# Deposit agreement

Source: https://contracko.com/es/glosario/contrato-de-deposito

# Deposit agreement

A contract under which assets, funds or documents are held by a custodian under agreed conditions.

## Definición

A deposit agreement governs the holding of money, securities, goods or documents by a custodian on behalf of one or more parties, setting out the conditions for safekeeping and release. It is common where value must be parked safely pending a condition, such as a transaction closing or a dispute outcome, and overlaps with escrow arrangements. Core terms cover the custodian's duties, release triggers, fees and liability.

## Ejemplo

> In a share purchase, part of the price is placed under a deposit agreement and released only once warranty claims are cleared after closing.

## Por qué es un riesgo para la empresa

Ambiguous release conditions in a deposit agreement can paralyse a transaction if the parties disagree on whether the trigger has been met. If the custodian has wide discretion, a party may find itself unable to access its own funds until lengthy legal proceedings resolve the dispute. A poorly negotiated custodian liability cap can leave depositors without recourse if the custodian misapplies the funds.

## Cómo gestionarlo

- Define release conditions with objective, measurable triggers so there is no room for disagreement about whether they have been satisfied.
- Specify what happens if a release condition is not satisfied by a long-stop date: whether the deposit is returned, forfeited or held pending further agreement.
- Confirm the custodian's duties, liability and insurance so you understand the level of protection for the deposited assets.
- Track the long-stop date and any interim milestone dates in your contract system so you know when to expect or demand release.

### Cómo ayuda Contracko

Contracko tracks deposit agreement milestones and long-stop dates as structured obligations with reminders, so the finance team knows when a release condition falls due and can act before the window passes. The searchable repository stores the deposit agreement, any amendment and the release confirmation together so the audit trail is complete.

## Referencias legales

- [BW 7:600 Dutch Civil Code: safekeeping Derecho neerlandés](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005290)

Salvo indicación en contrario, las referencias remiten al derecho neerlandés (Burgerlijk Wetboek, el Código Civil neerlandés); los instrumentos de la UE como el RGPD se aplican en toda la UE. Se trata de información general, no de asesoramiento legal. Otras jurisdicciones tratan estos conceptos de forma distinta. Verifique el texto vigente y su situación con un abogado cualificado.

## Relevante para

[Servicios financieros](https://contracko.com/es/sectores/servicios-financieros)[Servicios jurídicos](https://contracko.com/es/sectores/servicios-juridicos)[Bienes raíces comerciales](https://contracko.com/es/sectores/inmobiliario-comercial)[Software & SaaS](https://contracko.com/es/sectores/software-saas)

## Cláusulas relacionadas

- [Payment Terms Clause](https://contracko.com/es/biblioteca-de-clausulas/condiciones-de-pago)
- [Conditions Subsequent](https://contracko.com/es/biblioteca-de-clausulas/condiciones-resolutorias)

## Términos relacionados

- [Escrow arrangement](https://contracko.com/es/glosario/deposito-en-garantia)
- [Pledge](https://contracko.com/es/glosario/prenda)
- [Retention of title](https://contracko.com/es/glosario/reserva-de-dominio)
- [Bank guarantee](https://contracko.com/es/glosario/garantia-bancaria)

### No vuelva a perder un plazo de contrato

- La IA encuentra las fechas de renovación y preaviso
- Los riesgos y obligaciones afloran automáticamente
- Los recordatorios le ayudan a actuar antes de que las fechas se escapen

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Conforme con el RGPD. Cifrado. Nunca se usa para entrenar la IA.

## Preguntas frecuentes

Preguntas comunes sobre este término.

- **Q:** What is the difference between a deposit agreement and an escrow?
  **A:** The terms are used interchangeably in the Netherlands. Both involve a neutral custodian holding value pending a condition. "Escrow" is the Anglo-American term; "depot" is more common in Dutch practice, but the legal substance is the same.

- **Q:** Who typically acts as custodian under a deposit agreement?
  **A:** In practice, a notary (notaris) is the most common custodian in Dutch M&A and real estate transactions because the notary has a statutory duty of care and professional indemnity insurance. For software source code, specialist escrow providers are used.

- **Q:** Can a deposit be released without agreement from both parties?
  **A:** Only if the release conditions are met and the agreement gives the custodian authority to release unilaterally on that basis. Otherwise, both parties' instructions or a court order are typically needed.

- **Q:** What happens to the deposit if the underlying transaction falls through?
  **A:** The deposit agreement should specify exactly this: whether the deposit is returned to the depositor, forfeited as a break fee, split, or held pending a dispute resolution mechanism. Without a clear long-stop clause the funds can be frozen indefinitely.

- **Q:** Is interest on a deposited amount paid to the depositor?
  **A:** Only if the deposit agreement provides for it. The interest allocation (who receives it, at what rate, when) should be addressed explicitly, especially for large amounts or lengthy holding periods.

## Vea estos términos en sus propios contratos

Suba un contrato y Contracko extrae los términos, fechas y obligaciones clave, y luego le recuerda cada uno de ellos antes de que importe.

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