Legal Definitions - due, owing, and unpaid

The phrase due, owing, and unpaid describes an obligation, typically a financial one, that was required to be settled by a specific date but has not yet been fulfilled. It signifies that a payment or performance is past its deadline, remains outstanding, and the responsibility to complete it still exists.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Rental Agreement

  Imagine a tenant's monthly rent payment was contractually set to be paid on the first day of each month. If it is now the fifth day of the month, and the landlord has not received the payment, the rent is considered due, owing, and unpaid. It is due because the agreed-upon payment date has passed. It is owing because the tenant has a legal obligation under the lease agreement to pay for the use of the property. It is unpaid because the funds have not been transferred to the landlord.

• Example 2: Professional Services Invoice

  A marketing consultant completes a project for a client and sends an invoice with payment terms stating "Net 30," meaning payment is expected within 30 days. If 45 days have passed since the invoice was issued, and the client has not remitted payment, the amount on the invoice is due, owing, and unpaid. It is due because the 30-day payment period has expired. It is owing because the client received the services and has a contractual obligation to compensate the consultant. It is unpaid because the consultant has not yet received the money.

• Example 3: Property Tax Bill

  A homeowner receives an annual property tax bill with a payment deadline of December 31st. If the homeowner has not submitted the payment by January 15th of the following year, the property taxes are due, owing, and unpaid. They are due because the official deadline for payment has passed. They are owing because the homeowner has a legal responsibility to pay taxes on their property. They are unpaid because the local tax authority has not received the required funds.