e-TafaknaAn acknowledgment of debt is a written document in which one person admits owing a sum of money to another and undertakes to repay it. It is mainly used for a loan agreement between individuals, such as relatives, friends or business partners, to set the amount and the due date.
What every template should include before you sign.
Name, date of birth, ID number and address of the debtor and the creditor. Precise identification prevents disputes over who is bound.
The amount and currency are written in figures and in words. Both must match exactly.
The document states the cause: cash loan, advance, balance of a price or other. A clear cause strengthens the written evidence.
A single repayment date or a schedule of instalments, with the amount and date of each one.
The document states whether the loan is interest-free or gives the agreed rate. Interest is strictly regulated and varies by country.
Payment method (bank transfer, cash, cheque) and a dated receipt for each partial payment.
Consequences of late payment, such as the full balance becoming due or a formal notice, within the limits of the applicable law.
Any guarantee by a third party or other security, set out in a dedicated clause or a separate document.
Date and place of signature, debtor's signature, number of originals, governing law and competent court.
Pick a country: key points, formalities and reference texts.
General contract law applies; country-specific points are to be confirmed.
All templates in Tunisia
The Civil Code requires a written document to prove a debt above DZD 100,000.
All templates in Algeria
A written document is required above MAD 10,000; certifying the debtor's signature is recommended.
All templates in Morocco
A written document is required above EGP 1,000; an acknowledgment interrupts limitation and supports a payment order.
All templates in Egypt
In Lebanon, the 1932 Code of Obligations and Contracts is the general law that applies; the amount and due date are stated clearly in the document.
All templates in Lebanon
The Civil Code caps the agreed interest rate at 7%; any excess is reduced and the undue amount refunded.
All templates in Iraq
A written admission binds the debtor, and a loan cannot require repayment above the amount lent.
All templates in Saudi Arabia
A signed acknowledgment is evidence against the debtor; above AED 50,000, the debt is proven in writing.
All templates in the United Arab Emirates
Outside licensed banks, any payment above the principal lent is void; only the principal is due.
All templates in Qatar
Above OMR 1,000, a civil debt is proven in writing; a signed acknowledgment is evidence against its signatory.
All templates in Oman
In Yemen, a debtor's admission interrupts limitation and cannot be withdrawn without the beneficiary's consent.
All templates in Yemen
A common-law country: the law sets no general interest ceiling between individuals; a rate found unconscionable may be set aside.
All templates in Kenya
Above EUR 1,500, a loan is proven in writing; the acknowledgment bears the sum written by the debtor in words and figures.
All templates in France
An acknowledgment of debt raises a presumption of the debt until proven otherwise; a usurious interest clause is void.
All templates in ItalySimple signature, OTP signature or TunTrust qualified signature (DigiGO, Mobile ID) in Tunisia.
See the signature levelsThe document identifies the debtor and the creditor, states the amount in figures and in words, the cause of the debt, the due date and the repayment method. It is dated and signed by the debtor, and each party keeps a copy. Evidence and form rules vary by country.
TunisiaAlgeriaMoroccoEgyptSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesQatarOmanIraqYemenLebanonKenyaFranceItalyGeneral information, up to date at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice tailored to your situation.
