N.Y. Uniform Commercial Code Law § 3-104: Form of Negotiable Instruments; "Draft"; "Check"; "Certificate of Deposit"; "Note"

Section 3--104. Form of Negotiable Instruments; "Draft"; "Check";

"Certificate of Deposit"; "Note".

(1) Any writing to be a negotiable instrument within this Article must

(a) be signed by the maker or drawer; and

(b) contain an unconditional promise or order to pay a sum

certain in money and no other promise, order, obligation or

power given by the maker or drawer except as authorized by

this Article; and

(c) be payable on demand or at a definite time; and

(d) be payable to order or to bearer.

(2) A writing which complies with the requirements of this section is

(a) a "draft" ("bill of exchange") if it is an order;

(b) a "check" if it is a draft drawn on a bank and payable on

demand;

(c) a "certificate of deposit" if it is an acknowledgment by a

bank of receipt of money with an engagement to repay it;

(d) a "note" if it is a promise other than a certificate of

deposit.

(3) As used in other Articles of this Act, and as the context may

require, the terms "draft", "check", "certificate of deposit" and "note"

may refer to instruments which are not negotiable within this Article as

well as to instruments which are so negotiable.