Legal Definitions - agreed statement of facts

An agreed statement of facts is a formal document prepared by all parties involved in a legal dispute, outlining specific facts that they all agree are true and not subject to disagreement. This statement is then submitted to the court. Its primary purpose is to streamline the legal process by narrowing down the issues that need to be proven at trial, allowing the court to focus its attention and resources on the facts that remain in dispute.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• In a lawsuit stemming from a car accident, the two drivers might agree on several key facts: the date, time, and exact location of the collision, the make and model of both vehicles involved, and that both drivers were present at the scene. By submitting an agreed statement of these facts, they avoid having to call witnesses or present evidence to prove these undisputed details. Instead, the court can immediately focus on the contested issues, such as who was at fault, the speed of the vehicles, or the extent of the damages.

• Consider a contract dispute where a software company is suing a client for unpaid services. The parties might agree on an agreed statement of facts confirming the existence of a signed contract, the specific services that were outlined in the agreement, and the total amount that was billed. This allows the court to bypass proving the basic contractual relationship and move directly to the core disagreement, which might be whether the services were performed satisfactorily or if the client had a valid reason for withholding payment.

• During divorce proceedings involving property division, a couple might create an agreed statement of facts. They could agree on the date of their marriage, the date of their separation, the existence and value of certain joint bank accounts, and the ownership of specific assets like a family car or a piece of real estate. This helps the court efficiently address the division of these agreed-upon assets, allowing more time to resolve more contentious issues, such as the valuation of a business or the division of complex retirement accounts.