Any two parties who wish to enter into a loan agreement can draft a promissory note, which states the intention of the lender to loan the borrower a specific amount of money, as well as the terms and conditions for repayment of that loan, to which both parties have agreed.
A promissory note is a written agreement between one party (you, the borrower) to pay back the loan issued by another party (often a bank or other financial institution). Anyone lending money (like home sellers, credit unions, mortgage lenders and banks, for instance) can issue a promissory note.
Typically, there are two parties to a promissory note: The promisor, also called the note's maker or issuer, promises to repay the amount borrowed. The promisee or payee is the person who gave the loan.
The promissory note is issued by the lender and is signed by the borrower (but not the lender). It is considered a contract, and signing it legally obligates the borrower to pay back the amount borrowed, plus any interest, as defined in the promissory note.
However, using a lawyer is not necessary for the loan to be valid. Once you draft the promissory note, it's time for everyone to sign it: the lender, the borrower and the co-signer (if there is one). Again, seeking professional help such as notarizing the signatures is a good idea but not required.
The amount a lawyer charges will vary based on the area of law, experience, and geographic location. ContractsCounsel's marketplace data shows the average promissory note drafting costs are $466.37 across all states and industries.
Promissory Notes Are Legal Contracts
A promissory note or promissory letter is a legal instrument similar in nature to any common law contract. In order for a contract to be enforceable, it must contain certain legal conditions such as an offer and an acceptance of that offer.
A promissory note could become invalid if: It isn't signed by both parties. The note violates laws. One party tries to change the terms of the agreement without notifying the other party.
India Code: Section Details. A "Promissory note" is an instrument in writing (not being a bank-note or a currency-note) containing an unconditional undertaking, signed by the maker, to pay a certain sum of money only to, or to the order of, a certain person, or to the bearer of the instrument.
Promissory notes don't have to be notarized in most cases. You can typically sign a legally binding promissory note that contains unconditional pledges to pay a certain sum of money. However, you can strengthen the legality of a valid promissory note by having it notarized.
Depending on which state you live in, the statute of limitations with regard to promissory notes can vary from three to 15 years. Once the statute of limitations has ended, a creditor can no longer file a lawsuit related to the unpaid promissory note.
Who is primarily liable on a promissory note? It is the maker who is primarily liable on a promissory note. The issuer of a note or the maker is one of the parties who, by means of a written promise, pay another party (the note's payee) a definite sum of money, either on demand or at a specified future date.
If timely payment is not made by the borrower, the note holder can file an action to recover payment. Depending upon the amount owed and/or specified in the note, a summons and complaint may be filed with the court or a motion in lieu of complaint may be filed for an expedited judgment.
Collateralized promissory notes are secured by a piece of property or other tangible asset that can be repossessed if the borrower defaults on the terms of the promissory note. Many times the collateral that is being placed for consideration is the same item that the borrowed money was used to purchase.
Recording a promissory note is not required by law in most cases, but it can serve as proof of the debt and provide a public record of the obligation. Recording a promissory note can also protect the lender's interest in case the borrower sells the property or takes out another loan against it.
A promissory note must include the date of the loan, the dollar amount, the names of both parties, the rate of interest, any collateral involved, and the timeline for repayment. When this document is signed by the borrower, it becomes a legally binding contract.
For the sake of convenience, the lenders adopt printed type promissory notes readily available in the shops. In so far as the contents of Handwritten Promissory Note meet the legal requirements and legible, they are valid and enforceable.
I REPEAT: Both parties must sign the promissory note! This means both the lender and borrower must sign the original document (plus any amended versions). Without the signatures, the promissory note has no legal leg to stand on.
Circumstances for release of a promissory note
The debt owed on a promissory note either can be paid off, or the noteholder can forgive the debt even if it has not been fully paid. In either case, a release of promissory note needs to be signed by the noteholder.
No. A promissory note is not a “bill of exchange”, like a check, which can be considered the equivalent of cash. In many cases, a promissory note is not payable on demand and, in cases where it is payable on demand, that demand often cannot be made until other circumstances have been met.
A promissory note must include the date of the loan, the loan amount, the names of both the lender and borrower, the interest rate on the loan, and the timeline for repayment. Once the document is signed by both parties, it becomes a legally binding contract.
As its name indicates, a promissory note is basically a promise, put into writing, to pay another person a sum of money. The person making the promise is called the payer, while the person who is to receive the payment is known as the payee.