Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

FIRST. The name of the corporation is FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION (“Corporation”).

SECOND. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the state of Delaware is 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, Dover, Kent County, Delaware. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

THIRD. The nature of the business or purpose to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

FOURTH. The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one thousand (1,000) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share.

FIFTH. The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

SIXTH. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the board of directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to make, adopt, alter, amend or repeal the By-laws of the corporation.

SEVENTH. Meetings of the stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the By-laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation or in the By-laws of the corporation. Elections of directors of the Corporation need not be by written ballot unless the By-laws of the corporation shall so provide.

EIGHTH. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

NINTH.

(a) A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable either to the Corporation or to any stockholder for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions which are not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law; (iii) for any matter in respect of which such director shall be liable under Section 174 of Title 8 of the DGCL or any amendment thereto or successor

provision thereto; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director shall have derived an improper personal benefit. Neither amendment nor repeal of this paragraph (a) nor the adoption of any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this paragraph (a) shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this paragraph (a) in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this paragraph (a) of this Article, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

(b) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or testifies in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust, or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the full extent permitted by law, and the Corporation may adopt by-laws or enter into agreements with any such person for the purpose of providing for such indemnification.

(c) To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraph (b) of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

(d) Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending or testifying in a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such officer or director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation against such expenses as authorized by this Article, and the Corporation may adopt by-laws or enter into agreements with such persons for the purpose of providing for such advances.

(e) The indemnification permitted by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person may be entitled, or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding an office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

(f) Notwithstanding any provision in this Article to the contrary, the Corporation shall not indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or testifies in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if such action, suit or proceeding is based upon or arises out of or is in connection with an event, act or omission occurring prior to October 31, 1992.

(g) The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article or otherwise.

FIRSTCITY FINANCIAL CORP 8-K