Colorado § 4-9-503 - Name of debtor and secured party.

Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 4-9-503 — Name of debtor and secured party., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 4-9-503. Name of debtor and secured party.

(a) A financing statement sufficiently provides the name of the debtor:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection (a), 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 that purports to state, amend, or restate the registered organization's name;

(2) Subject to subsection (f) of this section, 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 sub-subparagraph (i) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3), indicates that the collateral is held in a trust; or

(ii) If the name is provided in accordance with sub-subparagraph (ii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3), provides additional information sufficient to distinguish the trust from other trusts having one 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;

(4) If the debtor is an individual, only if the financing statement:

(A) Provides the individual name of the debtor;

(B) Provides the surname and first personal name of the debtor; or

(C) Subject to subsection (g) of this section, provides the name of the individual that is indicated on a driver's license that this state has issued to the individual and that has not expired or an identification card issued pursuant to part 3 of article 2 of title 42, C.R.S., that has not expired; and

(5) In other cases:

(A) If the debtor has a name, only if the financing statement provides the individual or organizational name of the debtor; and

(B) If the debtor does not have a name, only if the financing statement 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) A financing statement that provides the name of the debtor in accordance with subsection (a) of this section is not rendered ineffective by the absence of:

(1) A trade name or other name of the debtor; or

(2) Unless required under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subsection (a) of this section, names of partners, members, associates, or other persons comprising the debtor.

(c) A financing statement that provides only the debtor's trade name does not sufficiently provide the name of the debtor.

(d) 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) A financing statement may provide the name of more than one debtor and the name of more than one secured party.

(f) 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 paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this section.

(g) If this state has issued to an individual more than one driver's license of a kind described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this section, the one that was issued most recently is the one to which subparagraph (C) of paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of this section refers.

(h) 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 that 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.

Source: L. 2001: Entire article R&RE, p. 1380, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2012: (a) and (b) amended and (f), (g), and (h) added, (HB 12-1262), ch. 170, p. 600, § 10, effective July 1, 2013. L. 2013: (a)(4)(C) amended, (HB 13-1284), ch. 379, p. 2222, § 1, effective July 1.

Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 4-9-503

What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 4-9-503 cover?

Section 4-9-503 ("Name of debtor and secured party.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Colorado § 4-9-503?

A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 4-9-503" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Colorado law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.

How does Colorado § 4-9-503 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.