Legal Dictionary

arrears

Legal Definition of arrears

  1. A debt that is not paid on the due date adds up and accumulates as "arrears". The same word is used to describe child or spousal maintenance or support which is not paid by the due date.

    Example: If you do not pay your rent, the debt still exists and is referred to as "arrears"

Definition of arrears

Noun

arrears (uncountable)

  1. An unpaid or overdue obligation. A debt.
  2. Plural form of arrear.

Further reading

Arrears (also sometimes known as rearage) is a legal term for a type of debt which is overdue after missing an expected payment. It is also used (in the form in arrears) for payments that occur at the end of a period.

Arrears accrue from the date on the first missed payment was due. The term is often used to describe being late with rent, bills, royalties (or other contractual payments), child support, or other legal financial obligation.

An obligation is said to be in arrears if it is past due or overdue. "Arrears" is, further, not a late payment or charge for late rent, but the state of being late for rent.

References:

  1. Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.



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