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Legal AST Agreement

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LEGAL AST AGREEMENT

This Legal AST Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of by and between , located at (Party A), and , located at (Party B).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Party A engages in the provision, development, and delivery of application services, acceptance testing and related professional services described herein;

WHEREAS, Party B desires to procure such Acceptance, Support and Training services and Party A has represented that it has the requisite expertise and resources to perform such services;

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set forth the terms and conditions governing the provision, acceptance testing, support and training services to be performed by Party A for Party B.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 "Services" means the Acceptance, Support and Training services, deliverables, and any related professional services described in Section 2 and in the applicable Statement of Work executed under this Agreement.

1.2 "Acceptance Criteria" means the objective criteria set forth in Section 4 and any Statement of Work by which deliverables are tested and accepted or rejected.

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Party A shall perform Services as set forth in the Services Description below and in any written Statement of Work mutually executed by the parties. Services shall include planning, execution of acceptance testing, remediation of defects identified in testing, and delivery of training and support necessary to achieve Acceptance.

3. TERM

The initial term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue for months, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 12. Renewal, if any, shall be by mutual written agreement.

4. ACCEPTANCE TESTING

4.1 Party A shall deliver the deliverables for Acceptance testing in accordance with the schedule set forth in the applicable Statement of Work. Party B shall have the right to test deliverables against the Acceptance Criteria during the Acceptance Period.

4.2 If Party B identifies Defects during Acceptance testing, Party A shall, at its expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to cure such Defects. Acceptance shall occur when the deliverable satisfies the Acceptance Criteria or when Party B provides written notice of acceptance following rectification of material Defects.

5. FEES AND PAYMENT

Unless otherwise stated, all fees are payable within thirty (30) days of invoice. Late payments shall accrue interest at the lesser of 1.5% per month or the maximum permitted by law.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall treat as Confidential Information all non-public information disclosed by the other party that is designated as confidential or that should reasonably be understood to be confidential. Confidential Information may only be used for performance under this Agreement and shall not be disclosed except to those employees, consultants or contractors with a need to know who are bound by substantially similar confidentiality obligations.

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

7.1 Pre-existing intellectual property of each party shall remain the sole property of that party. Party A grants Party B a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use deliverables solely for Party B's internal business purposes, subject to payment in full and acceptance.

7.2 To the extent that deliverables include custom work created specifically for Party B and paid for in full, Party A hereby assigns to Party B all right, title and interest in such custom deliverables, subject to any third-party components and open-source components identified in writing.

8. WARRANTIES; DISCLAIMER

Party A warrants that Services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards. Party A does not warrant that Services will be error-free, except as expressly provided in an executed Statement of Work. EXCEPT FOR THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES STATED HEREIN, THE PARTIES DISCLAIM ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Neither party shall be liable to the other for incidental, consequential, special, punitive or indirect damages arising out of or related to this Agreement, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Each party's aggregate liability for direct damages arising out of this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid or payable to Party A under the applicable Statement of Work in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

10. INDEMNIFICATION

Party A agrees to indemnify and defend Party B from and against any third-party claims alleging that Party A's deliverables infringe a third party's patent, copyright or trade secret, provided Party B promptly notifies Party A in writing of any such claim and cooperates in the defense. Party B shall indemnify Party A for claims arising from Party B's use of deliverables in violation of this Agreement.

11. TERMINATION

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party that is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice specifying the breach. Upon termination, Party B shall pay Party A for all Services performed and reasonably incurred costs through the effective date of termination.

12. NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below or such other address as either party may designate by written notice to the other.

13. AMENDMENT; WAIVER; COUNTERPARTS

No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties. No failure or delay in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of that right. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

14. GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

This Agreement, together with any Statements of Work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals and communications, whether written or oral.

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

15.1 Independent Contractors. The parties are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, agency or employment relationship.

15.2 Subcontracting. Party A may subcontract portions of the Services provided that Party A remains responsible for the performance of such subcontracted work and compliance with this Agreement.

Party A - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Party B - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Legal AST Agreement Is and when it’s used

The Legal AST Agreement is a formal contract used to allocate rights, set obligations, and document an asset-security-transfer relationship between parties. It typically identifies the obligor and obligee, describes the asset or rights being assigned, specifies consideration and conditions precedent, and sets term, termination, and remedies. This template is designed for use in commercial and professional contexts where clarity of assignment, security interests, and dispute resolution provisions are required. The agreement may require witness or notarization depending on the state and the type of asset being transferred.

Why a clear Legal AST Agreement matters

A well-drafted Legal AST Agreement reduces enforceability risk, clarifies obligations, and supports downstream filings or notices. It helps preserve priority for secured interests, documents consideration and signatures for statute-of-frauds issues, and creates an auditable record consistent with ESIGN and UETA where executed electronically.

Why a clear Legal AST Agreement matters

Typical parties and teams that prepare Legal AST Agreements

The document is used by a mix of legal, finance, and operations teams across organizations that transfer or secure rights in assets.

  • In-house legal and outside counsel handling assignment language and risk allocation, ensuring enforceability and appropriate remedies.
  • Treasury and finance teams documenting collateral, lien priorities, and payment or security procedures tied to the asset transfer.
  • Operations or contract managers who prepare, route, and archive executed agreements for administrative and audit purposes.

Parties that sign include authorized corporate officers, trustees, or duly empowered agents; ensure signatory authority is documented and matches corporate records.

Essential parts every Professional Legal AST Agreement should include

A complete agreement groups core provisions so each party’s rights and duties are clear, measurable, and enforceable in court or arbitration.

Parties

Full legal names, entity types, and capacity (e.g., as borrower, assignor, trustee). Identify signing capacity to avoid later challenges.

Definitions

Precise definitions for 'Asset', 'Assignment', 'Security Interest', 'Effective Date', and any technical terms used throughout the agreement.

Transfer Language

Clear assignment or grant clause describing transferred rights, scope, exclusions, and whether the transfer is absolute or security-based.

Consideration

Monetary amount, credit, or other consideration described precisely, including payment schedule and conditions for release or offset.

Term & Termination

Effective date, duration, termination events, cure periods, post-termination obligations, and survival of specified clauses.

Signatures & Notices

Signature blocks, notice addresses, governing law, dispute resolution, and any required acknowledgements or waivers.

Key fields you must collect and verify

Legal Name: Exact entity or individual name
Entity Type: Corporation, LLC, Trust, Individual
Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY format
Asset Description: Clear, specific asset identifiers
Consideration: Dollar amount or detailed description
Signatory Title: Officer title or agent authority

Step-by-step: Completing a Legal AST Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to reduce errors and ensure the agreement is executable and enforceable.

  • 01
    Prepare draft: Populate parties, asset details, and key dates.
  • 02
    Confirm authority: Verify signatory power and corporate resolutions.
  • 03
    Add execution details: Include notices, governing law, and dispute forum.
  • 04
    Execute and record: Sign, notarize if required, and file or deliver copies.

Configuring an online completion workflow

Set up fields, signer order, and authentication before sending to avoid rework and collection delays.

Field Configuration
Recipient Order Sequential or parallel routing
Authentication Email link, SMS code, or KBA
Required Fields Make names, dates, and signatures mandatory
Audit Trail Enable timestamps, IP capture, and completion certificate

Where to send, file, and store completed agreements

Routes depend on the agreement’s purpose: operational use, public filing, or collateral recording.

  • Delivery to Counterparty: Send final executed copies to all parties and counsel.
  • Filing or Recording: Record with county or registry where asset requires public notice.
  • Internal Records: Store in contract repository or ERP with metadata.
  • Compliance Archive: Retain for statutory retention periods per regulation.

Digital signing and technical requirements

Choose a platform that supports secure e-signing, audit trails, and any industry-specific authentication.

  • File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connectors for CRM, ERP, and cloud storage
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, or advanced options

Key timing and deadline considerations

Track effective dates, signature deadlines, filing windows, and any statute-triggering events tied to the agreement.

Execution Deadline:

Complete signatures by stated date or the signature clause is voidable

Recording Window:

Record security interests promptly to preserve priority

Notice Periods:

Observe cure and notice timelines specified in termination clauses

Tax Reporting:

Meet any information reporting deadlines tied to transfers

Retention Start:

Retention clock begins on Effective Date or filing date

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the agreement

  • Using inconsistent party names between corporate records and the agreement, which can invalidate authority.
  • Failing to describe the asset with sufficient specificity for public filing or registration.
  • Omitting signatory authority confirmations, such as corporate resolutions or trustee certifications.
  • Assuming electronic execution is permitted without providing required consumer disclosures under ESIGN.

Legal and practical risks of errors in the agreement

Unenforceable Transfer: May be void for lack of required formalities
Loss of Priority: Late or missing public recording can subordinate secured interest
Tax Consequences: Incorrect reporting may trigger IRS penalties
HIPAA Breach Risk: Unauthorized PHI disclosures carry civil penalties
Contract Disputes: Ambiguous language increases litigation exposure
Notarial Invalidity: Missing notarization where required can impair recordability

Typical eSignature pricing and capability comparison

Compare starting prices and core capabilities for common eSignature vendors; signNow is listed first for direct comparison.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Real-world examples of Legal AST Agreements in practice

These examples show how organizations structure agreements and use e-signing to speed execution and preserve compliance.

Martin Properties

A regional property manager shifted lease assignment approvals online to accelerate closings.

  • The team used mobile execution for site signings.
  • Tim Martin, Founder, reported processing and executing documents online with compliance and security, enabling faster turnaround while avoiding in-person meetings.

BIS

An enterprise services provider standardized assignment clauses across agreements.

  • They centralized routing and audit logs.
  • Dan Rotelli, CEO, selected a solution with SOC 2 compliance to ensure recordkeeping and regulatory confidence for high-volume contract flows.

Practical tips to reduce errors and speed execution

Adopt these practices to minimize rework and maintain enforceable records when preparing Legal AST Agreements.

Standardized Templates
Use checked templates with mandatory fields and conditional logic to reduce omissions and ensure consistent language across transactions and teams.
Verify Authority
Attach corporate resolutions or trustee certificates for entity signatories and confirm signer titles match registry records before sending for signature.
Use Strong Authentication
Select appropriate signer authentication—email plus SMS or knowledge-based checks for higher-risk transfers—to strengthen attribution and evidentiary weight.
Record and Archive
Capture the audit trail, notarization records if applicable, and store executed documents in a secured contract repository with retention metadata.

Representative signers and their responsibilities

General Counsel

Reviews and negotiates assignment and security clauses, confirms governing law and dispute resolution, and certifies that signature authority aligns with corporate governance documents to reduce legal challenge risk.

Operations Manager

Prepares the draft with accurate asset identifiers, ensures required exhibits are attached, routes the document per approval workflow, and uploads executed copies to the organization’s contract repository for auditing.

Frequently asked questions and common resolution steps

Answers to common execution, authentication, and enforceability questions to help troubleshoot issues during preparation and signing.


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