Binding promises

Promisify · last updated 4 October 2026

A binding promise is one you both sign on purpose, for deals about money or things: “I’ll pay you back ₱5,000 by 1 November.” “I’ll return your camera by Friday, or pay for it.” This page says what Promisify records, what it doesn’t do, and how to use the record if the deal goes wrong.

Why the extra steps

Most promises between friends aren’t contracts, and courts usually treat them that way. An agreement is more likely to hold up when both people clearly accept definite terms and mean to be legally bound by them. That’s what a binding promise asks for:

• Each of you signs in with Google or Apple, so each signature is tied to a real account.
• Each of you ticks “I intend this promise to be legally binding.”
• A deadline is required. The deadline and the stakes are the whole deal: if the promise is broken, the penalty is owed; if it’s kept, the reward is.

What Promisify records

• The exact text, deadline, penalty and reward each of you signed.
• Who signed, by the name on each account, and when each of you signed.
• A record code, such as 8F3A-21C0, worked out from all of the above when the second person signs. Both phones show the same code. If the terms were changed later, the code would no longer match them.

After both of you sign, neither of you can edit the promise. Binding promises are always private: only the two of you can read them, in the app.

What Promisify doesn’t do

• It doesn’t check government IDs. An account shows which Google or Apple account signed, not who was holding the phone.
• It doesn’t hold money, collect debts or enforce anything.
• It isn’t a lawyer, and this page isn’t legal advice.
• It doesn’t replace paper where the law asks for it, such as sales of land or anything that must be notarized. For large amounts or long payment plans, also sign a written agreement, and have it notarized.

Keep your own proof

Do this when both of you have signed, not when something goes wrong:

1. Open the promise and take screenshots that show the terms, the “Signed” row with both dates, and the record code.
2. Keep the chat where you sent the link.
3. Pay and get paid by bank transfer or e-wallet, never cash, and keep the receipts.

If the deal goes wrong

Talk first; a calm message settles most of these. If it doesn’t, many countries have small claims courts for money claims, where you don’t need a lawyer. Bring the screenshots, the chat and the payment receipts.

Questions

support@bearlog.app