Legal Definitions - hand note

A hand note is a type of promissory note, which is a written promise to pay a certain amount of money to another party or bearer. It is a two-party negotiable instrument, unlike a draft which is a three-party instrument. A hand note is secured by a collateral note, which means that it is backed by a pledge of real or personal property as collateral.

For example, if someone borrows money from a bank and uses their car as collateral, the bank may require them to sign a hand note to ensure that they will repay the loan. If the borrower fails to repay the loan, the bank can seize the car to recover the money owed.

Hand notes are just one type of promissory note, and there are many other variations such as demand notes, installment notes, and mortgage notes. They are commonly used in business and personal transactions to provide a written record of a promise to pay.