Proving a Debt When There Was No Written Contract
No signed agreement doesn't mean no debt. Learn what evidence can establish that someone owes you money.
A handshake can still be enough
People often assume that without a signed contract there is no way to collect. In reality, debts arise from all kinds of informal arrangements, and what matters is whether you can show that money changed hands and was expected to be repaid.
The absence of a formal document shifts the focus to the surrounding evidence — the records and communications that tell the story of the loan.
Assemble the proof
Look for bank or payment-app transfers, emails or texts discussing the money, and any partial repayments that imply the borrower accepted the obligation. A single message saying 'I'll pay you back next month' can be powerful.
Once you have organized that evidence, a written Louisiana loan repayment demand letter can lay it out clearly and ask for repayment by a set date — turning a he-said-she-said into a documented claim. If the money went to a friend or relative, our guide to collecting on a personal loan to a friend or family member covers how to ask without burning the relationship.