California Promissory Note Template | Secured or Unsecured Loan Agreement | Editable Word | Personal, Business & Real Estate | 2026

CALIFORNIA PROMISSORY NOTE — EDITABLE TEMPLATE (SECURED OR UNSECURED)

Lending money in California? Put it in writing. This promissory note template creates a clear, enforceable record of a loan — who lent what, the interest rate, the repayment schedule, and what happens on default. Works for personal loans, family loans, business loans, and seller/real-estate financing. Instant download.

WHAT YOU GET

• Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) file

• Print-ready PDF version

• Step-by-step README

WHAT'S INSIDE

• Parties, principal amount, and date

• Interest rate — with California's 10% usury cap explained so you stay legal

• Flexible repayment: installments, single payment, or on demand

• Prepayment, late-charge, and default-interest clauses

• Secured OR unsecured — both options built in (with collateral/UCC-1 guidance)

• Default, acceleration, and collection-costs provisions

• Governing-law and signature blocks

BUILT FOR CALIFORNIA LAW

Includes plain-English guidance on California's usury limit (Cal. Const. Art. XV) and deliberately omits confession-of-judgment clauses, which are unenforceable in California. Written to be a clean, valid starting point.

PERFECT FOR

Private lenders, family loans, small businesses, and anyone documenting a loan or seller-financed sale in California.

CURRENT FOR 2026

Reflects current California lending and usury rules (2026).

⚠ IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ

Self-help template for educational purposes, not legal advice. The provider is not a law firm. California usury and lending laws are complex, and the correct interest rate depends on the lender and loan type. Have a California-licensed attorney review before signing — especially for large loans, business loans, or loans secured by real property. All sales final on digital downloads.

Template by CalHOA Docs (calhoadocs.com).

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