casemark/cognovit-promissory-note

Cognovit Promissory Note

Draft an enforceable cognovit promissory note compliant with governing-state law. A cognovit clause lets a borrower authorize entry of judgment without prior notice or hearing — most states prohibit or heavily restrict this, so enforceability must be confirmed before drafting.

Prerequisites

Collect before drafting:

• Governing law / forum — state and venue for enforcement
• Parties — legal names, entity types, formation states, addresses, authorized signers
• Loan terms — principal, rate, term, payment schedule, fees, prepayment
• Transaction type — commercial vs consumer classification; any statutory exemptions
• Authority docs — resolutions, incumbency certificates, consents (if entity borrower)
• Collateral / guaranties — summary of related security documents, if any

Quick Start

1. Run the Enforceability Gate (below) — if cognovit is prohibited, stop and output a standard note + guaranty + security agreement instead.
2. Draft the note using the Document Sections outline.
3. Walk the Checks list before finalizing.

Enforceability Gate (Do First)

| Check | Action | Output | |---|---|---| | Cognovit permitted? | Research governing-state statutes + recent case law | Allow / deny with citations or [VERIFY] | | Consumer restriction? | Confirm borrower classification | If consumer or mixed-use, treat as prohibited unless clear statutory exception | | Required warnings / format? | Identify mandatory warning text, font size, capitalization, separate acknowledgment | Insert exact statutory warning or [VERIFY] | | Execution formalities? | Check witness / notary / affidavit / attorney requirements | Add required signature formalities |

If prohibited or materially restricted: output alternative structure (standard note + guaranty + security agreement) and stop.

Document Sections

1. Preamble and Parties

• Date, principal (numeric and words)
• Lender and Borrower: legal name, entity type, formation state, address, signatory title
• Authority evidence: resolution/consent, incumbency, power/authority certification

2. Economic Terms

| Term | Details | |---|---| | Principal | Amount; fees/points treatment | | Interest | Fixed/variable; index, margin, caps/floors; accrual method; day-count | | Payments | Amounts, dates, schedule type, grace period | | Application | Order: fees → interest → principal (or specified) | | Prepayment | Permitted? Penalty? Formula; usury compliance |

3. Confession of Judgment Clause

Include all of:

• Authority grant — borrower authorizes any attorney to confess judgment after default
• Scope — principal, interest, fees, costs, attorney fees
• Timing — upon default or after cure period
• Forum — permitted courts; must align with governing-law / venue clause
• Waivers — notice, hearing, defenses, discovery, jury trial (if allowed)
• Statutory warning — exact required text and formatting per governing state

4. Defaults and Remedies

• Monetary default (failure to pay; grace period)
• Cross-default (thresholds, if applicable)
• Insolvency events (bankruptcy, assignment for benefit of creditors)
• Misrepresentation (material statements)
• Collateral events (if secured: impairment, transfer, insurance failures)
• Remedies: acceleration, confession of judgment, collection costs

5. Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Venue

• Governing law with substantial relationship to transaction
• Consent to jurisdiction and venue
• Waiver of forum non conveniens (if allowed)
• Jury trial waiver — must be conspicuous

6. Execution and Acknowledgments

• Signature blocks with titles and entity capacity
• Witness / notary blocks (if required by state)
• Separate cognovit acknowledgment (if required by state)

7. Exhibits (as needed)

• Amortization schedule
• Authority documents
• Collateral schedule

Template Skeleton

COGNOVIT PROMISSORY NOTE

Date: [Date]
Principal Amount: $[Amount] ([Words])

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [Borrower] ("Borrower") promises to pay to the
order of [Lender] ("Lender") the Principal Amount plus interest:

1.  Interest.
2.  Payments.
3.  Application of Payments.
4.  Prepayment.
5.  Events of Default.
6.  Remedies; Acceleration.
7.  Confession of Judgment. [Full clause + statutory warning + waivers]
8.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue.
9.  Jury Trial Waiver. [CONSPICUOUS]
10. Notices.
11. Miscellaneous.

BORROWER:                         LENDER:
By: ______________                By: ______________
Name/Title:                       Name/Title:
Date:                             Date:

[Notary / Witness Blocks if required]
[Separate Cognovit Acknowledgment if required]

Checks

• [ ] Enforceability gate passed — cognovit is permitted for this transaction type in the governing state
• [ ] Consumer / mixed-use classification confirmed; if consumer, cognovit clause omitted
• [ ] Statutory warning language is exact, conspicuous, and placed per statute
• [ ] Confession clause forum aligns with governing law and has substantial relationship to transaction
• [ ] Usury analysis complete — includes all fees/charges treated as interest; exemptions noted
• [ ] Waivers are conspicuous and not buried in boilerplate
• [ ] Execution formalities match governing-state requirements (witnesses, notary, acknowledgment)
• [ ] If enforceability is unclear, alternative structure (standard note + guaranty + security agreement) recommended instead