Legal Definitions - arrear

An arrear (often used in its plural form, arrears) refers to a payment that is overdue or a duty that has not been fulfilled by its due date. It signifies a state of being behind on a financial obligation or a required task.

• Example 1: Overdue Rent
  A tenant named Sarah failed to pay her apartment rent by the first of the month. By the middle of the month, her landlord sent her a notice stating that her account was in arrears.

  Explanation: In this scenario, the unpaid rent for the current month constitutes an arrear. Sarah is considered to be "in arrears" because she has not fulfilled her contractual obligation to pay rent by the agreed-upon date.

• Example 2: Missed Utility Bill
  John received a disconnection notice from his electricity provider because he had not paid his bill for the past two months. The notice specified the total amount of arrears he owed.

  Explanation: The outstanding balance from John's two unpaid electricity bills represents the arrears. These are overdue debts that he is legally obligated to pay to the utility company.

• Example 3: Unpaid Child Support
  Following a divorce, Mark was ordered by the court to pay monthly child support. After losing his job, he missed three consecutive payments, accumulating a significant amount of child support in arrears.

  Explanation: Each missed child support payment is an arrear. The total sum of these missed payments represents the cumulative amount of child support that is overdue, which is a serious legal obligation with potential consequences.