Also known as:assignment · assignments · assign · assigns · assigned · assigning · full assignment · partial assignment · assignment of rights · contract assignment
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A transfer by which the holder of a right manifests an intention to pass that right to another person without further action by the holder. The manifestation may occur orally or in writing and may be directed to the obligor or a third party.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Bankruptcy Court Jurisdiction Challenge
Private parties litigate a state-law contract dispute in federal district court. Congress enacts a statute routing all such claims to non-Article III bankruptcy judges for final decision. The district court dismisses the case, holding that wholesale assignment of traditional Article III matters to Article I tribunals violates separation of powers.
Oral Assignment of Payment Right
Andre Antoine holds a right to payment from Apollo Energy under a supply contract. Andre tells Apollo's accounts-payable manager that he now wants all future payments sent to Ariana Azizi. Apollo begins remitting funds to Ariana, confirming that the oral manifestation alone effected the transfer.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
Federal Rules
Uniform Acts
Model Codes
Restatements
Landlord Retains Unassigned Benefit
Alice Atkins leases commercial space to Avalon Pharmaceuticals and later sells the building to Azure Solutions. The lease contains an express promise that the landlord will maintain the HVAC system. Alice does not assign that promise to Azure. Alice remains entitled to enforce the HVAC covenant after the sale.
Court Divides Marital Property
A court in a dissolution proceeding lacks personal jurisdiction over one spouse. The court nevertheless assigns each spouse's separate property to that spouse and divides the community property in just proportions after considering statutory factors.
Transferee Receives Assigned Lease Benefit
Albert Allen transfers his leasehold interest to Amelia Amari and expressly assigns the landlord's covenant to repair the roof. The covenant touches and concerns the leased property. Amelia may enforce the repair obligation directly against the landlord.
Pre-Deprivation Hearing Required
A state statute permits creditors to obtain a writ of replevin and seize a debtor's goods without prior notice or hearing. The debtor challenges the seizure as unconstitutional. The Court holds that due process requires notice and an opportunity to be heard before any significant deprivation occurs.
Fuentes v. Shevin407 U.S. 67 (1972)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
What manifestation is required to create an effective assignment of a contractual right?+
The obligee must manifest an intention to transfer the right to another person without needing further action by the obligee. The manifestation may be oral or written and may be made to the obligor or a third party.
When a landlord transfers leased property, which lease benefits does the transferor retain?+
The transferor retains the benefit of any express promissory obligation that was not assigned and does not run with the transferred interest.
Does an assignment of a leasehold interest automatically transfer the benefit of landlord covenants to the transferee?+
The transferee receives the benefit only to the extent the transferor assigns it or the benefit runs with the transferred interest.
407 U.S. 67 (1972)Property
…Bros. , the Court upheld a Georgia statute that allowed a creditor to attach the property of a debtor who had executed a wage assignment. The statute in that case, however, provided for an immediate hearing after the attachment. The statutes in this case provide for no such hearing. We think that the statutes in this case…
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