In short, a legal document by definition is one that outlines an agreement between two or more parties that has been signed by mutual assent and in all other respects can be relied upon in court. However, there are many other forms of documents that people will refer to as legal.

Without a grasp of basic legal documents like contracts, wills, powers of attorney, deeds, and affidavits, you could be forfeiting your rights or missing important opportunities.

Some examples include individual contract clauses, licensing agreements, complaints, and interrogatories. Sample documents can be found in a number of places including law firm collections or knowledge management systems, and paid databases such as Lexis and Westlaw.

A specification is not a legal document because it is a detailed description of the requirements, dimensions, and materials for a particular project or product. While specifications are important in various industries, they do not hold the same legal weight as a lease, will, or deed.