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  • The Legally Invalid Assignment Defense to Foreclosure

People who are facing the possibility of a foreclosure on their home may want to investigate the history of their mortgage. If the assignment to the foreclosing party is not valid, this may be a viable defense to a foreclosure. In some states, you can demand that the foreclosing party produce a written assignment of the mortgage. If it does not have an assignment or failed to record it as required by state law, this may result in the dismissal of the foreclosure action. Recording rules may require that the foreclosing party record the assignment before starting the foreclosure.

Courts in other states are more lenient in their review of assignments. Since the mortgage is closely associated with the promissory note, the foreclosing party may be allowed to enforce the promissory note even if it cannot produce a valid assignment of the mortgage. You should seek legal guidance in your state to determine whether this defense may be viable.

Homeowners who believe that they may have a defense based on an invalid assignment may wish to consult with a knowledgeable foreclosure lawyer, since this defense can become complicated. Justia offers a lawyer directory to simplify researching, comparing, and contacting attorneys who fit your legal needs.

The Relationship Between Mortgages and Promissory Notes

The mortgage and the promissory note are the two key documents attached to a loan for buying a home. Some purchases involve a deed of trust rather than a mortgage, but they are functionally equivalent in this context. While the promissory note is your guarantee to repay the loan, the mortgage gives the lender the right to foreclose if you do not repay the loan as arranged. The mortgage also identifies the property that will serve as security for the loan. Thus, the two documents work together in establishing the lender’s rights.

The Role of Mortgage Assignments in Loan Transfers

A bank or other lender often will sell a mortgage to another party, which will collect payments and pursue the homeowner if they fail to keep up with the mortgage. To transfer the loan, the original lender will endorse the promissory note to the new owner of the mortgage. This is because collection efforts hinge on owning the promissory note. If the foreclosing party cannot produce the promissory note, the homeowner will have a defense to the foreclosure.

Meanwhile, the new owner will record the assignment of the mortgage. This includes transferring the right to foreclose, as provided by the mortgage, to the new owner. The assignment will provide the amount of the mortgage and the names of the homeowner, the original lender, and the new owner of the mortgage. It also will contain a description of the property attached to the mortgage and the date when the mortgage took effect.

An invalid assignment defense may only be a temporary solution until the new owner records an assignment in their name.

The mortgage industry uses a tool known as the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS) to keep track of assignments. MERS may be a nominee for the lender, or it may receive the mortgage as an assignment. If MERS is the current assignee, it cannot pursue a foreclosure because it does not have an interest in the promissory note. MERS simply serves as an agent for the current owner of the mortgage and assists in creating a record for transfers of the mortgage. This allows banks to more easily transfer loans among them without creating a new assignment each time. You may have a defense against a foreclosure action if MERS is listed as the owner of the mortgage. However, this likely will be only a temporary solution until the new owner records an assignment in their name.

Last reviewed October 2023

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Understanding the Assignment of Mortgages: What You Need To Know

3 minute read • Upsolve is a nonprofit that helps you get out of debt with education and free debt relief tools, like our bankruptcy filing tool.  Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. Get free education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University so we'll never ask you for a credit card.  Explore our free tool

A mortgage is a legally binding agreement between a home buyer and a lender that dictates a borrower's ability to pay off a loan. Every mortgage has an interest rate, a term length, and specific fees attached to it.

Attorney Todd Carney

Written by Attorney Todd Carney .  Updated November 26, 2021

If you’re like most people who want to purchase a home, you’ll start by going to a bank or other lender to get a mortgage loan. Though you can choose your lender, after the mortgage loan is processed, your mortgage may be transferred to a different mortgage servicer . A transfer is also called an assignment of the mortgage. 

No matter what it’s called, this change of hands may also change who you’re supposed to make your house payments to and how the foreclosure process works if you default on your loan. That’s why if you’re a homeowner, it’s important to know how this process works. This article will provide an in-depth look at what an assignment of a mortgage entails and what impact it can have on homeownership.

Assignment of Mortgage – The Basics

When your original lender transfers your mortgage account and their interests in it to a new lender, that’s called an assignment of mortgage. To do this, your lender must use an assignment of mortgage document. This document ensures the loan is legally transferred to the new owner. It’s common for mortgage lenders to sell the mortgages to other lenders. Most lenders assign the mortgages they originate to other lenders or mortgage buyers.

Home Loan Documents

When you get a loan for a home or real estate, there will usually be two mortgage documents. The first is a mortgage or, less commonly, a deed of trust . The other is a promissory note. The mortgage or deed of trust will state that the mortgaged property provides the security interest for the loan. This basically means that your home is serving as collateral for the loan. It also gives the loan servicer the right to foreclose if you don’t make your monthly payments. The promissory note provides proof of the debt and your promise to pay it.

When a lender assigns your mortgage, your interests as the mortgagor are given to another mortgagee or servicer. Mortgages and deeds of trust are usually recorded in the county recorder’s office. This office also keeps a record of any transfers. When a mortgage is transferred so is the promissory note. The note will be endorsed or signed over to the loan’s new owner. In some situations, a note will be endorsed in blank, which turns it into a bearer instrument. This means whoever holds the note is the presumed owner.

Using MERS To Track Transfers

Banks have collectively established the Mortgage Electronic Registration System , Inc. (MERS), which keeps track of who owns which loans. With MERS, lenders are no longer required to do a separate assignment every time a loan is transferred. That’s because MERS keeps track of the transfers. It’s crucial for MERS to maintain a record of assignments and endorsements because these land records can tell who actually owns the debt and has a legal right to start the foreclosure process.

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Assignment of Mortgage Requirements and Effects

The assignment of mortgage needs to include the following:

The original information regarding the mortgage. Alternatively, it can include the county recorder office’s identification numbers. 

The borrower’s name.

The mortgage loan’s original amount.

The date of the mortgage and when it was recorded.

Usually, there will also need to be a legal description of the real property the mortgage secures, but this is determined by state law and differs by state.

Notice Requirements

The original lender doesn’t need to provide notice to or get permission from the homeowner prior to assigning the mortgage. But the new lender (sometimes called the assignee) has to send the homeowner some form of notice of the loan assignment. The document will typically provide a disclaimer about who the new lender is, the lender’s contact information, and information about how to make your mortgage payment. You should make sure you have this information so you can avoid foreclosure.

Mortgage Terms

When an assignment occurs your loan is transferred, but the initial terms of your mortgage will stay the same. This means you’ll have the same interest rate, overall loan amount, monthly payment, and payment due date. If there are changes or adjustments to the escrow account, the new lender must do them under the terms of the original escrow agreement. The new lender can make some changes if you request them and the lender approves. For example, you may request your new lender to provide more payment methods.

Taxes and Insurance

If you have an escrow account and your mortgage is transferred, you may be worried about making sure your property taxes and homeowners insurance get paid. Though you can always verify the information, the original loan servicer is responsible for giving your local tax authority the new loan servicer’s address for tax billing purposes. The original lender is required to do this after the assignment is recorded. The servicer will also reach out to your property insurance company for this reason.  

If you’ve received notice that your mortgage loan has been assigned, it’s a good idea to reach out to your loan servicer and verify this information. Verifying that all your mortgage information is correct, that you know who to contact if you have questions about your mortgage, and that you know how to make payments to the new servicer will help you avoid being scammed or making payments incorrectly.

Let's Summarize…

In a mortgage assignment, your original lender or servicer transfers your mortgage account to another loan servicer. When this occurs, the original mortgagee or lender’s interests go to the next lender. Even if your mortgage gets transferred or assigned, your mortgage’s terms should remain the same. Your interest rate, loan amount, monthly payment, and payment schedule shouldn’t change. 

Your original lender isn’t required to notify you or get your permission prior to assigning your mortgage. But you should receive correspondence from the new lender after the assignment. It’s important to verify any change in assignment with your original loan servicer before you make your next mortgage payment, so you don’t fall victim to a scam.

Attorney Todd Carney

Attorney Todd Carney is a writer and graduate of Harvard Law School. While in law school, Todd worked in a clinic that helped pro-bono clients file for bankruptcy. Todd also studied several aspects of how the law impacts consumers. Todd has written over 40 articles for sites such... read more about Attorney Todd Carney

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Promissory Notes, Mortgage Assignments, and MERS’ Role in Real Estate

Promissory Notes, Mortgage Assignments, and MERS’ Role in Real Estate

mers assignment

After the fall out of the subprime mortgage crisis that triggered the Great Recession, the effects still linger when looking at homeownership statistics in the United States. Nearly 10 million homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure between 2006 and 2014. Damaged credit and traumatized psyches paired with stricter lending standards and soaring median home prices mean that some former homeowners will never own another home.

Today, the United States is seeing the highest rates of unemployment since the Great Depression at nearly 15%  due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and of those who still own a home, nearly 4.1 million borrowers are struggling to make their monthly payments. Many are turning to forbearance for momentary relief from their mortgages.

For many homeowners, the question of what happens to their mortgage after closing day might not ever come up. Until the threat of foreclosure or the need for forbearance arises, most borrowers simply send in their monthly payments with no questions asked.

Now is a good time to consider the process after closing, and how it affects their property rights. Here are some of the questions to ask.

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What happens after a real estate closing?

  • At closing, the borrower signs the mortgage, the deed, and the promissory note
  • The mortgage and the deed are recorded in the public record
  • The promissory note is held by the lender while the loan is outstanding
  • Payments are sent to the mortgage servicing company
  • The mortgage may be securitized and sold to investors
  • The mortgage may be transferred to another bank
  • The mortgage servicing rights may change to another company
  • When the mortgage is paid in full, a mortgage lien release or satisfaction with a number referencing the original mortgage loan is recorded in the public record to show the debt is no longer outstanding
  • The promissory note is marked as paid in full and returned to the borrower

Banks often sell and buy mortgages from each other as a way to liquidate assets and improve their credit ratings. When the original lender sells the debt to another bank or an investor, a mortgage assignment is created and recorded in the public record and the promissory note is endorsed.

What are Loan Transfer Documents?

Assignments and endorsements prove who owns the debt and subsequently who has the authority to bring foreclosure action.

Mortgage Assignments

A Mortgage Assignment is a document showing a mortgage loan has been transferred from the originator to a third party.

Note Endorsements

In addition to the assignment, the originator of the loan or the most recent holder of the loan must endorse (or sign over) the promissory note whenever the loan changes hands. Sometimes, the note is endorsed “in blank,” which means that any party that possesses the note has the legal authority to enforce it.

While these documents are supposed to be recorded in the public land records systems, sometimes there’s a “break” in the chain. A missing mortgage satisfaction or assignment can cause a huge headache for homeowners when they go to sell. Without knowing who the official mortgage lienholder of the property is, the home can’t be sold. The title agent in charge of the closing is tasked with fixing the issue so that clear ownership rights can be established and the final mortgage payoff can be sent to the right lender if needed.

What is Mortgage Securitization?

In the last 30 years or so, the buying and selling of mortgage loans between lenders, banks, and investors has grown more complicated. When a mortgage is turned into a security, it’s pooled with similar types of loans and sold on the secondary mortgage market. The purchasers or investors in these securities receive interest in principal payments.

Securitization is good for lenders because it allows them to sell mortgage loans from their books and use that money to make more loans.

Where securitization goes wrong, as we saw during the housing crisis, is when bad or “toxic” assets are pooled together and sold on the secondary market to unsuspecting investors. Subprime mortgage-backed securities had received high ratings from credit agencies and offered a higher interest rate, but they also were the first to hemorrhage losses when borrowers began defaulting on homes with underwater mortgages.

Securitization isn’t an inherently good or bad process, it’s simply a mechanism by which banks liquidize assets, increase their credit and ratings, and clear their balance sheets.

For homeowners, securitization means that the mortgage isn’t owned by a single lender and is instead part of a pool of mortgages owned by investors. A mortgage service company is responsible for collecting the mortgage payments and sending it to the proper investors. Securitization also means that tracking the note and who has the authority to enforce it can get messy.

What is the Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc. or MERS?

The MERS system is a private, third-party database system used to track servicing rights and ownership of mortgages in the United States. This system of registering the promissory note and mortgage was created to make transferring these documents easier on the secondary mortgage market.

How does MERS work?

For some real estate transactions, the mortgage originator will designate MERS as the mortgagee at closing. These loans are called MERS as Original Mortgagee (MOM) loans. When buying a home, a borrower should see clear language on the mortgage or deed of trust document granting and conveying legal title of the mortgage to MERS as mortgagee. This gives the company the right to act on behalf of the current and subsequent owners of the loan.

In other transactions, the loan may be assigned to MERS in the public record at a later date after closing.

After MERS is designated as a nominee to act on behalf of the lender, it tracks the transfers of the loans between parties and acts as a nominee for each holder. This eliminates the need to file separate assignments in the public record each time the loan is transferred. If a lender sells the loan, MERS will update this information in their system.

Even though MERS is designated as the mortgagee, it doesn’t own the debt or hold the promissory note. MERS doesn’t service mortgages or collect payments on mortgages.

Benefits of MERS

Some of the benefits of the MERS system include:

  • No document drafting fees
  • Eliminates the need for multiple assignments each time the loan changes hands
  • Reduces recording costs
  • Saves time and administrative costs for lenders and servicers
  • Provides the identification of servicers and investors for free for homeowners and lenders
  • Used by Lenders to find undisclosed liens
  • Used by municipalities to find companies responsible for maintaining vacant and abandoned properties
  • Mortgage Identification Numbers (MIN) are assigned to each loan for easy tracking
  • Selling of loans and servicing transfers are more efficient in the secondary market
  • Obtaining lien releases when a lender goes out of business is simplified
  • Cost savings by the mortgage industry is theoretically passed on to homeowners

Does MERS really save consumers money?

The MERS system is not meant to act as a replacement for public land records. However, some states, including Kentucky, New York, Texas, Alabama, and Delaware have sued the company that controls MERS for lost revenue from missing record filing fees. In the case of Kentucky , the state alleged that MERS did not record mortgage assignments with Kentucky County Clerks as they were transferred between banks. At $12 a recording, all those transfers without corresponding mortgage assignments add up to big bucks.

Despite numerous lawsuits challenging MERS over its mortgage assignment authority, the company that controls MERS usually receives favorable judgments . In 2016, courts in Texas ruled that MERS’ mortgage assignments were valid and dismissed two cases. County recorders in Pennsylvania also brought cases claiming that MERS and MERS System members failed to record mortgage assignments when transferring promissory notes, a violation of Pennsylvania recording laws. MERS emerged as the winner of these lawsuits as well.

Kentucky and other states argue that skipping out on these fees hurt the consumers and taxpayers in their states.

What is MERS role in foreclosures?

Depending on the state, a foreclosure process might be either judicial (reviewed by a judge in court) or nonjudicial. In the past, MERS, acting on behalf of lenders, has been named as the plaintiff in foreclosure proceedings. Sometimes MERS was even listed as the beneficiary in nonjudicial notices.

Whether or not MERS has the authority to file foreclosure as either the plaintiff or beneficiary is hotly contested. Some states have ruled that MERS doesn’t have standing to foreclose since it doesn’t have any financial interest in either the property of the promissory note.

MERS Splits the note and the mortgage

A court case from 1872, Carpenter v. Longan , established that where the promissory note goes, a deed of trust or mortgage must follow and, according to the United State’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) , the promissory note must also have a clear chain of title.

Foreclosure proceedings during the Great Recession proved to be complicated by the MERS system. Within the MERS system, a note and mortgage may be transferred multiple times, so to avoid an endorsement each time, the note is “endorsed in blank.” In one foreclosure after the other, borrowers were able to demonstrate that the subsequent assignments of the promissory note had gone unendorsed.

Although the MERS systems has helped the mortgage industry, title agents, and even borrowers better manage and understand who has the servicing rights and holds the authority to foreclose, several borrowers facing foreclosure have argued that the system impermissibly “splits” the note and the mortgage between the note holder and MERS as the beneficiary of the deed of trust or mortgage.

This process of bifurcation, it’s claimed, causes the relationship between the mortgage and note to become defective and subsequently unenforceable.

Homeowners facing foreclosure, especially in the aftermath of the housing bubble burst of 2008, were successful in delaying or avoiding foreclosure by arguing that the authority to foreclose was not satisfactorily established due to breaks in the chain of assignments and endorsements.

However, Article 3 of the UCC establishes anyone who possesses the note has the legal authority to enforce it. So foreclosing parties have countered that possession of the note should be enough.

As a result, some states, like Michigan, have ruled in favor of these borrower’s arguments by requiring reunification through valid assignment before foreclosures may proceed. Others have ruled that reunification is not necessary since MERS would be authorized to foreclose for the note holder on their behalf. In 2015, The Nevada Supreme Court actually clarified previous rulings by stating that the involvement of MERS actually cures the defect. This is because the note holder could potentially or theoretically direct or compel MERS to assign the deed of trust, resulting in reunifying the instruments.

Homebuyers should always ask questions

With the advent of eClosing solutions, eNotes, eVaults, and the MERS eRegistry , the real estate, title, and mortgage industry continues to build systems that improve the homebuying experience.

Despite all the advancements, homebuying can be a confusing and overwhelming process. It’s important to ask questions of the right real estate professionals. Hiring your own attorney to represent your interests in the real estate transaction is always a good idea.

While the pros and cons of MERS is debated, homeowners today will want to keep up with recommendations from the CFPB should they fall behind on their mortgage payments and reach out to their mortgage servicer as soon as possible.

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Amanda Farrell is a digital media strategist at PropLogix. She enjoys being a part of a team that gives peace of mind for consumers while making one of the biggest purchases of their lives. She lives in Sarasota with her bunny, Buster, and enjoys painting, playing guitar and mandolin, and yoga.

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  1. MERS ASSIGNMENT BIFURCATES NOTE AND DEED OF TRUST

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  2. The Real Estate Mortgage Follows the Assignment of Mortgages-- MERS

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  3. MERS Assignment Fail: Mortgage Electronic Registration Sidesteps, Inc

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  4. Assignment Of Mortgage

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  5. Mortgage Assignment To Mers

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  6. Mortgage Assignment To Mers

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COMMENTS

  1. Sample Assignment from MERS - the ICE">Sample Assignment from MERS - the ICE

    Sample Assignment from MERS. as to and interest in the below described mortgage. MERS is only assigning its interest in the security instrument. Language indicating MERS is assigning the promissory note is prohibited. See the Procedures for the proper ways to identify MERS. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems ...

  2. Invalid Assignment Defense to Foreclosure - Justia">The Legally Invalid Assignment Defense to Foreclosure - Justia

    An invalid assignment defense may only be a temporary solution until the new owner records an assignment in their name. The mortgage industry uses a tool known as the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS) to keep track of assignments.

  3. Understanding the Assignment of Mortgages: What You ... - Upsolve">Understanding the Assignment of Mortgages: What You ... - Upsolve

    Banks have collectively established the Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc. (MERS), which keeps track of who owns which loans. With MERS, lenders are no longer required to do a separate assignment every time a loan is transferred. That’s because MERS keeps track of the transfers.

  4. ASSIGNMENT FROM MERS CHECKLIST - the ICE">ASSIGNMENT FROM MERS CHECKLIST - the ICE

    Assessment of compliance with the MERS® System requirements: The assignment contains a MIN (or the location for the MIN is evident). The assignment contains the SIS Number (888-679-6377 or 888-679-MERS). (If the assignment contains an address for MERS) The address for MERS is P.O. Box 2026, Flint, MI 48501-2026.

  5. Promissory Notes, Mortgage Assignments, and MERS' Role in ...">Promissory Notes, Mortgage Assignments, and MERS' Role in ...

    Even though MERS is designated as the mortgagee, it doesn’t own the debt or hold the promissory note. MERS doesn’t service mortgages or collect payments on mortgages. Benefits of MERS. Some of the benefits of the MERS system include: No document drafting fees; Eliminates the need for multiple assignments each time the loan changes hands

  6. Nolo">What Is Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc.? | Nolo

    MERS registers and tracks assignments of mortgages and servicing rights, avoiding the costs of having to record each loan transfer. When a mortgage is sold from one bank to another, an "assignment" (a document showing that the loan has been transferred) is typically prepared and recorded in the county land records.

  7. MERS® System Rules of Membership - the ICE">MERS® System Rules of Membership - the ICE

    RULE 1. MEMBERSHIP. RULE 2. REGISTRATION ON THE MERS® SYSTEM. RULE 3. OBLIGATIONS OF MERS ENTITIES. RULE 4. RULES AND PROCEDURES. RULE 5. FEES AND COSTS. RULE 6. [OMITTED] RULE 7. DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. RULE 8. FORECLOSURE AND BANKRUPTCY. RULE 9. INFORMATION OWNERSHIP AND USE. RULE 10. MISCELLANEOUS. RULE 11 SERVICES. RULE 12 WARRANTIES.

  8. After Recording Return To: - Fannie Mae

    This assignment is for the benefit of Lender, its successors and assigns, all as more fully defined herein. MERS authority to act on behalf of Lender, its successors and assigns, is pursuant and subject to the MERS Rules. Without limiting the foregoing, MERS has the actual authority to act on Lender’s behalf with respect to the matters ...

  9. What Is MERS For Mortgages? | Rocket Mortgage">What Is MERS For Mortgages? | Rocket Mortgage

    Understanding How MERS Works: Mortgage Tracking. When a bank or financial institution sells a mortgage, an assignment is prepared and recorded in the appropriate county land records. This assignment is a document that indicates the mortgage has been transferred to a new owner.

  10. MERS's “Maine” Purpose: Recognizing Key Differences Between ...">MERS's “Maine” Purpose: Recognizing Key Differences Between ...

    This can create problems for foreclosing lenders who often rely on assignments from MERS to demonstrate their ownership of the mortgage. Maine’s Supreme Court recently confirmed that the original lender can ratify a prior MERS assignment to give it the same effect as if the original lender assigned its interests in the mortgage rather than MERS.