Luxury Homes and Estates of Florida Magazine
by Houston E. Short
A standard business loan often requires an owner to execute a guaranty. Before signing a guaranty legal advice should be obtained regarding the ultimate financial exposure. Lenders often insert continuing and unconditional guaranty language. This type of guaranty renders a guarantor liable for all past, present and future obligations of the business. The exposure is almost unlimited. The business may incur a mountain of debt and in the event of default the guarantor is ultimately liable.
A dangerous aspect of executing a continuing guaranty is that the guarantor need not be contacted before new debt is obtained. A business may incur debt to the detriment of the guarantor without his or her knowledge.
A continuing guaranty remains effective until revoked. The guaranty is not limited to the life of the loan obtained contemporaneously with the guaranty and will not expire simply by a lapse of time.
Furthermore, even though the loan is paid in full the guarantor is not relieved of liability for new debt acquired by the business years after the original loan was paid.
The continuing and unconditional guaranty also applies to vendor and supplier accounts. Guarantees are routinely required in credit applications submitted by suppliers. If a business fails, closes its doors and files for bankruptcy the guarantor remains liable on all debt. Therefore, an individual should avoid signing an unconditional and continuing guaranty if he or she does not control the business debt or business accounts.
