A bill of sale, proof of purchase, proof of payment, or proof of sale, is a legal document that is used to transfer ownership and verify a sale. The document provides basic information about the property or object being sold. Bills of sale are not required by all states but are generally important to prevent future misunderstandings between the seller and the buyer in a transaction.
A bill of sale serves as legal evidence that the seller has transferred ownership of an asset to a buyer.
Some states provide a free template or sample bill of sale form. However, even if your state doesn’t have a sample bill of sale format, there are a few components common to all bill of sale documents.
A bill of sale is a written contract verifying the transfer of ownership of an item being sold. There are some common terms used in a bill of sale across jurisdictions. Your bill of sale should include the following terms:
Here is a sample of a bill of sale document for a car.
A bill of sale document functions differently in different states. For example, if you’re selling your car in Montana and don’t have a copy of the car title, the car bill of sale will be needed by the buyer to get the car’s title transferred to them. In contrast, in Georgia you need the bill of sale to receive a Georgia title, registration and license plate.
Some states also require sellers to complete a bill of sale to remove the seller’s name from the car. This can help the seller avoid liability related to the car after it’s been sold. That liability risk might be from the car being used in a crime, in a crash or from it being ticketed.
Therefore, the bill of sale document can be important in the buying and selling of properties such as a car, vehicle, trailer, camper, dirt bike, motorcycle, boat, etc.
Here is an article for you about writing your first bill of sale.
The bill of sale might be written by the seller. In some states, the dealership provides the bill of sale document when it sells a car. However, if there is a private sale, both the buyer and the seller might need to generate a bill of sale document, signed by both parties. In this case, a seller may hire a contracts lawyer to draft a bill of sale.
Some states also use a state-authorized template for bill of sale documents. Others allow individuals to write their own bill of sale documents without a template.
Do you have any questions about a bill of sale document and want to speak to an expert? Post a project today on ContractsCounsel and receive bids from contract lawyers who specialize in legal drafting of bill of sale documents.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
Nicholas Matlach is a cybersecurity expert (CISSP) and an attorney who is dedicated to helping small businesses succeed. He is a client-focused professional who has a deep understanding of the challenges that small businesses face in the digital age. He also provides legal counsel to small businesses on a variety of issues, including formation, intellectual property, contracts, and employment law.
Advised startups and established corporations on a wide range of commercial and corporate matters, including VC funding, technology law, and M&A. Commercial and Corporate Matters • Advised companies on commercial and corporate matters and drafted corporate documents and commercial agreements—including but not limited to —Convertible Note, SAFE, Promissory Note, Terms and Conditions, SaaS Agreement, Employment Agreement, Contractor Agreement, Joint Venture Agreement, Stock Purchase Agreement, Asset Purchase Agreement, Shareholders Agreement, Partnership Agreement, Franchise Agreement, License Agreement, and Financing Agreement. • Drafted and revised internal regulations of joint venture companies (board of directors, employment, office organization, discretional duty, internal control, accounting, fund management, etc.) • Advised JVs on corporate structuring and other legal matters • Advised startups on VC funding Employment Matters • Drafted a wide range of employment agreements, including dental associate agreements, physician employment agreements, startup employment agreements, and executive employment agreements. • Advised clients on complex employment law matters and drafted employment agreements, dispute settlement agreements, and severance agreements. General Counsel • As outside general counsel, I advised startups on ICOs, securities law, business licenses, regulatory compliance, and other commercial and corporate matters. • Drafted or analyzed coin or token sale agreements for global ICOs. • Assisted clients with corporate formations, including filing incorporation documents and foreign corporation registrations, drafting operating and partnership agreements, and creating articles of incorporation and bylaws. Dispute Resolution • Conducted legal research, and document review, and drafted pleadings, motions, and other trial documents. • Advised the client on strategic approaches to discovery proceedings and settlement negotiation. • Advised clients on employment dispute settlements.
