21/09/2026
An Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) is a written agreement in which a debtor formally confirms they owe a specified amount to a creditor and agrees to repay the debt under the terms set out in the agreement.
But hereโs something you may not know:
The written agreement matters. Under South African law, the parol evidence rule generally means that when parties reduce their agreement to writing and sign the AOD as their final agreement, the written terms constitute the agreement between them.
This means that prior negotiations, representations or statements may not be relied upon to contradict, add to or vary the terms recorded in the signed AOD.
In short: read before you sign.
Need assistance with an Acknowledgement of Debt or another legal agreement?
Get in touch with DVG Law.
๐ 010 630 0136
๐ง [email protected]