California · Commercial Code

COM §7503: (a) A document of title confers no right in goods against a person that before issuance of the document had a legal interest or a perfected security interest in the goods and that did not: (1) deliver

What this law says, in plain English

A document of title does not give rights in goods to someone against a person who had a legal or perfected security interest before the document was issued, unless that person delivered the goods.

Read the full statutory text
(a) A document of title confers no right in goods against a person that before issuance of the document had a legal interest or a perfected security interest in the goods and that did not: (1) deliver or entrust the goods or any document of title covering the goods to the bailor or the bailor’s nominee with: (A) actual or apparent authority to ship, store, or sell; (B) power to obtain delivery under Section 7403; or (C) power of disposition under Section 2403 or 9320 or subdivision (c) of Section 9321 or subdivision (b) of Section 10304 or subdivision (b) of Section 10305 or other statute or rule of law; or (2) acquiesce in the procurement by the bailor or its nominee of any document. (b) Title to goods based upon an unaccepted delivery order is subject to the rights of any person to which a negotiable warehouse receipt or bill of lading covering the goods has been duly negotiated. That title may be defeated under Section 7504 to the same extent as the rights of the issuer or a transferee from the issuer. (c) Title to goods based upon a bill of lading issued to a freight forwarder is subject to the rights of any person to which a bill issued by the freight forwarder is duly negotiated. However, delivery by the carrier in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 7401) pursuant to its own bill of lading discharges the carrier’s obligation to deliver.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.