Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503 (2026)
Name of debtor and secured party
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)Sufficiency of debtor's name. A financing statement sufficiently provides the name of the debtor:
- (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a)(3), if the debtor is a registered organization or the collateral is held in a trust that is a registered organization, only if the financing statement provides the name that is stated to be the registered organization's name on the public organic record most recently filed with or issued or enacted by the registered organization's jurisdiction of organization which purports to state, amend, or restate the registered organization's name;
- (2) Subject to subsection (f), if the collateral is being administered by the personal representative of a decedent, only if the financing statement provides, as the name of the debtor, the name of the decedent and, in a separate part of the financing statement, indicates that the collateral is being administered by a personal representative;
- (3) If the collateral is held in a trust that is not a registered organization, only if the financing statement:
- (A) Provides, as the name of the debtor:
- (i) If the organic record of the trust specifies a name for the trust, the name specified; or
- (ii) If the organic record of the trust does not specify a name for the trust, the name of the settlor or testator; and
- (B) In a separate part of the financing statement:
- (i) If the name is provided in accordance with subdivision (a)(3)(A)(i), indicates that the collateral is held in a trust; or
- (ii) If the name is provided in accordance with subdivision (a)(3)(A)(ii), provides additional information sufficient to distinguish the trust from other trusts having one (1) or more of the same settlors or the same testator and indicates that the collateral is held in a trust, unless the additional information so indicates;
- (A) Provides, as the name of the debtor:
- (4) Subject to subsection (g), if the debtor is an individual to whom this state has issued a driver license or a photo identification license (pursuant to § 55-50-336) that has not expired, only if the financing statement provides the name of the individual which is indicated on the driver license or photo identification license;
- (5) If the debtor is an individual to whom subdivision (a)(4) does not apply, only if the financing statement provides the individual name of the debtor or the surname and first personal name of the debtor; and
- (6) In other cases:
- (A) If the debtor has a name, only if the financing statement provides the organizational name of the debtor; and
- (B) If the debtor does not have a name, only if it provides the names of the partners, members, associates, or other persons comprising the debtor, in a manner that each name provided would be sufficient if the person named were the debtor.
- (b)Additional debtor-related information. A financing statement that provides the name of the debtor in accordance with subsection (a) is not rendered ineffective by the absence of:
- (1) A trade name or other name of the debtor; or
- (2) Unless required under subdivision (a)(6)(B), names of partners, members, associates, or other persons comprising the debtor.
- (c)Debtor's trade name insufficient. A financing statement that provides only the debtor's trade name does not sufficiently provide the name of the debtor.
- (d)Representative capacity. Failure to indicate the representative capacity of a secured party or representative of a secured party does not affect the sufficiency of a financing statement.
- (e)Multiple debtors and secured parties. A financing statement may provide the name of more than one (1) debtor and the name of more than one (1) secured party.
- (f)Name of decedent. The name of the decedent indicated on the order appointing the personal representative of the decedent issued by the court having jurisdiction over the collateral is sufficient as the "name of the decedent" under subsection (a)(2).
- (g)Multiple driver licenses or photo identification licenses. If this state has issued to an individual more than one (1) driver license or photo identification license of a kind described in subdivision (a)(4), the one that was issued most recently is the one to which subdivision (a)(4) refers.
- (h)Definition.
In this section, the "name of the settlor or testator" means:
- (1) If the settlor is a registered organization, the name that is stated to be the settlor's name on the public organic record most recently filed with or issued or enacted by the settlor's jurisdiction of organization which purports to state, amend, or restate the settlor's name; or
- (2) In other cases, the name of the settlor or testator indicated in the trust's organic record.
Acts 2000, ch. 846, § 1; 2008, ch. 648, § 1; 2008, ch. 1109, §§ 1, 2; 2012, ch. 708, § 13.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18
cases, 1968–2009 · leading case: Davenport v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 818 S.W.2d 23 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1991).
Davenport v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 818 S.W.2d 23 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1991). “We now consider whether the repossession of the Davenports’ automobile was consistent with Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 (1979). The trial court determined that it was, relying on Harris Truck & Trailer Sales v.”
McCall v. Owens, 820 S.W.2d 748 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1991). “The trial judge overruled a motion for a new trial except Ted D. Owens was granted a new trial.”
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
Clark v. Assocs. Com. Corp., 877 F. Supp. 1439 (D. Kan. 1994). “Plaintiff claims that, during the course of the repossession, Associates violated its statutory duty under Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503 not to breach the peace.”
Off. Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of Propex Inc. v. BNP Paribas (In Re Propex Inc.), 415 B.R. 321 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2009). ““[A] financing statement that fails sufficiently to provide the name of the debtor in accordance with § 47-9-503(a) is seriously misleading.” Id.”
Lane v. John Deere Co., 767 S.W.2d 138 (Tenn. 1989). “§ 47-1-207, that the dealer’s oral representations to Plaintiffs are not enforceable, T.”
Harris Truck & Trailer Sales v. Foote, 436 S.W.2d 460 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1968). “section 47-9-503, ’ which is part of the Uniform Commercial Code, provides: “Unless otherwise agreed a secured party has on default the right to the possession of the collateral.”
Trimble v. Sonitrol of Memphis, Inc., 723 S.W.2d 633 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1986). “Upon a finding that Trimble was a secured creditor, T.C.A. § 47-9-503 gives him the right to take possession of the collateral if it is done without breach of the peace, and the court found that Trimble took over the collateral in a proper manner.”
Kinch v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 367 F. Supp. 436 (E.D. Tenn. 1973). “§ 47-9-503, which recognizes the right of a secured party to use self-help in repossessing collateral upon default under the security agreement, and that (3) this action was “state action” within *438 the purview of the Fourteenth Amendment. Before reaching the issue of whether…”
King v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp. (In Re King), 14 B.R. 316 (Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 1981). “On or about January 10, 1981, defendants repossessed the vehicle according to rights granted by T.C.A. § 47-9-503. Subsequently plaintiffs on January 16,1981, filed a petition for relief under Chapter 13 of Title 11.”
Lynn v. Fin. Solutions Corp. (In Re Lynn), 173 B.R. 894 (Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 1994). “T.C.A. § 47-9-503 (1992). Upon repossession of the collateral, T.”
Walker v. Assocs. Com. Corp., 673 S.W.2d 517 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983). “Walker further asserts that Taylor acting for Associates was guilty of promissory fraud by his action in orálly granting Walker an extension of time within which to make the installment and then repossessing the truck.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503(a) — 2 cases
Off. Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of Propex Inc. v. BNP Paribas (In Re Propex Inc.), 415 B.R. 321 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2009). ““[A] financing statement that fails sufficiently to provide the name of the debtor in accordance with § 47-9-503(a) is seriously misleading.” Id.”
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503(a)(1) — 1 case
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503(a)(l) — 1 case
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503(c) — 1 case
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-9-503(e) — 1 case
First Cmty. Bank v. Jones (In Re Silver Dollar, LLC), 388 B.R. 317 (Bankr. E.D. Tenn. 2008). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-9-503 cmt. 2. The Trustee argues in his motion for summary judgment that the Bank’s financing statements do not sufficiently list the name of the Debtor because it sets forth the Debtor’s assumed name, Silver Dollar Stores, LLC, rather than the name under…”
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