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Legal Statement of Material Change

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LEGAL STATEMENT OF MATERIAL CHANGE

This Legal Statement of Material Change (the Statement) is made as of Date: by and between Client Name: with principal place of business at Client Address: and Counterparty Name: with principal place of business at Counterparty Address: .

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the parties entered into that certain agreement titled Agreement Name: dated Original Agreement Date: (the Original Agreement); and

WHEREAS, a material change in circumstances has occurred relating to the Original Agreement that may affect rights, obligations, performance, or consideration under the Original Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to memorialize the nature, effective date, and the parties' respective acknowledgements and agreed remedies with respect to such material change, without constituting a waiver of any other rights or remedies unless explicitly stated herein.

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

For purposes of this Statement, the term "Material Change" shall mean any event, occurrence, omission or alteration that a reasonable party would consider likely to cause a significant adverse effect on the parties' rights, obligations or economic expectations under the Original Agreement, including but not limited to changes identified in Section 2 below.

2. NATURE OF MATERIAL CHANGE

The parties identify the Material Change as follows. Check all applicable categories and provide a detailed description:

Financial terms or consideration Scope of services or deliverables Timing or schedule of performance Regulatory or compliance requirements

3. CONSEQUENCES AND REMEDIES

Upon the Effective Date, the parties agree that the following adjustments, actions, or remedies shall apply in respect of the Material Change. These measures are intended to address, mitigate or allocate the effects of the Material Change and do not constitute an exhaustive remedy unless explicitly stated.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each party hereby represents and warrants to the other party as follows: (a) it has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Statement; (b) the individual executing this Statement on its behalf is duly authorized to bind the party; and (c) the statements contained herein and any attachments are, to the best of its knowledge after reasonable inquiry, true, complete and accurate in all material respects.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY

The parties acknowledge that communications, documents, and the fact of this Material Change may constitute Confidential Information under the Original Agreement. Except as required by law or as expressly permitted in writing by the other party, confidential treatment shall be maintained in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the Original Agreement.

6. NOTICES

All notices or communications required or permitted under this Statement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth below or to such other address as the receiving party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section.

7. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER

This Statement may be amended, modified, or supplemented only by a written instrument signed by both parties. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Statement shall operate as a waiver of such right, power or remedy, and any waiver must be in writing.

8. GOVERNING LAW; VENUE

This Statement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in the county where the Client's principal place of business is located for purposes of any action arising under this Statement.

9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY

This Statement and the Original Agreement (as amended by this Statement) constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Statement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

10. COUNTERPARTS

This Statement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11. CERTIFICATION

Each party certifies that the information contained in this Statement is true, correct and complete to the best of its knowledge, and that execution of this Statement does not violate any other agreement or legal obligation binding on such party.

Client Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Counterparty Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Legal Statement of Material Change Is

A Legal Statement of Material Change is a formal, written notice describing a substantive alteration to an existing agreement, registration, or transaction that could affect rights, obligations, or regulatory status. It identifies the specific provision(s) changed, the effective date of the change, the parties affected, and whether the change requires consent, filing, or additional documentation. Organizations use this statement to create a clear audit trail and to trigger any contractual notice periods, regulatory filings, or internal approvals required under the governing agreement or applicable law.

Why the Statement Matters for Compliance and Recordkeeping

A clear Legal Statement of Material Change reduces ambiguity about when and how a change took effect, supports contractual notice obligations, and helps meet statutory or regulatory filing requirements. It preserves evidence of intent, attribution, and retention needed for enforceability under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA regimes.

Why the Statement Matters for Compliance and Recordkeeping

Who Typically Prepares and Receives These Statements

Several roles prepare or receive material change statements depending on the context: internal legal, external counsel, contracting parties, regulators, and compliance officers.

  • Corporate legal teams and general counsel, preparing formal notices after board or management decisions.
  • Contract managers and procurement, managing supplier or vendor contract amendments and notices.
  • Regulatory or compliance officers, submitting changes that affect licensing or public registration.

Recipients include counterparties, filing agencies, and internal records custodians; choose signers with actual authority and retain proof of delivery and signature for the official record.

Core Components to Include in a Professional Statement

A concise but complete statement reduces disputes and speeds administrative processing. Include standardized sections so readers can quickly locate the change description, effective date, and signatures.

Header

Document title, reference to the original agreement, and effective change date to anchor the record and cross-reference prior instruments.

Parties

Full legal names and contact information for all affected parties, including entity identifiers (EIN, state of formation) where applicable for regulatory clarity.

Description

A precise description of the material change, citing the original clause or section changed and the new language or effect in plain terms.

Effective Date

The exact date the change takes effect and whether the change is retroactive, prospective, or conditional on approvals or filings.

Supporting Documents

Attach exhibits, board approvals, amended schedules, or regulatory filings that substantiate or implement the material change.

Signatures

Signature blocks for authorized signatories, with printed names, titles, dates, and any required notarization or witness lines.

Step-by-Step: How to Prepare and Execute the Statement

Follow these sequential steps to draft, approve, sign, and distribute a legally effective material change statement.

  • 01
    Draft: Prepare the change description and attach exact replacement text or exhibits for clarity.
  • 02
    Obtain Approvals: Secure internal approvals such as board minutes, delegated authority, or compliance signoffs before sending.
  • 03
    Sign: Have authorized signatories sign the statement; use eSignature with audit trail or notarization if required.
  • 04
    Distribute: Send executed copies to counterparties, regulatory bodies if applicable, and internal records custodians with proof of delivery.

Configuring an Online Workflow for Material Change Notices

Design a digital workflow that enforces required fields, approvals, and retention so each statement follows the same compliance path.

Form Validation Require key fields and standard formats (dates, legal names) to reduce errors before submission.
Approval Routing Configure role-based approvals so legal and finance review happen in order before signing.
Authentication Set signer authentication level (email, SMS, or stronger) based on risk and legal requirements.
Retention Policy Automatically archive executed statements with an immutable audit trail and configurable retention length.
Notifications Automate notifications for pending approvals, expirations, or required filings to relevant stakeholders.

Where to Send or File a Completed Statement

Routing depends on contract terms and whether the change triggers a regulatory filing; follow the agreement's notice clause and any statutory filing rules.

  • Counterparty: Deliver executed copy to all contract parties per notice provisions.
  • Internal Records: File in corporate records and legal document management for audit and retrieval.
  • Regulator: Submit to the relevant agency only when change triggers a statutory reporting requirement.
  • Service Providers: Notify insurers, lenders, or escrow agents when the change affects third-party interests.

Digital Delivery and Signing: Platform Capabilities to Consider

Choose a platform that supports secure eSigning, strong authentication, and format preservation for records.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and PDF/A supported
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA available
  • Integrations: CRM and storage integrations

Ensure the chosen provider supports audit trails, exportable signed originals, and the integrations your teams use for filing, storage, or downstream processing.

eSignature Vendor Pricing Snapshot for Material Change Notices

Compare common service and compliance features across vendors. signNow is listed first to align with platform-specific integration and pricing details.

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 Free trial Free trial Free trial Free trial
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 env/user/yr Varies Varies Varies

Security and Compliance Considerations

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3
Data at Rest: AES-256
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II
Regulatory: ESIGN, UETA
Healthcare: HIPAA (BAA required)
Additional: 21 CFR Part 11 supported

Key Risks and Potential Penalties for Errors

Incorrect Filing: Regulatory fines
Tax Penalties: IRC §6721 fines
I-9 Violations: $281–$2,789 per violation
Intentional Misstate: $660+ per form
Unauthenticated Signature: Enforceability risk
Retention Failure: Recordkeeping penalties

Practical Tips to Reduce Errors and Delay

Adopt standard templates and verification steps to keep statements consistent and legally resilient.

Use Exact Legal Names
Enter corporate or individual names exactly as on formation or identification documents. Mismatches can block filings and trigger backup withholding or other administrative holds.
Attach Exact Language
Include the precise replacement clause as an exhibit rather than only a summary. Courts and regulators rely on exact text to interpret rights and obligations.
Record Approvals
Archive board minutes, resolutions, or delegated authority documents that show who approved the change and when to prevent later contests.
Preserve Audit Trail
Use platforms that capture signer identity, timestamps, IP, and document history to support attribution and enforceability under ESIGN and UETA.

Real-World Examples of Material Change Notices

Two practical examples show how organizations document and execute material changes while preserving evidence of intent and authority.

Optica Ventures — Practical Use

Optica needed a rapid, auditable notice to adjust contract payment terms across investors

  • Rapid distribution to all parties
  • "The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers."

Martin Properties — Field Execution

Martin Properties used an executed statement to amend lease terms and capture tenant acceptance remotely

  • On-site and remote signers captured
  • "I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security."

Common Timeframes and Deadlines to Watch

Timing obligations arise from contracts, corporate governance documents, and regulatory rules; verify specific deadlines in each context.

Immediate Notice:

Notify counterpart immediately if contract requires prompt notice upon qualifying event.

Contractual Notice Period:

Observe any contract-specified cure or notice periods before changes become effective.

Regulatory Filing:

File with a regulator only when a rule or statute mandates reporting; timing varies by agency.

Board Approval Window:

Allow time for board or delegated committee approval consistent with corporate bylaws.

Retention Start:

Retention begins on the effective date; compute federal retention from filing where applicable.

FAQs: Common Questions About Material Change Statements

Answers to frequent concerns about validity, e-signing, notarization, storage, and who should sign.


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