| name | cognovit-note |
| title | Cognovit Promissory Note |
| description | Drafts cognovit promissory notes with confession of judgment provisions, gated by mandatory jurisdictional enforceability research, usury compliance, and statutory disclosure requirements. Advises on alternatives where cognovit clauses are prohibited. Use when drafting cognovit notes, confession of judgment instruments, or loan documents requiring waiver-of-defense provisions. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/cognovit-note |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | finance |
| language | en |
Cognovit Promissory Note
Drafts an enforceable cognovit promissory note with confession of judgment provisions. Enforceability varies dramatically by jurisdiction — the jurisdictional gate must be completed before any drafting begins.
Prerequisites
Gather before starting:
- Governing jurisdiction — state where cognovit will be enforced
- Transaction type — consumer vs. commercial (consumer cognovit is prohibited in most jurisdictions)
- Party identification — legal names, entity formation docs, signatory authority
- Loan terms — principal, rate, term, repayment structure, collateral (if any)
- Prior agreements — existing contracts, guarantees, or security interests between parties
Quick Start
- Complete jurisdictional gate (Phase 1) — stop if cognovit is prohibited
- Draft document with all required provisions (Phase 2)
- Run compliance checklist (Phase 3)
- Prepare enforceability memo (Phase 4)
Phase 1: Jurisdictional Gate
Research and document ALL of the following before drafting:
- Statutory authority — current statutes governing confession of judgment
- Consumer vs. commercial — most states prohibit cognovit in consumer transactions entirely
- Execution formalities — witness, notarization, separate acknowledgment requirements
- Warning language — statutory cautionary language with format requirements (bold, caps, font size)
- Attorney requirements — whether confessing attorney must be barred in-state, independent of lender
- Recent case law — appellate decisions on enforceability and procedural fairness
- Ethics opinions — state bar guidance on attorney participation
Key permitting jurisdictions (commercial only):
- Ohio — R.C. § 2323.12 et seq. (warning notice required) [VERIFY]
- Pennsylvania — Pa.R.C.P. 2950 et seq. [VERIFY]
- Illinois — historically permitted; verify current status [VERIFY]
If prohibited or restricted: Stop drafting. Recommend alternatives: personal guarantees, security agreements with collateral, standard acceleration clauses, or confession of judgment obtained post-default by stipulation.
Phase 2: Document Structure
Header and Recitals
- Title: "COGNOVIT PROMISSORY NOTE"
