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A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a written plan for shared work. It names the parties, the project, the dates, each side's tasks and costs, and the signers. Our free MOU template suits businesses, schools and agencies starting a joint project.
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A memorandum of understanding is a written plan in which two or more parties set out a shared project: what they want to achieve, who does which task, who pays for what and how long the cooperation lasts. It turns a handshake into a page both sides can read and sign.
The document goes by several names. People search for the same kind of paper as:
The FormsPal template covers the usual parts of a plan for shared work: the parties, the project, the term, the tasks, the expenses, the choice between a binding and a non-binding version, the contacts and the signatures.
An MOU and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) are two names for a written plan between parties, and many organizations use the two names for the same document. Where a group does tell them apart, the MOA usually holds firmer commitments, such as set tasks or funds, and the MOU sets out shared goals.
A title tells you little about what a given document holds, so read its sections. That is also why the template asks you to pick a binding or a non-binding version (see whether an MOU is legally binding).
| Name you searched | What people usually mean | Does this template fit? |
|---|---|---|
| Memorandum of agreement (MOA) | A written plan for shared work, often with firmer tasks or funds | Yes, if it is a general plan for shared work |
| Letter of understanding | A shorter MOU, often between two parties | Yes |
| Document or agreement of understanding | Another name for an MOU | Yes |
| Letter of intent | A proposal of the main terms of a future deal | No, use the letter of intent template |
This template fits an MOA that is a general plan for shared work. A partner, especially a government agency, may need terms set by its own rules, so ask which sections they expect.
Use an MOU when two or more parties agree on a joint project and want its goals, tasks and costs on paper before a full contract. It takes less time to prepare than a long contract, yet it shows that the partners plan to work together.
If one party only proposes terms and waits for an answer, a letter of intent fits better. If the deal has fixed prices, deliveries or penalties, ask an attorney which document fits.
An MOU covers the purpose of the project, each party's tasks, the dates, the costs, the binding choice and the signatures. It can be brief or detailed, but each memo should include these parts:
The FormsPal template lets the parties say whether they mean the memorandum of understanding to bind them, with one box for each version. The box alone may not settle the question, since the wording of the whole document and the rules that govern it can matter.
For agreements of the United States with other countries, 22 CFR 181.2 says that documents intended to have political or moral weight, but not intended to be legally binding, are not international agreements. The same section, 22 CFR 181.2, says the title of the agreement will not be determinative: the decision rests on the substance of the arrangement (22 CFR 181.2).
For other MOUs, such as one between two companies or a company and a school, this page sets out no rule. If you need to know whether your MOU can be enforced, ask an attorney before anyone signs.
This page sets out no rule on whether a given MOA is a contract, and an attorney can answer it for a real document. In the template, use the binding box only if both parties want the MOA to bind them, and the non-binding box if they want a plan of intent.
This memorandum of understanding example shows how the main parts read once filled in, here for a free evening class that a college and a library run together. The names and details are made up.
Sample entries, for illustration only.
The format follows the same order on every MOU made with the template: the date and the parties, the project and its goals, the term, the tasks of each party, the expenses, the binding choice, the contacts, the mediation clause and the signature blocks. The screenshots in the next section show each part of the form with sample entries.
To write a memorandum of understanding, fill in the FormsPal template one part at a time, from the parties on the first page to the signature blocks on the last. The steps below follow the form in order. If you have questions along the way, ask an attorney for legal advice.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Memorandum of Understanding template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
Date and parties. On page 1, enter the date the MOU is dated as of. Then add the name and address of Party A and of Party B in the opening paragraph. Check that each name matches the ID or business papers of that party.
Describe the Project. In Section 1, write a broad description of the Project on the lines after "is broadly described as follows". A few plain sentences are enough.
Include, exclude and goals. Under the "If applicable" note, list what the Project is intended to include, what it is intended to exclude, and the overall goals. Leave a line blank if it does not apply.
Goals continued and the Term. On page 2, finish the goals lines if you need more room. In Section 2, enter the approximate beginning date and ending date of the Project.
Tasks for each party. In Section 4, Respective Responsibilities, list the tasks Party A will perform, then the tasks Party B will perform, one task per line. This section might be the most extensive. Talk the tasks through with the other party before you write them down.
Party A expenses. At the foot of page 2, in Section 5, list the expenses Party A will cover on the Party A expenses line.
Party B expenses. At the top of page 3, finish the Party A lines if you ran out of room. Then list the expenses Party B will cover.
Personal funds or reimbursement. Under "Select, as applicable", check the first box if neither party is expected to spend personal funds. Check the second box if costs will be reimbursed, and write the name of the party who reimburses them in the blank.
Reimbursed costs. If you checked the reimbursement box, list the costs to be reimbursed on the lines after "as follows". Leave them blank otherwise.
Non-binding option. In Section 6, the form asks you to select one option. Check the first box only if the MOU is to be the non-binding version printed beside it.
Read the rest of the MOU against your choice. If you pick the non-binding version, make sure no other part of the document reads as a firm promise to pay or to deliver.
Binding option. Check the second box instead of the first only if the MOU is to be the binding version. Do not check both.
Contact information. In Section 7, enter a phone number and an email address for Party A and for Party B in their columns.
Mediation office location. On page 4, in Section 9, fill in the "located at" line with the address of the mediation office named in the clause. The rest of the page is pre-printed.
Signature blocks. On page 4, each party has a By line, a Printed Name line and a Title line. Fill in the printed name and title for Party A and Party B. Leave the By lines empty until the parties sign.
Once the blanks are filled in, review the MOU together, sign it, then give every party a copy and keep the dates and contacts at hand. Work through these steps with the other party, so nothing is missed before anyone signs.
Review the finished MOU. Read the whole document once more with the other party. Check that every blank is filled in or marked as not applicable, that the names match on every page and that the binding choice matches what both sides agreed. If you want a clause on how the parties send notices to each other, add it now.
Sign the memorandum. Each party's signer writes on the By line under the printed name and title. Signing shows that the party agrees with the document as written, and it tells the other side who speaks for that party. The binding choice on the form says whether the parties mean the MOU to bind them.
Keep a signed copy. Give each party a copy of the signed MOU. Store the paper copy in a safe place and keep a scan on your device.
Follow the project. Put the end date from the Term section in your calendar, and use the contact details to keep in touch. If the tasks or the costs change, write the change down and have both parties sign it, so the paper keeps matching the work.
The main purpose of an MOU or MOA is to put a shared plan in writing: the goals, the tasks of each party, the costs and the dates. Both sides then work from the same page, and it can lead to a full contract later.
A letter of intent usually proposes the main terms of a future deal, while an MOU sets out how the parties will work together on a project. People sometimes use the two names for the same kind of paper, so read what the document says rather than its title.
You write it together with the other party. Start from this template, agree on the project, the tasks and the costs, fill in each part and sign it. Both parties keep a signed copy.
Yes. Use the Create My Document button at the top of the page, answer a few simple questions, then save or print the result. You can also download the PDF and fill it in with the FormsPal PDF editor.
Gather these details first, so you can fill in the template in one sitting.
Read it slowly from start to finish and write down your questions. If the draft is a PDF, you can ask questions about the PDF to understand it before you sign.
The template runs four pages. It covers the parties, the project, the dates, the tasks, the expenses, the choice between a binding and a non-binding MOU, the contacts, the mediation office and the signature blocks.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
