(a) A person entitled to enforce an instrument, with or without consideration, may discharge the obligation of a party to pay the instrument (i) by an intentional voluntary act, such as surrender of the instrument to the party, destruction, mutilation, or cancellation of the instrument, cancellation or striking out of the party’s signature, or the addition of words to the instrument indicating discharge, or (ii) by agreeing not to sue or otherwise renouncing rights against the party by a signed writing.

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Terms Used In Washington Code 62A.3-604

  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
(b) Cancellation or striking out of an indorsement pursuant to subsection (a) does not affect the status and rights of a party derived from the indorsement.
[ 1993 c 229 § 74; 1965 ex.s. c 157 § 3-604. Cf. former RCW sections: (i) RCW 62.01.070; 1955 c 35 § 62.01.070; prior: 1899 c 149 § 70; RRS § 3461. (ii) RCW 62.01.120; 1955 c 35 § 62.01.120; prior: 1899 c 149 § 120; RRS § 3510.]

NOTES:

Recovery of attorneys’ feesEffective date1993 c 229: See RCW 62A.11-111 and 62A.11-112.

Discharge by cancellation or renunciation. (Effective January 1, 2024.)

(a) A person entitled to enforce an instrument, with or without consideration, may discharge the obligation of a party to pay the instrument (i) by an intentional voluntary act, such as surrender of the instrument to the party, destruction, mutilation, or cancellation of the instrument, cancellation or striking out of the party’s signature, or the addition of words to the instrument indicating discharge, or (ii) by agreeing not to sue or otherwise renouncing rights against the party by a signed writing. The obligation of a party to pay a check is not discharged solely by destruction of the check in connection with a process in which information is extracted from the check and an image of the check is made and, subsequently, the information and image are transmitted for payment.
(b) Cancellation or striking out of an indorsement pursuant to subsection (a) does not affect the status and rights of a party derived from the indorsement.
[ 2023 c 266 § 404; 1993 c 229 § 74; 1965 ex.s. c 157 § 3-604. Cf. former RCW sections: (i) RCW 62.01.070; 1955 c 35 § 62.01.070; prior: 1899 c 149 § 70; RRS § 3461. (ii) RCW 62.01.120; 1955 c 35 § 62.01.120; prior: 1899 c 149 § 120; RRS § 3510.]

NOTES:

ConstructionEffective date2023 c 266: See notes following RCW 62A.12-101.
Recovery of attorneys’ feesEffective date1993 c 229: See RCW 62A.11-111 and 62A.11-112.