Legally, a contract should generally only be backdated if: The original contract is lost or destroyed before it could be stamped or filed and an identical copy of the contract needs to be re-executed or.

Is it illegal to predate a document?

When is it Illegal to Backdate a Document? Yet, backdating documents can be illegal or even criminal. If backdating document misleads a third party or gives a false impression about when an action was taken, it may be fraudulent. The parties intentions are also important when evaluating whether backdating is legal.

When should a contract be dated?

The contract date is usually written onto the front cover and the first page of the contract (although there is no legal requirement to do so). Generally this is the date that the last party signed the contract.

How do I backdate a Word document?

Change the File Creation Date To change the creation date on Word document settings, select the File Properties tab and check the box next to Modify File Date and Time Stamps. The dates are located below, and you can manually change the creation date and, if desired, the date and times of edits and modifications.