Loan Notes Explained
A loan note is a legally binding document issued from a lender to a borrower when money is borrowed. Included in the loan note will be details of the loan and the terms and conditions that will be applied.
Who Uses Loan Notes?
There are many situations where loan notes can be used. If a person were to borrow money from a company or another individual then they may use loan notes as written proof of borrowing. Loan notes can also be used when shareholders borrow money from a company in which they own shares, and companies will often use loan notes when borrowing or lending to each other. Companies can also issue loans to employees that can be redeemed at a later date. Loan notes will often also be used by financial institutions, banks, and building societies.Solicitors or lawyers are usually used to draft up the loan notes if the amount of money is substantial. Individuals can also use legally prepared loan notes but the personal drafting of a loan note between two individuals is not uncommon. As long as all of the terms and conditions are in place and have been agreed by both individuals then the note will be legally binding.
Details included in a Loan Note
Loan notes are usually straightforward in content, and the terms and conditions should be easily understandable and clearly defined. Included in the loan note should be:- The names and addresses of the lender and borrower.
- The date the loan note was issued.
- The amount of money to be borrowed or the debt owed, known as the principal sum.
- The frequency of payments or when the note should be redeemed or expires.
- Interest rates that are to be applied to the loan or debt.
- Whether the loan is to be secured or unsecured.
- Signatures, dates, and witness signatures if required.
- Details on penalties for late payments, defaults, and compounded interest.
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions of the loan or debt should be written and agreed by both parties. Loan notes from companies may come in a standard format with set terms and conditions already intact but no contract is set in stone and there should always be leeway in the terms for both parties. Once the terms have been set and agreed then they cannot be changed at a later date.There may be a clause with regards to amendments to the note but these amendments should not effect the original terms of the loan. It is a legal requirement that all of the terms and conditions included in a loan note are clearly understandable by both parties. If there are any hidden clauses wrapped in confusing legal terms then the note may not be enforced if a dispute occurs.
Broken Loan Notes
A breach of any type of legally binding contract including loan notes can have serious consequences. Where money is concerned there will usually always be some form of legal consequence including the possibility of court action and penalty fines for late payments. The terms and conditions of the loan note should include clauses on breach of contract and the consequences to an individual or company that incurs the breach.Expiration Dates
Loan notes will usually have some form of time limit applied. The note can have a redemption date or there will be a repayment schedule included. In some cases there may not be any time limit on a loan note. For instance there have been cases where loan notes were used to help ailing businesses or even financially failing football teams.Individuals, employees or other companies are asked to help to help the ailing business by loaning money, and in return they will receive loan notes that will be repaid sometime in the future. No repayment dates need be mentioned and the only stipulation regarding the time scale is that the loan will be repaid sometime in the future. As long as this “future” time scale is mentioned in the terms and conditions of the loan it can still be classed as a legally binding clause.
Like any other form of financial contract, the terms and conditions of loan notes are all important. They can be used for future reference and are evidence of the debt or loan. Loan notes should never be discarded until the loan or debt has expired.
