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Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 1303.08 (2026)

Identification of person to whom instrument is payable - UCC 3-110

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
August 19, 1994
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 147 - 120th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) The person to whom an instrument is initially payable is determined by the intent of the person, whether or not authorized to sign the instrument, who signs the instrument as, in the name of, or in behalf of the issuer of the instrument. The instrument is payable to the person intended by the signer even if that person is identified in the instrument by a name or other identification that is not that of the intended person. If more than one person signs in the name or behalf of the issuer of an instrument and all the signers do not intend the same person as payee, the instrument is payable to any person intended by one or more of the signers.

(B) If the signature of the issuer of an instrument is made by a check-writing machine or other automated means, the payee of the instrument is determined by the intent of the person who supplied the name or identification of the payee, whether or not authorized to do so.

(C) A person to whom an instrument is payable may be identified in any way, including by name, identifying number, office, or account number. For the purpose of determining the holder of an instrument, the following rules apply:

(1) If an instrument is payable to an account and the account is identified only by number, the instrument is payable to the person to whom the account is payable. If an instrument is payable to an account identified by number and by the name of a person, the instrument is payable to the named person, whether or not that person is the owner of the account identified by number.

(2) If an instrument is payable to a trust, an estate, or a person described as trustee or representative of a trust or estate, the instrument is payable to the trustee, the representative, or a successor of either, whether or not the beneficiary or estate is also named.

(3) If an instrument is payable to a person described as agent or similar representative of a named or identified person, the instrument is payable to the represented person, the representative, or a successor of the representative.

(4) If an instrument is payable to a fund or organization that is not a legal entity, the instrument is payable to a representative of the members of the fund or organization.

(5) If an instrument is payable to an office or to a person described as holding an office, the instrument is payable to the named person, the incumbent of the office, or a successor to the incumbent.

(D) If an instrument is payable to two or more persons alternatively, it is payable to any of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced by any or all of them in possession of the instrument. If an instrument is payable to two or more persons not alternatively, it is payable to all of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced only by all of them. If an instrument payable to two or more persons is ambiguous as to whether it is payable to the persons alternatively, the instrument is payable to the persons alternatively.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1999–2025 · leading case: U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Bennett, 2012 Ohio 2700 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).
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U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Bennett, 2012 Ohio 2700 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 8× “Bank argues in the alternative that if the indorsement maintains its status as a special indorsement, then the inquiry shifts to intent, citing R.C. 1303.08. R.C. 1303.08 addresses identification of a person to whom an instrument is payable.”
ABN AMRO Mtge. Grp., Inc. v. Evans, 2013 Ohio 1557 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). “See R.C. 1303.08 and 1303.01. {¶28} The Evanses contend that the note attached to the complaint cannot be the governing note because the note was sold to Freddie Mac prior to the filing of the lawsuit and contained no endorsement.”
Price v. Price, 2025 Ohio 2479 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 3× “Husband cites the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code, R.C. 1303.08(A), in support of his argument that the proceeds equally belong to him.”
Belfance v. Huntington Nat'l Bank (In Re World Metal, Inc.), 313 B.R. 720 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2004). · cites it 3× “” O.R.C. § 1303.08(A) (emphasis added). 5 .”
Dublin Transp., Inc. v. Goebel, 727 N.E.2d 938 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “In support of his motion, Kaps cited R.C. 1303.08(D), which provides: “(D) If an instrument is payable to two or more persons alternatively, it is payable to any of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced by any or all of them in possession of the instrument.”
Peters Fam. Farm, Inc. v. Sav. Bank, 2011 Ohio 665 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “That section, entitled Impostors; fictitious payees, states, in relevant part, the following: {¶31} “(B) If a person whose intent determines to whom an instrument is payable under division (A) or (B) of Section 1303.08 of the Revised Code does not intend the person identified as…”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1303.08(A) — 3 cases
U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Bennett, 2012 Ohio 2700 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “Bank argues in the alternative that if the indorsement maintains its status as a special indorsement, then the inquiry shifts to intent, citing R.C. 1303.08. R.C. 1303.08 addresses identification of a person to whom an instrument is payable.”
Price v. Price, 2025 Ohio 2479 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025). “Husband cites the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code, R.C. 1303.08(A), in support of his argument that the proceeds equally belong to him.”
Belfance v. Huntington Nat'l Bank (In Re World Metal, Inc.), 313 B.R. 720 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2004). “” O.R.C. § 1303.08(A) (emphasis added). 5 .”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1303.08(B) — 1 case
U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Bennett, 2012 Ohio 2700 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “Bank argues in the alternative that if the indorsement maintains its status as a special indorsement, then the inquiry shifts to intent, citing R.C. 1303.08. R.C. 1303.08 addresses identification of a person to whom an instrument is payable.”
— Ohio Rev. Code § 1303.08(D) — 1 case
Dublin Transp., Inc. v. Goebel, 727 N.E.2d 938 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999). “In support of his motion, Kaps cited R.C. 1303.08(D), which provides: “(D) If an instrument is payable to two or more persons alternatively, it is payable to any of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced by any or all of them in possession of the instrument.”
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