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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Key definition
Execution definition What does Execution mean? Execution describes how a party gives legal effect to a document—typically a contract or deed—by signing it (and, for some bodies, sealing it) and, for deeds, ensuring any required attestation and delivery/formalities are met. It is a practical term; the governing rules are set by legislation and case law in each jurisdiction. England & Wales and Northern Ireland: simple contracts are usually executed by signature, including by electronic signature if the signer intends to authenticate and has authority. Deeds require signature by an individual in the physical presence of a witness who attests the signature; companies execute under Companies...
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Scots law execution of documents: writing requirements, subscription and self-proving, annexations, delivery (including electronic) and dating, and counterpart execution (1995 and 2015 Acts; property registers).
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Practice notes
The framework for Execution of documents under Scots Law is set out in the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 (RW(S)A 1995) and the Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Act 2015 (LW(CD)(S)A 2015). This Practice Note reviews both the traditional approach to execution and execution by counterpart under Scots law.
Contracts or obligations that must be in writing
In Scotland, the default position is that a contract, a unilateral obligation, or a trust can be constituted without writing. Writing is, however, necessary for the following exceptions to that rule:
- contracts, or unilateral undertakings, to create, transfer, vary or extinguish a real right in land (excluding tenancies or rights of occupation for less than a year and private residential tenancies)
- the creation, transfer, variation or termination of a real right in land
- an agreement between neighbouring proprietors regarding the accretion or erosion of their common boundary
- a gratuitous unilateral obligation (other than one undertaken in the course of business)
- a person making a will or becoming trustee of their own property
The remainder of this Practice Note addresses what is required for the execution of documents for these exceptions...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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