---
title: O.C.G.A. § 11-3-109. Payable to bearer or to order.
collection: code
id: 11-3-109
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 11-3-109 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/11-3-109
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/11-3-109.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/11-3-109/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t11-(v9)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=b5451bbd_0#page=351
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COMMERCIAL CODE / NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS / GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 11-3-109. Payable to bearer or to order.

(a) A promise or order is payable to bearer if it:

(1) States that it is payable to bearer or to the order of bearer or otherwise indicates that the person in possession of the promise or order is entitled to payment;

(2) Does not state a payee; or

(3) States that it is payable to or to the order of cash or otherwise indicates that it is not payable to an identified person.

(b) A promise or order that is not payable to bearer is payable to order if it is payable to (i) the order of an identified person; or (ii) an identified person or order. A promise or order that is payable to order is payable to the identified person.

(c) An instrument payable to bearer may become payable to an identified person if it is specially indorsed pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 11-3-205. An instrument payable to an identified person may become payable to bearer if it is indorsed in blank pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 11-3-205.

## History

Code 1981, § 11-3-109, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1306, § 3.