GA Code § 11-3-605 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 11 - Commercial Code|Article 3 - Negotiable Instruments|Part 6 - Discharge and Payment|§ 11-3-605. Discharge of Indorsers and Accommodation Parties

  In this Code section, the term "indorser" includes a drawer having the obligation described in subsection (d) of Code Section 11-3-414.   Discharge, under Code Section 11-3-604, of the obligation of a party to pay an instrument does not discharge the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the discharged party.   If a person entitled to enforce an instrument agrees, with or without consideration, to an extension of the due date of the obligation of a party to pay the instrument, the extension discharges an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the party whose obligation is extended to the extent the indorser or accommodation party proves that the extension caused loss to the indorser or accommodation party with respect to the right of recourse.   If a person entitled to enforce an instrument agrees, with or without consideration, to a material modification of the obligation of a party other than an extension of the due date, the modification discharges the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the person whose obligation is modified to the extent the modification causes loss to the indorser or accommodation party with respect to the right of recourse. The loss suffered by the indorser or accommodation party as a result of the modification is equal to the amount of the right of recourse unless the person enforcing the instrument proves that no loss was caused by the modification or that the loss caused by the modification was an amount less than the amount of the right of recourse.   If the obligation of a party to pay an instrument is secured by an interest in collateral and a person entitled to enforce the instrument impairs the value of the interest in collateral, the obligation of an indorser or accommodation party having a right of recourse against the obligor is discharged to the extent of the impairment. The burden of proving impairment is on the party asserting discharge. The value of an interest in collateral is impaired to the extent (i) the value of the interest is reduced to an amount less than the amount of the right of recourse of the party asserting discharge; or (ii) the reduction in value of the interest causes an increase in the amount by which the amount of the right of recourse exceeds the value of the interest.   If the obligation of a party is secured by an interest in collateral not provided by an accommodation party and a person entitled to enforce the instrument impairs the value of the interest in collateral, the obligation of any party who is jointly and severally liable with respect to the secured obligation is discharged to the extent the impairment causes the party asserting discharge to pay more than that party would have been obliged to pay, taking into account rights of contribution, if impairment had not occurred. If the party asserting discharge is an accommodation party not entitled to discharge under subsection (e) of this Code section, the party is deemed to have a right to contribution based on joint and several liability rather than a right to reimbursement. The burden of proving impairment is on the party asserting discharge.   Under subsection (e) or (f) of this Code section, impairing value of an interest in collateral includes (i) failure to obtain or maintain perfection or recordation of the interest in collateral; (ii) release of collateral without substitution of collateral of equal value; (iii) failure to perform a duty to preserve the value of collateral owed, under Article 9 of this title or other law, to a debtor or surety or other person secondarily liable; or (iv) failure to comply with applicable law in disposing of collateral.   An accommodation party is not discharged under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of this Code section unless the person entitled to enforce the instrument knows of the accommodation or has notice under subsection (c) of Code Section 11-3-419 that the instrument was signed for accommodation.   A party is not discharged under this Code section if (i) the party asserting discharge consents to the event or conduct that is the basis of the discharge; or (ii) the instrument or a separate agreement of the party provides for waiver of discharge under this Code section either specifically or by general language indicating that parties waive defenses based on suretyship or impairment of collateral.     (Code 1981, §11-3-605, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1306, § 3.)   Cross references.   - Discharge of surety by increase of risk, § 10-7-22.   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   ANALYSIS    General Consideration   Impairment of Collateral   Advance Consent to Impairment of Collateral   Effect of Insurance    RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 11 Am. Jur. 2d, Bills and Notes, § 418 et seq. 38 Am. Jur. 2d, Guaranty, § 106. 68A Am. Jur. 2d, Secured Transactions, §§ 14, 534-537.   C.J.S.   - 10 C.J.S., Bills and Notes, § 231 et seq.   U.L.A.   - Uniform Commercial Code (U.L.A.) § 3-605.   ALR.    - Renewal note as discharging original obligation or indebtedness, 52 A.L.R. 1416.    Amount due on principal obligation as limiting recovery on collateral paper of which plaintiff is holder in due course, but which is subject to defense between prior parties, 69 A.L.R. 898.    Discharge of accommodation maker or surety by extension of time or release of collateral security, under Negotiable Instruments Law, 108 A.L.R. 1088.   Discharge of accommodation maker or surety by release of mortgage or other security given for note, 2 A.L.R.2d 260.   Renewal note signed by one comaker as discharge of nonsigning comakers, 43 A.L.R.3d 246.   Who is "party" discharged on negotiable instrument to extent of holder's unjustifiable impairment of collateral, under UCC § 3-606(1)(b), 93 A.L.R.3d 1283.   What constitutes unjustifiable impairment of collateral, discharging parties to negotiable instrument, under UCC § 3-606(1)(b), 95 A.L.R.3d 962.