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Legal

Default

Definition

Failure to meet a legal obligation under a loan or lease, such as missing payments or violating covenants.

Example

The lease defined default to include both nonpayment and unapproved alterations.

Frequently asked questions

What does Default mean in real estate?

Failure to meet a legal obligation under a loan or lease, such as missing payments or violating covenants.

How is Default used in practice?

The lease defined default to include both nonpayment and unapproved alterations.

This definition is provided for educational purposes. Legal and tax terminology can carry jurisdiction-specific meaning — confirm with a licensed professional before relying on it in a transaction.