Contract Glossary
Commencement Date
Definition
The date when a contract's obligations officially begin. This might be the day you sign, the day after a condition is met, or a specific future date. It's not always the same as the date you signed the document.
In Practice
You sign a commercial lease on March 1, but the commencement date is April 1 because the landlord needs time for renovations. Your rent obligations start April 1, not March 1. Getting this wrong, or leaving it vague, can lead to disputes about when deadlines, payments, and performance obligations kick in.
Common in these contract types
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