Legal documents -Meaning and 5 features and 6 examples of a legal document
Table of Contents
Introduction
Legal documents follow all the rules and regulations according to the defined laws of the constitution and can be produced as evidence whenever there is any proceedings or trials. These are accepted as legally supportive proofs.
What are legal documents?
According to Law Insider Dictionary, legal document means any document prepared by the assessee in the course of the exercise of the professional duty, specifically a decision, report, indictment, legal opinions, and other acts that prove the person’s professional capacities.
Legal document means any document (other than a will) conferring, transferring, limiting, charging, or extinguishing, or purporting to confer, transfer, limit, charge, or extinguish any right, title, or interest in the property, movable or immovable, or any document (including a letter) indicating that legal proceedings may be brought against the person whom it is addressed or any other person.
Features of a legal document
- A legal document must avoid ambiguous words and sentences. This means that each word and sentences should not convey more than two meaning or interpretation.
- A good legal document must be relevant and organised. The ideas should be presented in an accurate order.
- It must be logical and correct.
- A good legal document must clear and precise. It should present the message or information sent in a way that the readers will understand.
- A good legal document must have a section for a definition of terms which will aid understanding.
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Examples of a Legal Document
1. Will: Will is a legal document that states those to take possession of assets when the owner dies. Those to take possession are the beneficiary while the writer of the will is the testator.
It is usually written by the testator while he or she is alive. He or She is assisted by the lawyer. The testator must sign and date the will. The content of the will should remain a secret till the day it will be read out. A will can only be written by a person that is above 18 years.
2. Contract: A contract is an agreement between two or more parties that shows a legal obligation. It can be oral or written.
Nowadays, a written contract is preferable because it serves as a proof. A good contract must contain the following information: it must have a legal purpose, there must be mutual agreement among the parties involved, there must be acceptance, there must be terms and condition, it must be signed and dated.
Types of contract are employment contract, conditional contract, express contract and joint contract. Examples of contract are loan agreement contract,
3. Business deal: A business deal is a legal document that is usually signed between two business partners or companies before venturing into new business activities.
It is a deal that is carried out between a seller and a buyer in an exchange of valuable items like goods, service, information or money. Business deals are formulated with legal terms and conditions. The failure to adhere to the terms and conditions may lead to a breach of the deal and penality.
A business deal that is based on legal terms and conditions and has full evidential access in the judicial system.
4.Minute: Minutes of the meeting is a summary of all the things that were said and a decision that was made in a meeting of an organization, club, committee and group. Minute serves as a legal document especially when investigation is to be carried out.
They serve as evidence when handling delicate issues. A minute must be written in simple language. A good minute contains the title, attendance, adoption of previous minutes, matters arising, AOB (Any Other Business), adjournment and signing of minutes.
5. Deed: When someone buys or gives a property (house, car) to another person, a document is usually given. This document is important because it shows that there is a transfer of ownership.
The document is called the deed. The types of deed are grant warranty deed, special warrant deed, bargain and sale deed, quitclaim deed, among others.
6. Trust: A trust is a legal document issued when a person entrusts his or her property into the hands of another person. This person has the right to take care of the property till the owner says otherwise. The person is called the trustee.
The trustee has to be reliable, honest and efficient. The document state the property to be taken care of, the duration of time and expiration date of the agreement.
Conclusion
Legal documents are very necessary. In case of any problem, the court can intervene. If there is no legal document, then the court cannot intervene.
