(a) General priority rules. — Except as otherwise provided in this section, priority among conflicting security interests and agricultural liens in the same collateral is determined according to the following rules:
(1) Conflicting perfected security interests and agricultural liens rank according to priority in time of filing or perfection. Priority dates from the earlier of the time a filing covering the collateral is first made or the security interest or agricultural lien is first perfected, if there is no period thereafter when there is neither filing nor perfection.
(2) A perfected security interest or agricultural lien has priority over a conflicting unperfected security interest or agricultural lien.
(3) The first security interest or agricultural lien to attach or become effective has priority if conflicting security interests and agricultural liens are unperfected.
(b) Time of perfection:
(1) the time of filing or perfection as to a security interest in collateral is also the time of filing or perfection as to a security interest in proceeds; and
(2) the time of filing or perfection as to a security interest in collateral supported by a supporting obligation is also the time of filing or perfection as to a security interest in the supporting obligation.
(c) Special priority rules:
(1) any supporting obligation for the collateral; and
(2) proceeds of the collateral if:
(A) the security interest in proceeds is perfected;
(B) the proceeds are cash proceeds or of the same type as the collateral; and
(C) in the case of proceeds that are proceeds of proceeds, all intervening proceeds are cash proceeds, proceeds of the same type as the collateral, or an account relating to the collateral.
(d) First-to-file priority rule for certain collateral. — Subject to subsection (e) and except as otherwise provided in subsection (f), if a security interest in chattel paper, deposit accounts, negotiable documents, instruments, investment property, or letter-of-credit rights is perfected by a method other than filing, conflicting perfected security interests in proceeds of the collateral rank according to priority in time of filing.
(e) Applicability of subsection (d). — Subsection (d) applies only if the proceeds of the collateral are not cash proceeds, chattel paper, negotiable documents, instruments, investment property, or letter-of-credit rights.
(f) Limitations on subsections (a) through (e). — Subsections (a) through (e) are subject to:
(1) subsection (g) and the other provisions of this part;
(2) Section 4-210 with respect to a security interest of a collecting bank;
(3) Section 5-118 with respect to a security interest of an issuer or nominated person; and
(4) Section 9-110 with respect to a security interest arising under Article 2 or 2A.
(g) Priority under agricultural lien statute. — A perfected agricultural lien on collateral has priority over a conflicting security interest in or agricultural lien on the same collateral if the statute creating the agricultural lien so provides.
Structure Delaware Code
Article 9. Secured Transactions
Part 3. Perfection and Priority
§ 9-301. Law governing perfection and priority of security interests.
§ 9-302. Law governing perfection and priority of agricultural liens.
§ 9-304. Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in deposit accounts.
§ 9-305. Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in investment property.
§ 9-306. Law governing perfection and priority of security interests in letter-of-credit rights.
§ 9-308. When security interest or agricultural lien is perfected; continuity of perfection.
§ 9-309. Security interest perfected upon attachment.
§ 9-313. When possession by or delivery to secured party perfects security interest without filing.
§ 9-314. Perfection by control.
§ 9-315. Secured party's rights on disposition of collateral and in proceeds.
§ 9-316. Effect of change in governing law.
§ 9-317. Interests that take priority over or take free of security interest or agricultural lien.
§ 9-319. Rights and title of consignee with respect to creditors and purchasers.
§ 9-321. Licensee of general intangible and lessee of goods in ordinary course of business.
§ 9-324. Priority of purchase-money security interests.
§ 9-326. Priority of security interests created by new debtor.
§ 9-327. Priority of security interests in deposit account.
§ 9-328. Priority of security interests in investment property.
§ 9-329. Priority of security interests in letter-of-credit right.
§ 9-330. Priority of purchaser of chattel paper or instrument.
§ 9-332. Transfer of money; transfer of funds from deposit account.
§ 9-333. Priority of certain liens arising by operation of law.
§ 9-334. Priority of security interests in fixtures and crops.
§ 9-337. Priority of security interests in goods covered by certificate of title.
§ 9-339. Priority subject to subordination.
§ 9-340. Effectiveness of right of recoupment or set-off against deposit account.
§ 9-341. Bank's rights and duties with respect to deposit account.
§ 9-342. Bank's right to refuse to enter into or disclose existence of control agreement.