Legal drafting guides for Indian advocates
Each guide explains one common document under the law in force — including the BNS, BNSS and BSA that replaced the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act on 1 July 2024 — with the forum, time limits, contents, documents, procedure, common mistakes and the formats in ClauseFlow’s library. Last verified 2026-11-09.
- Anticipatory Bail ApplicationAn anticipatory bail application asks the Court of Session or the High Court to direct that, if the applicant is…18 formats
- Application for Cancellation of BailAn application for cancellation of bail asks the court to cancel bail already granted, usually because the accused has…1 format
- Bail ApplicationA bail application asks the court to release an arrested person while the case continues. Before a Magistrate it is…46 formats
- Quashing Petition (Section 528 BNSS)A quashing petition asks the High Court to use its inherent powers to quash an FIR, charge-sheet, complaint or…11 formats
- Criminal Complaint and Section 175(3) ApplicationWhen the police do not register or investigate, a person can file a complaint directly before the Magistrate under…15 formats
- Cheque Bounce Notice and Complaint (Section 138 NI Act)When a cheque is returned unpaid for insufficient funds, the payee must send a legal notice demanding payment within…34 formats
- Legal NoticeA legal notice is a formal written demand sent before going to court. It is mandatory in some cases — two months’…30 formats
- Rent Agreement / Lease DeedA rent agreement records the terms on which an owner lets property to a tenant: rent, deposit, period, maintenance and…150 formats
- AffidavitAn affidavit is a written statement of facts sworn or affirmed before an authorised officer — a notary, an oath…184 formats
- Power of AttorneyA power of attorney (POA) authorises an agent to act for the principal. A general POA covers a range of acts; a…96 formats
- Sale Deed and Agreement to SellA sale deed transfers ownership of immovable property from seller to buyer. Under Section 54 of the Transfer of…53 formats
- Gift DeedA gift is a transfer of property made voluntarily and without consideration, accepted by the donee during the donor’s…107 formats
- WillA will is a legal declaration of how a person wants their property distributed after death. Under Section 63 of the…73 formats
- Divorce PetitionSpouses who have lived separately for at least one year and agree that the marriage should end can file a joint…63 formats
- Maintenance ApplicationA wife, child or parent unable to maintain themselves can claim monthly maintenance from a person with sufficient…23 formats
- Domestic Violence ApplicationAn aggrieved woman, or a Protection Officer on her behalf, can apply to the Magistrate under Section 12 of the…13 formats
- Consumer ComplaintA consumer complaint seeks relief for defective goods, deficient services or unfair trade practices under the Consumer…53 formats
- RTI ApplicationAny citizen can seek information from a public authority by writing to its Public Information Officer under Section 6…3 formats
- Writ PetitionA writ petition asks a constitutional court to enforce fundamental rights or legal rights against the State or a…41 formats
- Written StatementA written statement is the defendant’s reply to the plaint. Under Order VIII Rule 1 CPC it is to be filed within 30…13 formats
- Temporary Injunction ApplicationAn application for temporary injunction asks the court to restrain the other side from an act until the suit is…50 formats
- Caveat PetitionA caveat is a precautionary notice filed by a person who expects that an application will be made against them in a…11 formats
- Plaint (Civil Suit)A plaint is the document that starts a civil suit. Order VII Rule 1 CPC lists what it must contain — the parties, the…115 formats
- Execution PetitionAn execution petition asks the court to enforce a decree or order, for example by attachment and sale of the…19 formats
- Civil Appeal and RevisionA first appeal from an original decree lies under Section 96 CPC and is filed as a memorandum of appeal under Order…43 formats
- Criminal Appeal and RevisionA person convicted by a criminal court can appeal under Section 415 BNSS (formerly Section 374 CrPC) and ask for…7 formats
- Partnership DeedA partnership deed records the agreement between partners — capital, profit sharing, duties, admission and retirement…68 formats
- Employment Agreement and Appointment LetterAn employment agreement or appointment letter records the terms of employment: role, pay, probation, leave…113 formats
- Indemnity Bond and GuaranteeAn indemnity bond is a promise to make good a loss caused to another (Section 124, Indian Contract Act, 1872). A…68 formats
- Loan Agreement and Promissory NoteA loan agreement records the amount lent, interest, repayment schedule and security. A promissory note is an…113 formats
- Arbitration Notice and PetitionsArbitration begins when one party sends the other a notice invoking arbitration under Section 21 of the Arbitration…82 formats
- VakalatnamaA vakalatnama is the document by which a party appoints an advocate to act and plead for them in a case. In civil…4 formats
- Trademark Application and OppositionA trademark is registered by filing Form TM-A under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. After examination, the applicant…190 formats
- Company Board and Shareholder ResolutionsA board resolution records a decision of a company’s directors at a meeting or by circulation; a shareholder…63 formats