Legal Documents

Guides in this area

Legal Notice

A legal notice is a formal written communication used to put another party on record about a demand, complaint or intended step, before further action is taken. It is often used ahead of negotiation, a claim or a court process, depending on the circumstances. What it should contain, and how it is delivered, depends on the underlying issue and the applicable procedure, so it is generally worth having the wording and delivery method checked before it is sent.

Debt Acknowledgment

A debt acknowledgment is a written document in which a debtor confirms that a specific amount is owed to a creditor, often together with details of how and when it will be paid. It is commonly used when a debtor cannot pay immediately but wants to record the amount and a plan, or when a creditor wants written confirmation before agreeing to more time. What it should include, and how it is best documented, depends on the underlying relationship and the applicable procedure.

Settlement Agreement

A settlement agreement is a written document in which parties to a dispute record how they have agreed to resolve it, often instead of continuing to negotiate informally or pursuing a court-based process. It commonly sets out what each side will do, by when, and how the matter is considered closed once those steps are taken. What it should include depends on the dispute and what the parties actually agreed, so it is generally worth checking the terms carefully before signing.

Shareholders Agreement

A shareholders agreement is a private written agreement between the shareholders of a company that sets out how they will work together, make decisions and handle situations such as disagreements, new investment or one shareholder leaving. It generally sits alongside the company's constitutional documents and trade licence and is used to record understandings between the shareholders themselves. What it should cover depends on the size of the company, the number of shareholders and how they intend to run the business together.

Other legal areas

3 guides

Business & Commercial Disputes

Unpaid invoices, breach of contract and disputes between businesses.

3 guides

Debt Recovery & Financial Claims

Money owed to you by a person or a company and the ways it may be pursued.

Cheques & Enforcement

Unpaid cheques, judgments and execution proceedings.

Company & Shareholder Disputes

Partner disagreements, manager responsibilities and exits.

Contracts

Reviewing, terminating and giving notice under commercial contracts.

Employment

Unpaid salary, end-of-service, termination and non-compete clauses.

Rental & Tenancy

Eviction, rent increases, maintenance and landlord–tenant disputes.