legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

contract - a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

Articles of Confederation - a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their union by gave the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens

agreement, understanding - the statement (oral or written) of an exchange of promises; "they had an agreement that they would not interfere in each other's business"; "there was an understanding between management and the workers"

submission - a legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter

concordat, covenant, compact - a signed written agreement between two or more parties (nations) to perform some action

indenture - formal agreement between the issuer of bonds and the bondholders as to terms of the debt

obligation - a legal agreement specifying a payment or action and the penalty for failure to comply

pact, treaty, accord - a written agreement between two states or sovereigns

jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

escrow - a written agreement (or property or money) delivered to a third party or put in trust by one party to a contract to be returned after fulfillment of some condition