A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is one of the most versatile legal instruments in Philippine practice. It is used by government agencies and private entities to formalize partnerships, service collaborations, joint undertakings, and resource-sharing arrangements. Unlike a simple letter of intent, a properly drafted MOA creates binding obligations on both parties enforceable under the Civil Code.
Legalia automates the drafting. This guide explains what an MOA must contain under Philippine law and walks you through generating a notary-ready MOA in five steps.
What you need before you start
- A free Legalia account — sign up here
- Full legal names and addresses of both parties (individuals or entities)
- The purpose and subject matter of the agreement
- Specific obligations, deliverables, or responsibilities of each party
- Duration or effectivity period of the MOA
- Any financial considerations, cost-sharing arrangements, or in-kind contributions
Step 1: Log In and Open Your Dashboard
Sign in to your Legalia account at https://legalia.ph. After logging in you will land on the document library dashboard, which lists all available document types grouped by category.
Step 2: Select Memorandum of Agreement
Under the Other Legal Documents category, click Memorandum of Agreement. The document editor opens in a two-panel layout:
- Left panel — the guided form with all required and optional fields
- Right panel — the live document preview, updated in real time
Step 3: Fill In Party Details and Agreement Terms
Complete the fields on the left panel. The form covers the following sections:
Party Information
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| First Party Name | Full legal name of the individual or registered name of the entity |
| First Party Address | Complete registered or residential address |
| Second Party Name | Full legal name or registered entity name |
| Second Party Address | Complete registered or residential address |
| Represented By | For corporate parties — name and designation of the authorized representative |
Agreement Terms
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Purpose / Subject Matter | Describe what the parties agree to do or achieve together |
| Obligations of First Party | List specific responsibilities, deliverables, or contributions |
| Obligations of Second Party | List specific responsibilities, deliverables, or contributions |
| Duration | Start date and end date, or specify "until completion of the purpose" |
| Consideration / Cost Sharing | Optional. Financial terms, in-kind contributions, or "no financial consideration" |
| Termination Clause | Optional. Conditions under which either party may terminate |
| Dispute Resolution | Optional. Mediation, arbitration, or jurisdiction clause |
Step 4: Review the Live Preview
The right panel shows the document exactly as it will print. Review the recitals, the NOW THEREFORE clause, each party's obligations, the duration, and the signature blocks. Use Polish with AI to refine the language into formal legal Philippine English while preserving all facts.
Step 5: Print or Save as PDF
When the document looks correct, click the Print button in the action bar. Your browser's print dialog opens.
- To print on paper: select your printer and click Print.
- To save a PDF: change the Destination to Save as PDF. The output is a clean document formatted for standard 8.5×11 or A4 paper, ready for notarial acknowledgment.
Bring the printout to a commissioned notary public for the signatures of both parties and the notarial acknowledgment block.
Sample Memorandum of Agreement
Below is a representative excerpt of what a Legalia-generated MOA looks like. Use Legalia Ultra to generate a complete, notary-ready version with your actual party names, obligations, and terms filled in.
Business Collaboration
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:This Memorandum of Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this January 15, 2026 at Quezon City, Philippines, by and between:
Juan Dela Cruz, of legal age, single, Filipino, with residence at 123 Mabuhay Street, Barangay San Antonio, Quezon City, hereinafter referred to as the "FIRST PARTY";
— and —
Maria Santos, of legal age, single, Filipino, with residence at 456 Mabini Street, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City, hereinafter referred to as the "SECOND PARTY";
WITNESSETH:WHEREAS, the First Party owns and operates a retail business and desires to expand its distribution network within Metro Manila;
WHEREAS, the Second Party has the experience, personnel, and resources to undertake such distribution;
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants, stipulations, and agreements herein set forth, the parties hereby agree and bind themselves as follows:
1. Scope of Collaboration
The parties shall jointly market and distribute the First Party's products within Metro Manila under the terms set out in this Agreement.
2. Term
This Agreement shall be effective for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution, renewable upon the mutual written agreement of the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto set their hands this January 15, 2026 at Quezon City, Philippines.
| Name | Competent Evidence of Identity |
|---|---|
| JUAN DELA CRUZ | Philippine Passport No. P1234567A |
| MARIA SANTOS | Philippine Passport No. P7654321B |
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL on the date and at the place first above written.
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