatal to the secured party’s claim. The security agreement stated that the debtor granted a security interest in crops and farm equipment to secure the indebtedness evidenced by the promissory note of a particular date recited in the security agreement. [viii]  The actual date of the note, however, was two days after the recorded date. The court later found that the evidence was not admissible to save the faulty security agreement from avoidance by the trustee.

Mistake #3: Unnecessary Limiting Phrases

Unnecessary phrases inserted in collateral descriptions can limit the collateral to a narrower scope than the parties intended. Such phrases may place unintended geographic, temporal, or other limits on the scope of the collateral.

For example, a clause may inadvertently tie the collateral to a particular location. In In re Sterling United, Inc., the court considered a financing statement that referred to “all assets of the Debtor including, but not limited to, any and all equipment, fixtures, [etc.] . . . and located at or relating to the operation of the premises at [debtor’s business address].” [ix]  When the debtor moved to another address prior to declaring bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee challenged the financing statement as “seriously misleading” and argued that the language relating to the specific business location limited the “all assets” description. The court described the financing statement as “needlessly convoluted,” because a simple “all assets of the debtor” description would have been sufficient. [x]

Although the court did not find the description to be seriously misleading in that case, such geographically limiting phrases can be so found, and can thus diminish the scope of collateral. For example, in In re Freeman, the court held that where a debtor moved after the security agreement was executed, a collateral description that referred to “all . . . inventory . . . now or at any time located or installed [at location X]” did not include new inventory at the debtor’s new location. [xi]

A clause inadvertently placed a temporal limitation on the scope of the collateral in In re Dickerson as well. [xii] There the financing statement referred to “all accounts receivable of the assignor including . . . future accounts which shall come into existence during the term of the obligation which this assignment secures.” [xii]  The court held that the latter phrase temporally limited the security interest, and that the bank did not hold a perfected interest in accounts that came into existence after the term ended for the specific obligation referenced in the description.

Extra phrases in collateral descriptions can impose limitations that the parties did not intend. In In re Straight, the security agreement referred to “[a]ll accounts . . . arising out of a sale, lease or other disposition of any of the property described [herein].” [xiv]  Although the secured party offered parol evidence that the parties intended to include a particular account receivable from a third party for services performed, the court refused to admit such evidence and held the security interest did not extend to accounts arising from sources other than the disposition of the described property.

Mistake #4: Failure to Include After-Acquired Property Clause

Collateral descriptions often include an after-acquired property clause to include within the scope of the collateral certain property that was not in the debtor’s possession when the security agreement was executed but which may come into the debtor’s possession afterward. Examples of such clauses include phrases such as ‘now owned or hereafter acquired,’ or ‘now existing or hereafter arising.’ Failure to include such a clause in a security agreement can result in a ruling that the security interest did not include such after-acquired property of the debtor.

The official text of Article 9 takes no position as to whether a collateral description in a security agreement would include after-acquired property of the debtor if the parties fail to include an after-acquired property clause. Official Comment 3 to Section 9-108 states that this question is one of “contract interpretation.” Thus, where no after-acquired property clause is present, the determination is left to the courts.

In interpreting such contracts, some courts have found that the parties implicitly intended to include after-acquired property where a security interest was granted in categories of collateral that turn over so regularly that coverage of after-acquired property may be implied, such as the inventory and accounts mentioned above. For example, a court held that where a security agreement described the collateral as ‘accounts receivable,’ such description implicitly included after-acquired accounts receivable. The court reasoned that due to the revolving nature of receivables in most businesses, such interpretation was commercially reasonable. [xv]

Even for these types of collateral, however, such a holding is not guaranteed. In In re Nightway Transp. Co., the court refused to recognize a lien in after-acquired accounts receivable where the debtor’s business did not involve rapid turnover of receivables (and, in fact, had no accounts receivable at the time the security agreement was executed). [xvi] Accordingly, a collateral description that does not contain an after-acquired property clause could be interpreted to exclude property that the debtor acquires after the security agreement is executed, even property such as inventory and accounts that often turn over rapidly.

For financing statements, Official Comment 2 to 9-502 states that such a clause is not required to perfect an interest in after-acquired property of the type indicated, but prudent practitioners continue to include such clauses in financing statements.

Mistake #5: Failure to Anticipate Changes in Collateral

Collateral can change after the debtor executes a security agreement, such as when the debtor installs new options or accessories on equipment. If the collateral description does not include a reference to ‘accessions,’ such additions may be found not to fall within the scope of the security interest.

More often, the collateral changes from one category to another (such as where inventory is sold and is thereby converted into money or accounts receivable), or the debtor sells the collateral (even where such a sale is not authorized). When a debtor disposes of collateral, any money, property, or other rights received by the debtor constitute ‘proceeds.’ [xvii]

Under Article 9 a security interest automatically attaches to identifiable ‘proceeds’ regardless of whether ‘proceeds’ are listed in the collateral description. [xviii]  Nevertheless, an express reference in the collateral description to ‘proceeds’ could help a secured party claim such proceeds in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Further, an interest in proceeds may be perfected only for a limited time. If collateral is likely to change forms, perfection of the security interest may expire unless the collateral description includes later forms of the collateral (e.g., ‘accounts receivable’ resulting from inventory sales) as original collateral.

Mistake #6: Inconsistency Between the Security Agreement and the Financing Statement

There are two principle ways inconsistencies can exist between the security agreement and the financing statement:

A security agreement cannot perfect collateral that is not described in the financing statement. Existence of collateral in a security agreement without the corresponding inclusion in the financing statement will not perfect a claim, because a security agreement cannot ‘perfect’ anything.

A financing statement cannot add collateral that is not described in the underlying security agreement.

The first principle is illustrated by a 2015 case, In re 11 East 36th, LLC. [xix]  In that case, the debtor granted a security interest in its membership interest in its subsidiary. The financing statement, however, neglected to include the membership interest in its description of the collateral. In the debtor’s bankruptcy case, the court held that the secured party’s lien on the membership interest was unperfected and subject to avoidance, because the membership interest was not listed in the financing statement as a part of the collateral.

The second principle is illustrated in In re Martin Grinding & Machine Works, Inc. [xx] In that case, the security agreement inadvertently omitted inventory and accounts receivable from the collateral description. Although those two types of collateral were included in the financing statement, the court held that the secured party did not have a security interest in the inventory and accounts because of their omission from the security agreement.

Mistake #7: Failure to Specifically Describe a Commercial Tort Claim in a Security Agreement

To have a secured interest in a commercial tort claim, the UCC requires the commercial tort claim to be specifically described in a security agreement (i.e., general ‘all commercial tort claims’ language is not effective to grant a security interest in such claims). [xxi] In some instances, secured creditors simply fail to specifically identify a commercial tort claim in a security agreement and find out later that they have no security interest in the claim or its proceeds. In other instances, the commercial tort claim arises after the security agreement is executed and the claim is, again, not subject to the secured interest, To protect itself against the later, secured creditors should require the debtor to periodically report on the existence of additional assets such as commercial tort claims, and provide a process for amending the security agreement to specifically include such claims/assets.

Conclusion

The rules for collateral descriptions in security agreements and financing statements are complex, and there is a myriad of ways that errors in collateral descriptions can undermine a party’s claim with respect to the enforceability, perfection, or priority of its security interest. Parties should consider engaging experienced counsel to evaluate the sufficiency of collateral descriptions to avoid these common mistakes and reach their desired outcome.

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[Editors’ Note: To learn more about this and related topics, you may want to attend the following on-demand webinars (which you can view at your leisure, and each includes a comprehensive customer PowerPoint about the topic):

1. Advanced Bankruptcy Transactions Series
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This article was originally published on June 26, 2020 and updated May 22, 2023.]

©2025. DailyDAC^TM, LLC. This article is subject to the disclaimers found here.

References

[i] Descriptions by collateral type are prohibited with regard to a few specific types listed in 9-108(e).

[ii] See, e.g., In re Grogan, 81 UCC Rep. Serv. 2d 1049 (BAP 9th Cir. 2013).

[iii] See UCC 9-506.

[iv] See 1 Barkley Clark and Barbara Clark, The Law of Secured Transactions Under the Uniform Commercial Code, § 1.02[5] (3d. ed. 2015).

[v] Farmers State Bank v. Graham, 20 UCC Rep. 2d 317 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992).

[vi] In re Pickle Logging, Inc., 286 BR 181 (MD Ga. 2002).

[vii] Bishop v. Alliance Banking Company, 412 S.W.3d 217 (Ky. App. 2013).

[viii] In re Duckworth, 776 F.3d 453 (7th Cir. 2014).

[ix] In re Sterling United, Inc., 519 BR 586 (Bankr. W.D.N.Y. 2014) (emphasis added).

[x]  Id. at 588.

[xi]  In re Freeman, 33 BR 234 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 1983).

[xii]  In re Dickerson, 31 UCC Rep. 367 (Bankr. D. Colo. 1981).

[xiii]  See In re Dickerson, 31 UCC Rep. at 368. (Emphasis added.)

[xiv]  In re Straight, 207 BR 217 (BAP 10th Cir. 1997).

[xv]  See In re Shenandoah Warehouse Co., 202 BR 871 (Bankr. WD Va. 1996).

[xvi]  In re Nightway Transp. Co., 96 BR 854 (Bankr. ND Ill. 1989).

[xvii]  See UCC 9-102(a)(64).

[xviii]  See UCC 9-315.

[xix]  In re 11 East 36th, LLC, 85 UCC Rep. Serv. 2d 668 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2015).

[xx]  In re Martin Grinding & Machine Works, Inc., 793 F.2d 592 (7th Cir. 1986).

[xxi]  See Helms v. Certified Packaging Corp. (In re Sarah Michaels, Inc.), 358 B.R. 366 (Bankr. N.D.Ill. 2007).