Section 3–203. (a) An instrument is transferred when it is delivered by a person other than its issuer for the purpose of giving to the person receiving delivery the right to enforce the instrument.
(b) Transfer of an instrument, whether or not the transfer is a negotiation, vests in the transferee any right of the transferor to enforce the instrument, including any right as a holder in due course, but the transferee cannot acquire rights of a holder in due course by a transfer, directly or indirectly, from a holder in due course if the transferee engaged in fraud or illegality affecting the instrument.
(c) Unless otherwise agreed, if an instrument is transferred for value and the transferee does not become a holder because of lack of indorsement by the transferor, the transferee has a specifically enforceable right to the unqualified indorsement of the transferor, but negotiation of the instrument does not occur until the indorsement is made.
(d) If a transferor purports to transfer less than the entire instrument, negotiation of the instrument does not occur. The transferee obtains no rights under this Article and has only the rights of a partial assignee.
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