Legal Definitions - conclude

In a legal context, the term conclude generally refers to the act of formally finalizing an agreement or, in another sense, to legally bind or prevent a party from taking a certain action or denying a fact.

• To finalize or formalize an agreement: This usage refers to the act of bringing an agreement, such as a contract, treaty, or convention, to a formal and legally binding completion. It signifies that all parties have agreed to the terms and the document is now official.

  • Example: After extensive discussions, the two nations successfully concluded a new trade treaty, outlining the terms for future economic cooperation and mutual benefit.

    Explanation: Here, "concluded" means the treaty was formally completed, signed, and made legally binding between the participating countries, establishing their official agreement.

  • Example: The software development firm and its client worked for weeks to conclude the complex service agreement, ensuring all deliverables, timelines, and payment schedules were clearly defined and accepted by both parties.

    Explanation: This illustrates the finalization of a detailed contract, making its terms enforceable by law once all parties have formally agreed to and signed it.

• To legally bind or prevent (estop): In this sense, "conclude" means that a party is legally prevented from asserting a particular fact or argument, often because of their previous actions, statements, or a prior legal judgment that has already established that fact.

  • Example: The defendant's sworn admission during the deposition that they owned the property in question concluded their ability to later deny ownership as a defense in the lawsuit.

    Explanation: This shows how a party's earlier, formal statement legally binds them, preventing them from contradicting that established fact later in the legal process.

• (In Scots law) To sign a contract for the sale of real property: Specifically within the legal system of Scotland, this term is used to describe the formal signing and exchange of documents (known as "missives") that finalize a contract for the sale of land or property.

  • Example: Once the buyer and seller had exchanged and signed all the necessary missives, they had effectively concluded missives, making the sale of the Edinburgh flat legally binding and irreversible.

    Explanation: This demonstrates the specific Scots law usage where the formal signing of property sale documents (the missives) signifies the completion and legal enforceability of the real estate transaction.