A legal document, usually in writing, giving details of a formal legally binding agreement, between two or more different people or groups. To be legally binding it must contain certain elements: it must contain an offer made by one party and accepted in its entirety by the other, it must include some form of consideration whether it be money, goods or services, and it must be properly signed by all parties to it, and dated.

A contract in which all elements of a contract are specifically stated (offer, acceptance and consideration), and the terms are set out, as compared with an implied contract in which the existence of the contract is assumed by the circumstances.

A formal promise by one party (the guarantor or surety) to another party (the creditor) to accept responsibility of a third party’s (the principal debtor) debt, if that third party cannot or refuses to pay it.

Is a document that governs the relationship between the company and the outside. It is basically a statement that the subscribers wish to form a company, have agreed to become members, and in the case of a company which is to have a share capital, to take at least one share each.

The term that describes a duty that is enforced by a court and where non-fulfilment may incur a penalty.