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PROMISSORY NOTE

Date: _________________________

For value received, the undersigned, _____________________________, (“Borrower”), located at ________________________________________, __________________________________, ______________________, promises to pay to the order of _____________________________ (“Lender”), located at ________________________________________, __________________________________, ______________________, the sum of $_________, plus interest, accruing at the rate of ______% annually, on the unpaid balance.

1. Payment. Payments shall me made in monthly installments of $__________, beginning on _________________________, and continuing until _________________________, (the “Due Date”), at which time the remaining unpaid principal and interest shall be due in full. All payments shall first be applied to outstanding late fees, then to interest and the balance to the principal amount.

2. Late Fee. If payment is not made within __________ days as agreed upon in the payment terms, Borrower shall pay an additional late fee of $ __________. This late fee shall be paid as liquidated damages in lieu of actual damages, and not as a penalty. Payment of this late fee shall, under no circumstances, be construed to cure any default arising from or relating to such late payment.

3. Prepayment. The Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, prior to the Due Date without premium or penalty. All prepayments shall be first applied to outstanding late fees, then to accrued interest and thereafter to the principal loan amount.

4. Acceleration of Debt. If Borrower fails to make any payment under the terms of this Note when due, the remaining unpaid balance and any accrued interest shall become due immediately at the option of Lender.

5. Collection & Attorneys’ Fees. In the event of default of this Note by Borrower, Borrower shall pay to the Lender all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

6. Default. Borrower will be in default if any of the following events occur: (i) if Borrower does not pay the full amount of each monthly payment when due; (ii) if Borrower is involved as a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding; (iii) if Borrower becomes insolvent and is unable make the agreed-upon payments; (iv) at the death, dissolution, liquidation or incompetency of the Borrower; or (v) if Borrower makes any untrue statement to the Lender or misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining or extending credit. In the event of default, this Note and any obligations of the Borrower to the Lender, shall become due immediately, without demand or notice.

7. Severability. If any provision or part of a provision of this Note is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by a court or other decision-making authority of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of the provision will be enforced so as to affect the intention of the Parties, and the invalidity and enforceability of all other provisions in this Note will not be affected or impaired.

8. Waiver. Borrower waives presentment for payment, protest, and notice of protest and demand of this Note. The parties acknowledge that no breach of any provision of this Note shall be deemed waived unless evidenced in writing. A waiver of any one breach shall not be deemed as a waiver of any other breach of the same or any other provision of this Note. No failure or delay by Lender in exercising Lender’s rights under this Note shall be considered a waiver of such rights.

9. Assignment. Neither party may assign or delegate its rights or obligations pursuant to this Note without prior written consent of the other. Any assignment or delegation in violation of this section is void.

10. Successors and Assigns. The terms and conditions of this Note shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Borrower’s successors and permitted assigns.

11. Notice. Any notice required hereunder shall be in writing and deemed to have been sufficiently given when delivered in person, by email, by facsimile, by a recognized national overnight courier service or by certified mail to the address of the respective party above.

12. Execution. This Note may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Execution and delivery of this Note may be evidenced by electronic means.

13. Governing Law. This Note shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of ______________________.

14. Amendment. There are no verbal or other agreements that modify or affect the terms of this Note. This Note may be amended and modified only by a written agreement signed by Borrower and Lender.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Note has been executed and delivered as of the date first written above.

Signed, the __________ day of _________________________, __________.

 

_____________________________
Borrower Signature

_____________________________
Borrower Printed Name

 

_____________________________
Lender Signature

_____________________________
Lender Printed Name

 

Please note that this article is not a substitute for professional legal advice; it does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor is it a solicitation to offer legal advice. We recommend you seek the appropriate legal advice from a practicing attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

What is a Promissory Note?

A promissory note, like it sounds, is a promise to pay. It is a legal document where one party (the borrower) promises to pay another (the lender). It usually spells out specific terms of the loan, like how much is owed, how the loan should be paid back (e.g., monthly), how long the borrower has to pay it and the interest rate she will pay. It is sometimes referred to as an IOU, a loan agreement, or a note. The promissory note becomes effective when both parties sign the contract. Promissory notes don’t usually require notarization.

What Types of Promissory Notes Are There?

There are a lot of different types of promissory notes. Sometimes this is defined by the circumstances under which the note is being signed. A promissory note can be used when a friend or family is lending money to another. A promissory note is always signed when a bank lends money to a borrower. A promissory note can be used between an investor and a company to help the company raise funds. And of course promissory notes are often used in real estate transactions.

But, largely, when we’re talking about different types of promissory notes, we’re talking about the different repayment terms that make up the note. Here are some common types of promissory notes.

Installment promissory note. An installment promissory note is one of the most common types of promissory notes. Under these terms, the borrower agrees to repay the lender in regular “installment” payments (e.g., monthly payments). The note is usually “fully amortized,” meaning if the borrower makes regular payments according to the schedule (called an “amortization schedule”), then by the end of the term the borrower has paid off all the interest and principal due under the loan. The example above, available for you to download for free, is a typical installment promissory note.

Lump sum promissory note. A lump sum promissory note is just what is sounds like. Instead of making regular installment payments, the borrower agrees to paying the entire loan back in a “lump sum,” a single payment, on some designated date. This may be the simplest way to go if you’re lending money to friends and family. It takes the burden off the borrower to come up payments right away. You can download a free lump sum promissory note here.

Installment promissory note with balloon payment. An installment promissory note that includes a balloon payment is kind of a mix between the two repayment terms above. Here the borrower makes regular installment payments, but agrees that at some point she will make a final “balloon” payment for the remainder of the amount owed under the loan. So, instead of being fully-amortized, or spread out in equal payments throughout the term of the loan, this is a partially-amortized loan, where a larger payment is made at the end. Why would someone choose this option? Well, this could put less burden on the borrower, initially. She would have lower monthly payments than in a fully-amortized loan, and be allowed to pay a larger amount later when perhaps she’s more able to do so. This could also be a way for the borrower and lender to shorten the length of the loan term. For example, borrower chooses to pay a lump sum at the end of year three instead of extending the loan to five years. Whether or not this is a good or fair option just depends on the needs and circumstances of the parties. You can download a free installment promissory note with balloon payment here.

Secured (or collateralized) promissory note. A secured promissory note is one that is backed by collateral. In other words, the borrower agrees to put up something (like personal property or real estate) as security for the loan. In the event that the borrower does not pay, the lender can seize and sell the asset, to try and recoup his losses. This is the safest way to lend money, because it provides the lender with added “recourse,” or a way to get his money back if the borrower refuses to or can’t afford to make his payments. If you’re considering loaning a large sum of money or if you’re lending money to someone you don’t know very well, you should seriously think about using a secured promissory note. You can download a free secured promissory note here.

Promissory note with co-signer. A promissory note with co-signer includes an additional borrower (“co-signer”) on the note. Banks or other financial institutions may demand this when lending to a more risky borrower (i.e. one with poor or little credit history or lacking in assets or net worth). The co-signer typically is a better candidate for the loan and agrees to be bound by the same terms. That gives the lender the ability to pursue the co-signer for repayment if the first borrower doesn’t pay on the loan. You can download a free promissory note with co-signer here.

What Should Be Included in a Promissory Note?

The basic terms of a promissory note should answer these questions:

  • Who is the borrower and who is the lender?
  • What is the amount being borrowed?
  • Is there interest owed, and, if so, what is the interest rate?
  • When and how should the money be paid back?
  • How do you decide when a borrower has “defaulted” on the note?

But there are other considerations, too. What happens if the borrower starts missing payments? Should there be a late fee? Should there be an “acceleration of debt” that requires borrower to pay the full loan immediately? What if a dispute occurs over the note? Where should it be litigated, and what state laws govern the dispute? Does the lender have the right to collect attorneys’ fees from the borrower? What about prepayment? Can the borrower pre-pay on the loan without penalty? Can the borrower assign the note to someone else? And, finally, how can the note be executed? Can it be signed electronically?

If you’re downloading a legal form online, make sure you’re note covers these scenarios, so you’re fully protected under the agreement. Hint: The free promissory note above contains all of these provisions and more.

When Does a Promissory Note Become Legal or Binding?

A promissory note becomes legal or binding when it is signed by both parties. Pretty simple. Some individuals and institutions may choose to have the note witnessed or notarized for added validation, but that is not required for it to be legal.

How Do You Enforce a Promissory Note?

A promissory note may need to be “enforced” when someone doesn’t live up to their end of the bargain. How you go about enforcing the note depends on whether or not it is secured. When the note is secured by collateral, then you can enforce the note by repossessing the collateralized property. This could be done on your own, or through a service which specializes in that, and in most states you’re not required to go to court and obtain a judgment first. If the note is not secured, then to enforce it you’ll need to file a complaint with the courts and obtain a judgment against the borrower. You (the lender) then has to pursue post-judgment proceedings to garnish wages or put a lien on property.

Other names for this document include: loan agreement, loan contract, loan document

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