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Legal Deed of Charge

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LEGAL DEED OF CHARGE

This Deed is made on the day of , between:

Chargor Name:   Chargor Address:   ("Chargor")

AND

Chargee Name:   Chargee Address:   ("Chargee")

RECITALS

WHEREAS the Chargee has agreed to extend credit or provide financial accommodation to the Chargor on the terms of a facility or agreement identified as: (the "Facility").

WHEREAS the Chargor is indebted to the Chargee in respect of principal, interest, fees and other sums outstanding under the Facility up to the aggregate principal amount of or such other sum as may from time to time be owing (the "Secured Obligations").

WHEREAS the Parties wish to record by deed the security constituted by the charges granted by the Chargor in favour of the Chargee over the Chargor's assets as security for the Secured Obligations.

NOW THEREFORE

In consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Chargor hereby covenants with the Chargee as follows.

1. DEFINITIONS

In this Deed, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words have the following meanings: "Charged Assets" means all present and future property, assets, undertakings and rights described in Schedule A and any other property charged by this Deed; "Secured Obligations" has the meaning set out in the Recitals; "Date of this Deed" means the date set out at the beginning of this Deed.

2. CHARGED ASSETS

The Chargor hereby charges by way of security interest in favour of the Chargee all right, title and interest of the Chargor in and to the Charged Assets. Particulars and a description of the Charged Assets are set out below and may be amended from time to time in writing by the Chargee and Chargor.

3. NATURE OF CHARGE

The security constituted by this Deed shall operate as: The Chargor acknowledges that, where a floating charge applies, the Chargee's rights shall crystallise upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

4. COVENANTS

The Chargor covenants with the Chargee that until the Secured Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full the Chargor shall (a) preserve and keep in force all material rights and interests in the Charged Assets; (b) not create or permit any security interest ranking in priority to or pari passu with the Chargee over the Charged Assets without the prior written consent of the Chargee; and (c) not sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of the Charged Assets except in the ordinary course of business with the prior written consent of the Chargee.

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Chargor represents and warrants to the Chargee that as at the Date of this Deed: (a) the Chargor is validly existing and has the power and authority to grant the security created by this Deed; (b) the Chargor has good title to and capacity to charge the Charged Assets free from any other encumbrance except as disclosed in writing to the Chargee; and (c) there are no actions, claims or proceedings pending or threatened against the Chargor that would materially adversely affect the Chargor's ability to perform its obligations under this Deed.

6. ENFORCEMENT POWERS

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (including failure to pay any Secured Obligation when due), the Chargee shall have all powers conferred by law and equity, and such further powers as are expressly granted in this Deed, including the power to appoint a receiver or manager, to exercise any power of sale, to take possession of the Charged Assets, to collect and appropriate accounts and proceeds and to apply the net proceeds in or towards satisfaction of the Secured Obligations.

7. REGISTRATION AND PRIORITY

The Parties acknowledge that this Deed may be registrable as security under applicable law. The Chargor shall, at its expense, execute and deliver all documents and take all steps reasonably required by the Chargee to register, perfect or protect the Chargee's interest in the Charged Assets. Registration details (if any) are:

8. RELEASE ON SATISFACTION

When all Secured Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full and no amount remains owing by the Chargor to the Chargee, the Chargee shall, at the Chargor's cost, execute and deliver such documents and take such steps as are reasonably necessary to release the security created by this Deed.

9. NOTICES

10. MISCELLANEOUS

Governing Law: This Deed and any dispute arising out of or in connection with it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of .

Entire Agreement: This Deed constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in respect of the subject matter of this Deed and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating thereto.

Severability: If any provision of this Deed is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of this Deed shall continue in full force and effect.

Amendments and Waiver: No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Deed shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by both Parties. No failure or delay by the Chargee in exercising any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver.

Counterparts and Execution as Deed: This Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts and may be delivered by electronic copy. This Deed is executed as a deed and takes effect as a deed upon delivery.

Chargor (Grantor) Name:

By:

Date:

Chargee (Secured Party) Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Legal Deed of Charge Is and when it applies

A Legal Deed of Charge is a formal instrument that creates a security interest in specified real property or other assets to secure repayment of an obligation. It identifies the chargor and chargee, describes the charged property with a full legal description, states the secured principal and applicable interest, and sets enforcement remedies on default. In virtually all U.S. jurisdictions the deed must be executed and acknowledged by a notary to record priority against third parties. Electronic execution is generally permitted under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, subject to notarization and recording rules.

Why a clear, recorded Deed of Charge matters

A properly drafted Legal Deed of Charge clarifies secured obligations, preserves creditor priority through timely recording, and creates enforceable remedies on default. Meeting execution, notarization, and recording formalities reduces the risk of title defects and costly litigation while ensuring the security interest can be enforced when needed.

Why a clear, recorded Deed of Charge matters

Who commonly handles or signs this document

Typical users include lenders, trustees, borrowers, title professionals, and county recording officials engaged in secured transactions.

  • Commercial lenders and banks managing loan collateral and priority interests in property.
  • Private creditors and investors securing repayment with mortgage-like instruments on assets.
  • Title companies and recording offices processing acknowledgements and indexing recorded charges.

Parties and their roles vary with transaction complexity; institutional loans and private financings have different internal approval and documentation requirements.

Who has authority to sign and why that matters

Lender — Officer

An authorized officer of the lending institution signs to bind the lender. The officer should have documented authority under corporate bylaws or a loan resolution. The signing block should include printed name, title, and date and be accompanied by any required corporate resolution for recording.

Borrower — Signatory

The borrower or chargor must sign to grant the security interest. For entities, an officer with explicit signing authority must sign and provide corporate paperwork; individual borrowers should present government-issued identification for notarization and recording verification.

Essential data fields required on the Deed of Charge

Property Description: Full legal description from title deed.
Charged Amount: Principal, interest, and currency.
Parties' Details: Full legal names and addresses.
Consideration: Statement of value exchanged.
Recording County: County name and recording office.
Signatures & Notary: Signatures, dates, and notary acknowledgement.

Key components to include in a professional Deed of Charge

A complete deed of charge contains structured clauses and formal elements that support recording and enforcement. Each section below is commonly required and should be drafted to align with governing law and lender policy.

Parties

Clear identification of chargor and chargee with legal names and contact addresses to avoid ambiguity and support recording.

Legal Description

Complete parcel description from the title report or prior deed to ensure the recorder can index the instrument correctly.

Secured Obligations

Precise statement of principal, interest rate, and any triggers that adjust the secured amount during the loan term.

Default Remedies

Defined enforcement rights such as acceleration, foreclosure procedure, and recovery of costs on default events.

Governing Law

Specify the state law that governs interpretation and enforcement of the deed to reduce disputes over applicable rules.

Notary Acknowledgement

A properly worded notary block with signature, seal, and date required for most county recorders.

Step-by-step: how to complete and record a Deed of Charge

Follow these practical steps to complete, execute, notarize, and record a Legal Deed of Charge accurately and without unnecessary delay.

  • 01
    Prepare Draft: Enter parties, legal description, and secured amount.
  • 02
    Review Terms: Confirm remedies, default triggers, and governing law.
  • 03
    Sign & Notarize: All signatories sign in presence of a notary as required.
  • 04
    Record Document: Submit original to county recorder for indexing promptly.

Configuring an online signing and notarization workflow

Set up a digital workflow that preserves evidentiary elements required for recording while supporting secure signature capture.

Field Configuration
Upload Document PDF or DOCX; use clean scanned originals.
Place Fields Signature, date, initial, and notary blocks.
Signer Order Set lender then borrower signing sequence.
Authentication Email plus SMS or knowledge-based checks.

Where to file or send the executed deed

This covers where to submit a fully executed deed and how to ensure it will be indexed correctly by official recording channels.

  • County Recorder: File the original deed with the county recorder's office for indexing.
  • Title Company: Provide a copy for title insurance and closing files.
  • Lender File: Retain the executed original in the lender's loan file.
  • eRecording: Use county eRecording services where available for faster processing.

Digital signing and technical considerations

Electronic workflows for deeds require PDF/A support, secure storage, notarization evidence, and a detailed audit trail compatible with recorder records.

  • File Formats: PDF, PDF/A, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connectors like NetSuite and Google Workspace
  • Security: AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.2/1.3

Timelines and processing expectations

Key timing considerations for execution, notarization, recording, and retention of a Legal Deed of Charge are listed below for practical planning.

Execution Timing:

Sign at or before loan closing to align parties' interests.

Notarization Window:

Notarize at signing; confirm state-specific notary certificate wording.

Recording Priority:

Record promptly; county indexing can take days to weeks.

RON Records:

Retain audio-video and identity proofing per state RON rules.

Retention Start:

Retention begins on execution and continues through statutory periods.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the Deed of Charge

  • Failing to include the full legal description is common; a truncated street address can lead to recording rejection and ambiguous lien boundaries.
  • Using inconsistent party names between loan documents and the deed often causes title defects; match names exactly to government-issued IDs and corporate records.
  • Skipping notarization or using an improper notarial certificate invalidates recording; verify state-specific notary wording and witness requirements before execution.
  • Delaying recording after execution risks third-party claims; record promptly in the county where the property is located to protect priority.

Penalties and legal risks from incorrect or incomplete documents

Recording Rejection: Missing notarization voids recording.
Priority Loss: Later creditors may supersede lien.
Unenforceable Charge: Improper execution invalidates security.
Civil Penalties: Potential fines or court costs.
Tax Issues: Incorrect tax reporting or withholding.
Fraud Risk: False identities threaten enforceability.

Comparing core eSignature pricing and capabilities for Deed of Charge workflows

The table compares core pricing and feature dimensions among common eSignature providers, with signNow listed first for reference to platform capabilities relevant to deed workflows.

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 Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

How a Deed of Charge differs from related security documents

Comparison of common security instruments highlights differences in scope, recording requirements, and typical use cases for secured lending.

Criteria Deed of Charge Mortgage Security Agreement Deed of Trust
Asset Type real property real property personal property real property
Recording Needed
Typical Parties lender/borrower lender/borrower creditor/debtor trustee/beneficiary
Foreclosure Route judicial or statutory judicial ucc remedies nonjudicial options

Common questions about validity, notarization, and electronic options

Answers address enforceability, recording acceptance, RON, naming accuracy, retention, and common execution problems encountered with deeds of charge.


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