Also known as: instruments · instrumentum · instrumentality · legal document · writings
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A written legal document that defines rights, duties, entitlements, or liabilities. Such documents include contracts, deeds, wills, promissory notes, and other writings that create or transfer interests.
Imani Idowu conveyed land to Ilana Isaacs by deed but failed to record it promptly. Ike Ingram later purchased the same parcel from Imani and recorded first. Under the recording act, Ike prevails because the deed is an instrument affecting title whose recording establishes priority.
Congress enacted legislation regulating the issuance of bonds as instruments of debt. Ingrid Innes challenged the law, arguing it exceeded enumerated powers. The statute falls within Congress's authority to borrow money and regulate commerce because the bonds qualify as instruments within the constitutional grant.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Isaiah Ishikawa sued Ideal Solutions for breach and served a Rule 34 request seeking production of all written instruments reflecting the parties' agreement. Ideal Solutions objected that the request was overbroad. The court ordered production because the documents qualify as designated writings subject to inspection.
Attorney Idina Iverson drafted a will for client Iris Energy that left a substantial bequest to Idina's spouse. The client was not related to Idina. The instrument violates professional conduct rules because a lawyer may not prepare a testamentary instrument conferring a substantial gift on the lawyer or a related person absent a familial relationship.
Inertia Dynamics signed a purchase order and a separate warranty agreement with Ivy Investments for equipment. Both writings formed part of the same transaction. A court interprets the two instruments together to determine the parties' full obligations rather than reading either document in isolation.
Ingrid Innes lent a visibly damaged ladder to a worker on her property. The worker fell and sustained injuries when a rung broke. Ingrid is liable in negligence because she used an instrumentality she knew or should have known was defective and created an unreasonable risk of harm.
Recording acts establish a system for recording deeds and other instruments affecting title. Types include race, notice, and race-notice statutes that determine priority among competing claimants and define the effect of failure to record. A subsequent bona fide purchaser without notice may prevail over a prior unrecorded interest depending on the statute type.
A lawyer shall not prepare on behalf of a client an instrument giving the lawyer or a related person any substantial gift unless the lawyer or recipient is related to the client. Related persons include a spouse, child, parent, or other individual with whom the lawyer or client maintains a close familial relationship.
A writing is interpreted as a whole, and all writings that are part of the same transaction are interpreted together. Courts examine whether the documents reasonably appear to be a final expression of the parties' agreement based on completeness and specificity.
…responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any…