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Subordination Agreement

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Subordination Agreement to Include Future Indebtedness to Secured Party

Subordination agreement (this Agreement) made this (date), between of , hereinafter called the Borrower, , of , hereinafter called the Secured Party, and , a corporation organized under the laws of , having its principal place of business at , hereinafter called the Preferred Creditor.

Whereas, Borrower is indebted to Secured Party for $ , on open account, as evidenced by a promissory note, dated , payable , and bearing % interest on the unpaid balance; and

Whereas, the note is secured by collateral described as follows:

Whereas, Borrower and Secured Party have requested Preferred Creditor to grant to Borrower a loan of $ , for which Preferred Creditor requires collateral now subject to the perfected security interest of Secured Party;

Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

I. Subordination of Security Interest. Secured Party shall subordinate Secured Party's security interest in the above-described collateral to the interest of Preferred Creditor in such collateral on account of such loan, and Secured Party will not demand, accept, or receive from Borrower any payment of principal or interest on account of, or any collateral for, any indebtedness of Borrower to Secured Party until the entire indebtedness of $ of Borrower to Preferred Creditor has been paid in full.

II. Bankruptcy; Assignments to Preferred Creditor. If any petition in bankruptcy is brought by or against the Borrower, or if any other proceeding for the liquidation of Borrower's assets is instituted, either by voluntary action or otherwise, Secured Party will assign and pay over to Preferred Creditor, to the extent necessary to satisfy the indebtedness of Borrower to Preferred Creditor in full with interest to the date of the receipt of such payments, any and all dividends and payments with respect to the indebtedness now subordinated to which Secured Party would be entitled in any such proceedings.

III. Bankruptcy; Subordination of Rights. In the event of any proceeding affecting Borrower under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws or any laws relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment, composition or extension of indebtedness or reorganization of corporations or other debtors, any payment to which Secured Party would be entitled under any plan of reorganization approved by any court shall be paid to Preferred Creditor and be applied on Borrower's indebtedness to Preferred Creditor. Any securities or other property issued or issuable to Secured Party under any such proceedings shall be assigned and delivered to preferred creditor, to be held by Preferred Creditor subject to the same terms of subordination to the claim of Preferred Creditor as are created by this instrument with respect to the present indebtedness of Borrower to Secured Party.

IV. Execution of Further Instruments; Assignment of Claim. To carry out the terms and intent of this undertaking more effectively, Secured Party will do all acts necessary or convenient to preserve for Preferred Creditor the benefits of this Subordination Agreement and will execute all agreements necessary for that purpose. Secured Party assigns, transfers and sets over to Preferred Creditor any claim against Borrower, whether evidenced by the instruments or chattel paper described in this Agreement or by notes, book entries or otherwise, and without imposing on Preferred Creditor any duty to preserve, protect or enforce such claim, or any note or notes evidencing the same.

V. Power of Attorney. Secured Party constitutes and appoints Preferred Creditor as Secured Party's true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the following purposes:

A. To collect any dividends or payments that would otherwise be payable to Secured Party on any liquidation of Borrower or in any proceedings affecting Borrower under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws or any laws relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment, composition or extension of indebtedness, or reorganization of corporations or other debtors;

B. To prove Secured Party's claim against Borrower in any such proceedings;

C. To accept or reject, to the extent to which Secured Party would be entitled to accept or reject, any plan of reorganization in any such proceedings;

D. To accept any new securities or other property to which Secured Party would otherwise be entitled under any such plan or reorganization or proceedings; and

E. In general to do any act in connection with any of such proceedings that Secured Party might otherwise do, it being understood that Preferred Creditor shall account to Secured Party for any dividends or payments received by Preferred Creditor in excess of the amount necessary to satisfy the claim of Preferred Creditor in full with interest.

VI. Deposit of Note and Collateral. Secured Party now deposits with Preferred Creditor the note evidencing Borrower's indebtedness to Secured Party, together with all collateral securing payment of the same and in the possession of Secured Party, to be held by Preferred Creditor until all of the indebtedness of Borrower to Preferred Creditor has been paid in full.

VII. Survival of Agreement. No action that Preferred Creditor or Borrower, with the consent of Preferred Creditor, may take or refrain from taking with respect to any indebtedness of Borrower to Preferred Creditor, any note or notes representing the same, any collateral for the same, or any agreement or agreements, including guaranties in connection with the same, shall affect this Agreement or the obligations of Secured Party under this Agreement.

VIII. Applicability to Future Indebtedness. If and when all indebtedness of Borrower to Preferred Creditor is paid in full and, subsequently, Borrower again becomes indebted to Preferred Creditor, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to such new indebtedness unless, before the same is incurred, Secured Party, after written notice of such new indebtedness, notifies Preferred Creditor in writing within days of the termination of the Agreement.

WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.

By:

Enter text✕

What a Subordination Agreement Is and when it applies

A Subordination Agreement is a signed contract in which one creditor agrees that its lien or claim on specific collateral or priority of payment will be ranked below the lien or claim of another creditor. Common in real estate and finance, it changes priority among mortgages, deeds of trust, or security interests so a later lender or secured party takes senior priority. The document identifies the parties, describes the encumbered property or obligation, states the existing lien positions, and records the consenting party's agreement to remain subordinate under specified terms.

Why parties use a Subordination Agreement

Subordination Agreements enable refinancing, permit additional lending, and clarify lien priority to avoid disputes. They provide predictable repayment order for creditors, support loan closings, and reduce title-related obstacles for new senior financing.

Why parties use a Subordination Agreement

Typical parties who prepare or sign a Subordination Agreement

Legal counsel, title companies, and closing agents often participate to verify enforceability and recordability before closing.

  • Senior lender or new lender — Reviews priority and requires subordination to secure first position for new financing.
  • Junior creditor or existing lienholder — Concedes priority, often in exchange for negotiated terms or continued collateral rights.
  • Borrower or obligor — Coordinates between creditors, ensures the property description and debtor obligations are accurate.

Stepwise checklist to complete a Subordination Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, approve, and record a Subordination Agreement accurately.

  • 01
    Collect documents: Gather mortgage, promissory note, and recorded instrument details.
  • 02
    Draft agreement: Prepare subordination language that matches loan terms and recording requirements.
  • 03
    Obtain approvals: Get written consent from the subordinating creditor and any required internal approvals.
  • 04
    Sign and notarize: Execute with required signatures and notarization before recording.

Key elements to include in a professional Subordination Agreement

A complete Subordination Agreement contains several core elements that establish parties, scope, and legal effect. Confirm each item is present and drafted to match recorded documents.

Identifying Parties

Full legal names and contact information for the subordinating creditor, senior creditor, and debtor; include corporate designations and authorized signers for entities.

Referenced Instruments

Clear citation of the existing lien instruments by type, original date, recording details, and instrument numbers to tie the subordination to the correct documents.

Scope of Subordination

Precise description whether subordination is of priority only or also applies to principal balance, future advances, fees, and enforcement rights.

Effective Date

The date subordination takes effect, stated in MM/DD/YYYY format, which determines when priority changes relative to other liens.

Representations and Warranties

Statements confirming authority to subordinate, absence of conflicting agreements, and accuracy of lien descriptions, reducing future disputes.

Execution and Notarization

Signature lines, printed names and titles, corporate attestations if applicable, and notary acknowledgment when required for recordation.

Essential information and data fields required

Creditor Names: Full legal names
Debtor Name: Full legal name
Instrument Details: Type, date, recording info
Property ID: Legal description or collateral ID
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY
Signatures: Signed and dated

Where to send, file, or record a completed Subordination Agreement

Routing depends on whether the agreement affects real property, a UCC filing, or a loan file. Confirm destination before execution.

  • County Recorder: Record deeds of trust and mortgage subordination to update public land records.
  • State UCC Filing Office: File UCC-1 amendments when subordinating security interests in personal property.
  • Lender Loan File: Deliver an executed copy to the senior lender for loan closing and underwriting.
  • Title Company: Provide to the title insurer or closer to confirm insurability and lien priority.

How to configure an online workflow for signing and routing

Set up clear signer order, authentication, and document fields to streamline approvals and recording.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Sequence subordinating creditor, debtor, senior lender
Authentication Email + SMS code or stronger ID verification
Notary Field Reserve space for notary acknowledgment and seal
Delivery Auto-send executed PDF to lenders and title

Digital signing and e-submission considerations

Ensure the platform you use produces a tamper-evident signed PDF and preserves a complete certificate of completion for recording and audit purposes.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX support for consistent record outputs
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, or advanced signer methods where required
  • Audit Trail: Capture IP, timestamp, and signer actions

Consequences of incorrect or improperly recorded Subordination Agreements

Invalid Subordination: Mismatched parties or instruments may render the agreement unenforceable
Recording Rejection: Incomplete legal descriptions or missing notary can lead to recorder refusal
Priority Disputes: Errors can result in unexpected lien priority and potential loss recovery
Title Insurance Issues: Title companies may delay closing or require endorsements
Costly Litigation: Disputes over priority can lead to expensive litigation
Regulatory Noncompliance: Failure to follow applicable statutes could affect enforceability

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a Subordination Agreement

  • Using informal property descriptions instead of the recorded legal description.
  • Failing to match creditor names and corporate designations exactly to recorded instruments.
  • Omitting notarization or required witnesses for recordable instruments.
  • Not confirming whether future advances are covered by the subordination language.

How Subordination Agreements are used in practice

These examples show typical scenarios where subordination clarifies lien priority.

Refinance by homeowner

A homeowner refinanced an existing mortgage to lower rates and add a new senior lender

  • The junior lienholder agreed to subordinate priority for the refinance
  • The recorded subordination enabled the new lender to obtain clear first lien status and the refinance closed without title exceptions.

Commercial construction loan

A developer sought takeout financing after construction completed

  • The construction lender subordinated its interest to a permanent mortgage subject to negotiated protections
  • The subordination cleared the path for permanent financing and preserved remedies for the construction lender under defined conditions.

eSignature vendor comparison for executing Subordination Agreements

Compare common vendor price points and compliance features relevant to signing and storing Subordination Agreements; signNow is listed first.

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Free Trial Yes, 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Subordination Agreements

Answers to common questions about when a subordination is needed, how to sign it, and how it affects lien priority.


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