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Promissory Note

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Minnesota Fixed Rate Note, Installment Payments – Secured by Personal Property

PROMISSORY NOTE

(Fixed Rate, Installment Payments)

Caution – It is important that you thoroughly read the contract before you sign it.

[Date]

[City]

[State]

[Borrower's Address]

1. BORROWER'S PROMISE TO PAY

In return for a loan that I have received, I promise to pay U.S. $ (this amount is called "principal”), plus interest, to the order of the Lender. The Lender is . I will make all payments under this Note in the form of cash, check, certified funds or money order at the option and direction of Lender. I understand that the Lender may transfer this Note. The Lender or anyone who takes this Note by transfer and who is entitled to receive payments under this Note is called the "Note Holder."

2. INTEREST

Interest will be charged on unpaid principal until the full amount of principal has been paid. I will pay interest at a yearly rate of %. The interest rate required by this Section 2 is the rate I will pay both before and after any default described in Section 6(B) of this Note.

3. PAYMENTS

(A) Time and Place of Payments

I will pay principal and interest by making a payment every month. I will make my monthly payment on the day of each month beginning on . I will make these payments every month until I have paid all of the principal and interest and any other charges described below that I may owe under this Note. Each monthly payment will be applied as of its scheduled due date and will be applied to interest before principal. If, on I still owe amounts under this Note, I will pay those amounts in full on that date, which is called the “maturity date.” I will make my monthly payments at or at a different place if required by the Note Holder.

(B) Amount of Monthly Payments

My monthly payment will be in the amount of U.S. $

4. BORROWER'S RIGHT TO PREPAY

{initial desired provision}

I have the right to make payments of principal at any time before they are due. A payment of principal only is known as a “prepayment.” When I make a prepayment, I will tell the Note Holder in writing that I am doing so. I may not designate a payment as a prepayment if I have not made all the monthly payments due under the Note. I may make a full prepayment or partial prepayments without paying a prepayment charge. The Note Holder will use my prepayments to reduce the amount of principal that I owe under this Note. However, the Note Holder may apply my prepayment to the accrued and unpaid interest on the prepayment amount, before applying my prepayment to reduce the principal amount of the Note. If I make a partial prepayment, there will be no changes in the due date or in the amount of my monthly payment unless the Note Holder agrees in writing to those changes.

I shall not have the right to prepay this Note unless I pay a prepayment penalty for early prepayment in the amount determined by the Note Holder, not to exceed the maximum amount allowed by the laws of the state where the Borrower resides.

5. LOAN CHARGES

If a law, which applies to this loan and which sets maximum loan charges, is finally interpreted so that the interest or other loan charges collected or to be collected in connection with this loan exceed the permitted limits, then: (i) any such loan charge shall be reduced by the amount necessary to reduce the charge to the permitted limit; and (ii) any sums already collected from me which exceeded permitted limits will be refunded to me. The Note Holder may choose to make this refund by reducing the principal I owe under this Note or by making a direct payment to me. If a refund reduces principal, the reduction will be treated as a partial prepayment.

6. BORROWER'S FAILURE TO PAY AS REQUIRED

(A) Late Charge for Overdue Payments and Receipt of Payments

If the Note Holder has not received the full amount of any monthly payment by the end of {enter days before late charges are due under your State's laws} calendar days after the date it is due, I will pay a late charge to the Note Holder. The amount of the charge will be [% of my overdue payment of principal and interest or dollars for each late payment]. I will pay this late charge promptly but only once on each late payment. In no event will the late charge exceed the maximum amount allowed by the applicable state law.

Payments to the note holder shall not be considered made until received by the Note Holder at the address specified. Mailing is insufficient to constitute delivery to the Note Holder.

The number of days required for payment of a late charge shall not be considered as a grace period for the payment date required under this Note and the Borrower shall be default if the payment is not paid on the due date.

(B) Default

If I do not pay the full amount of each monthly payment on the date it is due, I will be in default.

(C) Notice of Default

If I am in default, the Note Holder may send me a written notice telling me that if I do not pay the overdue amount by a certain date, the Note Holder may require me to pay immediately the full amount of principal which has not been paid and all the interest that I owe on that amount. That date must be at least 30 days after the date on which the notice is mailed to me or delivered by other means.

(D) No Waiver By Note Holder

Even if, at a time when I am in default, the Note Holder does not require me to pay immediately in full as described above, the Note Holder will still have the right to do so if I am in default at a later time.

(E) Payment of Note Holder's Costs and Expenses

If the Note Holder has required me to pay immediately in full as described above, the Note Holder will have the right to be paid back by me for all of its costs and expenses in enforcing this Note to the extent not prohibited by applicable law. Those expenses include, for example, reasonable attorneys' fees.

7. GIVING OF NOTICES

Unless applicable law requires a different method, any notice that must be given to me under this Note will be given by delivering it or by mailing it by first class mail to me at the Property Address above or at a different address if I give the Note Holder a notice of my different address. Any notice that must be given to the Note Holder under this Note will be given by delivering it or by mailing it by first class mail to the Note Holder at the address stated in Section 3(A) above or at a different address if I am given a notice of that different address.

8. OBLIGATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER THIS NOTE

If more than one person signs this Note, each person is fully and personally obligated to keep all of the promises made in this Note, including the promise to pay the full amount owed. Any person who is a guarantor, surety or endorser of this Note is also obligated to do these things. Any person who takes over these obligations, including the obligations of a guarantor, surety or endorser of this Note, is also obligated to keep all of the promises made in this Note. The Note Holder may enforce its rights under this Note against each person individually or against all of us together. This means that any one of us may be required to pay all of the amounts owed under this Note.

9. WAIVERS

I and any other person who has obligations under this Note waive the rights of presentment and notice of dishonor. "Presentment" means the right to require the Note Holder to demand payment of amounts due. "Notice of dishonor" means the right to require the Note Holder to give notice to other persons that amounts due have not been paid.

10. SECURED NOTE

In addition to the protections given to the Note Holder under this Note, Borrower has also granted a Secured lien to Lender on Personal Property as described by Separate Security Agreement. The secured property is described as:

WITNESS THE HAND(S) AND SEAL(S) OF THE UNDERSIGNED

(Seal)

Borrower

(Seal)

Borrower

Enter text

What a Promissory Note Is and when it’s used

A Promissory Note is a written promise by one party (the borrower) to pay a specified sum to another party (the lender) under agreed terms. It records principal, interest rate, repayment schedule, maturity date, and any collateral or default remedies. Promissory notes can be used for personal loans, business financing, seller financing in real estate closings, and short-term credit arrangements. Properly drafted notes clarify payment obligations, support collection or foreclosure actions, and provide evidence for tax reporting and accounting purposes in the United States.

Why a clear Promissory Note matters

A well‑drafted Promissory Note reduces disputes by documenting repayment terms, security interests, and remedies on default. Clear terms support enforcement, tax reporting, and lender protections while providing transparent expectations for borrowers.

Why a clear Promissory Note matters

Who commonly completes a Promissory Note

Promissory Notes are completed by lenders, borrowers, and professionals who structure loan terms and security.

  • Banks and credit unions offering consumer or commercial loans, using standard note forms and underwriting controls.
  • Private lenders and individuals documenting peer-to-peer or family loans to establish enforceable repayment obligations.
  • Attorneys and loan servicers preparing secured notes tied to collateral or real property for legal enforcement.

Use parties and counsel together when terms are complex or when security interests, state recording, or tax reporting are involved.

Typical signers and their roles

Lender

Bank officer, private lender, or individual creditor who provides funds and requires a written promise to repay. The lender typically specifies interest, payment schedule, late fees, acceleration clauses, and any collateral description to protect repayment rights.

Borrower

Individual or business entity receiving funds and promising repayment. The borrower must confirm legal capacity, provide accurate identifying information, and sign the note to create enforceable obligations; corporate borrowers often require authorized signer details and corporate resolution.

Essential elements to include in every Promissory Note

A professional Promissory Note lists the parties, precise monetary terms, schedule, and remedies. Each element supports enforceability and reduces ambiguity.

Principal

Exact dollar amount borrowed, written numerically and in words to prevent ambiguity and to serve as the baseline for interest and repayment calculations.

Interest Rate

Specify fixed or variable rate, calculation method (simple or compounded), reference index if variable, and any usury limits that may apply under state law.

Payment Schedule

Define installment amounts, due dates, grace periods, application order (interest then principal), and prepayment terms including any discounts or penalties.

Maturity Date

Date when remaining balance is due in full; include consequences of nonpayment and whether acceleration provisions apply on default.

Security / Collateral

If secured, identify collateral with sufficient detail, reference security agreement or deed of trust, and specify perfection steps such as UCC-1 filing or recording.

Default Remedies

State events of default, late fee structure, acceleration rights, collection costs, attorney fees, and whether interest rate increases on default are permitted.

Security, compliance, and file integrity pointers

Encryption: AES‑256 at rest
Transport Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit
Audit Trail: Timestamp and IP history
ESIGN & UETA: Compliant with federal/state rules
HIPAA / BAA: BAA available if required
21 CFR Part 11: Supported for regulated workflows

Step-by-step: filling out a Promissory Note

Follow these steps to complete the note so terms are enforceable and clearly documented.

  • 01
    Prepare parties: Verify legal names and authority
  • 02
    Define terms: Enter principal, rate, schedule
  • 03
    Add security: Describe collateral and filings
  • 04
    Execute properly: Sign, date, notarize if required

How digital completion and eSubmission typically flow

Digital workflows mirror paper steps and add audit trails. Below is a common end-to-end sequence for electronic Promissory Notes.

  • Upload document: Import PDF or DOCX into platform
  • Place fields: Add signature, date, and notarization tags
  • Authenticate signer: Use email, SMS code, or stronger methods
  • Execute and store: Signed PDF + audit trail saved

Recommended online field settings for a Promissory Note

Configure fields to capture necessary data and to create a defensible record when signed electronically.

Field Configuration
Signature Field Required; initials optional if specified
Date Field Auto-fill on signature; MM/DD/YYYY format
Notary Block Include if state or lender requires notarization
Authentication Email link or SMS code; use MFA for higher trust

Platform capabilities to support electronic Promissory Notes

Choose a platform that supports legal e‑signatures, tamper-evident PDFs, and audit trails to create an admissible record.

  • Document formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connects to CRM and cloud storage
  • Authentication options: Email, SMS, or KBA

Verify the vendor supports required compliance (ESIGN, UETA, HIPAA if applicable), provides an immutable audit trail, and can export signed documents in PDF/A for long-term retention.

Key dates and scheduling considerations for Promissory Notes

Track payment due dates, acceleration triggers, and any recording or tax reporting deadlines tied to the note.

Effective Date:

Date when obligations begin; recorded as MM/DD/YYYY and triggers interest accrual

First Payment Date:

Establish the initial payment date to avoid ambiguity in amortization

Maturity Date:

Deadline for final payment; often used to trigger acceleration clauses

Default Cure Period:

Specify number of days to cure prior to acceleration or collection

Recording Deadline:

If secured, record security instrument promptly to perfect lien

Legal risks and consequences of an incorrect note

Enforceability Risk: Ambiguous terms
Usury Exposure: Excessive interest
Tax Reporting: Incorrect interest reporting
Loss of Priority: Unperfected security
Collection Costs: Unrecoverable fees
Statute Limitation: Claims time‑barred

Common drafting and execution mistakes to avoid

  • Using imprecise payment terms that leave the payment amount or schedule undefined, which can void acceleration or enforcement options.
  • Failing to match legal names or signer capacity, causing banks or courts to reject enforcement based on identity discrepancies.
  • Skipping perfection steps for secured notes, such as UCC‑1 filings or deed recordings, resulting in loss of priority to other creditors.
  • Neglecting consumer‑facing disclosure or state usury limits when lending to individuals, which can trigger rescission or statutory penalties.

Practical tips for accurate and defensible Promissory Notes

Adopt a consistent process that combines template controls, verification, and secure signing to minimize risk and speed completion.

Use standardized templates vetted by counsel
Maintain a library of state‑specific templates reviewed by legal counsel to ensure terms comply with local usury laws, choice-of-law nuances, and security perfection requirements. Standardization reduces drafting errors and speeds review while preserving enforceable language.
Verify signer identity and authority
Confirm borrower identity and corporate authority for entity borrowers. For businesses, obtain board or member resolutions where required to validate the signer's capacity and prevent later challenges to binding authority.
Perfect security interests promptly
When collateral secures repayment, file UCC‑1 financing statements or record deeds of trust without delay. Delays can subordinate your lien to subsequent creditors or purchasers and impede recovery.
Retain signed records with audit trails
Store executed notes and supporting documents in secure, auditable storage. Ensure the record captures signature timestamps, IP addresses, and an immutable audit trail for evidentiary support in disputes.

eSignature vendor comparison for executing Promissory Notes

Representative starting prices and core capabilities. signNow appears first for straightforward comparison across common vendor dimensions.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7‑day trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Varies Varies Varies Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently asked questions about Promissory Notes

Answers to common legal, execution, and eSignature questions for Promissory Notes in the United States.


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