Legal Definitions - pour acquit

Definition: Pour acquit (poor a-kee), n. [French “for acquittance”] French law. The formula that a creditor adds when signing a receipt.

Explanation: In French law, when a creditor signs a receipt, they add the phrase "pour acquit" to indicate that the debt has been paid in full. This phrase serves as proof of payment and protects the debtor from any future claims of non-payment.

Example: If a person borrows money from a friend and repays the debt, the friend may ask for a receipt as proof of payment. The creditor would then sign the receipt and add "pour acquit" to indicate that the debt has been fully paid.

Another example: A company may receive a payment from a customer for an outstanding invoice. When the company signs the receipt, they would add "pour acquit" to indicate that the invoice has been paid in full.

These examples illustrate how "pour acquit" is used in French law to indicate that a debt has been fully paid and to provide proof of payment.