Section 3–110. (a) The person to whom an instrument is initially payable is determined by the intent of the person, whether or not authorized, signing as, or in the name or behalf of, the issuer of the instrument. The instrument is payable to the person intended by the signer even if that person is identified in the instrument by a name or other identification that is not that of the intended person. If more than one person signs in the name or behalf of the issuer of an instrument and all the signers do not intend the same person as payee, the instrument is payable to any person intended by one or more of the signers.
(b) If the signature of the issuer of an instrument is made by automated means, such as a check-writing machine, the payee of the instrument is determined by the intent of the person who supplied the name or identification of the payee, whether or not authorized to do so.
(c) A person to whom an instrument is payable may be identified in any way, including by name, identifying number, office, or account number. For the purpose of determining the holder of an instrument, the following rules apply:
(1) If an instrument is payable to an account and the account is identified only by number, the instrument is payable to the person to whom the account is payable. If an instrument is payable to an account identified by number and by the name of a person, the instrument is payable to the named person, whether or not that person is the owner of the account identified by number.
(2) If an instrument is payable to:
(i) a trust, an estate, or a person described as trustee or representative of a trust or estate, the instrument is payable to the trustee, the representative, or a successor of either, whether or not the beneficiary or estate is also named;
(ii) a person described as agent or similar representative of a named or identified person, the instrument is payable to the represented person, the representative, or a successor of the representative;
(iii) a fund or organization that is not a legal entity, the instrument is payable to a representative of the members of the fund or organization; or
(iv) an office or to a person described as holding an office, the instrument is payable to the named person, the incumbent of the office, or a successor to the incumbent.
(d) If an instrument is payable to two or more persons alternatively, it is payable to any of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced by any or all of them in possession of the instrument. If an instrument is payable to two or more persons not alternatively, it is payable to all of them and may be negotiated, discharged, or enforced only by all of them. If an instrument payable to two or more persons is ambiguous as to whether it is payable to the persons alternatively, the instrument is payable to the persons alternatively.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XV - Regulation of Trade
Chapter 106 - Uniform Commercial Code
Article 3 - Negotiable Instruments
Section 3-111 - Place of Payment
Section 3-102 - Subject Matter
Section 3-312 - Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen Cashier's Check, Teller's Check, or Certified Check
Section 3-402 - Signature by Representative
Section 3-403 - Unauthorized Signature
Section 3-404 - Impostors; Fictitious Payees
Section 3-405 - Employer's Responsibility for Fraudulent Indorsement by Employee
Section 3-406 - Negligence Contributing to Forged Signature or Alteration of Instrument
Section 3-408 - Drawee Not Liable on Unaccepted Draft
Section 3-409 - Acceptance of Draft; Certified Check
Section 3-410 - Acceptance Varying Draft
Section 3-411 - Refusal to Pay Cashier's Checks, Teller's Checks, and Certified Checks
Section 3-412 - Obligation of Issuer of Note or Cashier's Check
Section 3-413 - Obligation of Acceptor
Section 3-311 - Accord and Satisfaction by Use of Instrument
Section 3-414 - Obligation of Drawer
Section 3-416 - Transfer Warranties
Section 3-418 - Payment or Acceptance by Mistake
Section 3-419 - Instruments Signed for Accommodation
Section 3-420 - Conversion of Instrument
Section 3-503 - Notice of Dishonor
Section 3-504 - Excused Presentment and Notice of Dishonor
Section 3-505 - Evidence of Dishonor
Section 3-601 - Discharge and Effect of Discharge
Section 3-603 - Tender of Payment
Section 3-604 - Discharge by Cancellation or Renunciation
Section 3-605 - Discharge of Indorsers and Accommodation Parties
Section 3-415 - Obligation of Indorser
Section 3-310 - Effect of Instrument on Obligation for Which Taken
Section 3-417 - Presentment Warranties
Section 3-308 - Proof of Signatures and Status as Holder in Due Course
Section 3-309 - Enforcement of Lost, Destroyed, or Stolen Instrument
Section 3-104 - Negotiable Instrument
Section 3-105 - Issue of Instrument
Section 3-106 - Unconditional Promise or Order
Section 3-107 - Instrument Payable in Foreign Money
Section 3-108 - Payable on Demand or at Definite Time
Section 3-110 - Identification of Person to Whom Instrument Is Payable
Section 3-113 - Date of Instrument
Section 3-114 - Contradictory Terms of Instrument
Section 3-115 - Incomplete Instrument
Section 3-116 - Joint and Several Liability; Contribution
Section 3-117 - Other Agreements Affecting Instrument
Section 3-118 - Statute of Limitations
Section 3-109 - Payable to Bearer or to Order
Section 3-307 - Notice of Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Section 3-119 - Notice of Right to Defend Action
Section 3-306 - Claims to an Instrument
Section 3-305 - Defenses and Claims in Recoupment
Section 3-304 - Overdue Instrument
Section 3-302 - Holder in Due Course
Section 3-301 - Person Entitled to Enforce Instrument
Section 3-303 - Value and Consideration
Section 3-206 - Restrictive Indorsement
Section 3-205 - Special Indorsement; Blank Indorsement; Anomalous Indorsement
Section 3-203 - Transfer of Instrument; Rights Acquired by Transfer