What is "heads of agreement"

n. (context legal former British English) A document stating the intent of the parties to enter into a binding agreement as outlined in the document.

The Heads of Agreement was a 1981 document proposing a solution to the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory. Created in February and signed on March 11 in London, England, the agreement sought to propose future bases for negotiations between the United Kingdom, Belize and Guatemala over the dispute. The document's rejection created a national security crisis in Belize in March and April 1981.

Heads of Agreement may refer to:

• Heads of Agreement (law), a non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to a tentative (partnership or other) agreement
• Heads of security crisis in Belize in March and April 1981, occasioned by the rejection of the above.

A heads of agreement is a non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to a tentative (partnership or other) agreement. A heads of agreement document will only be enforceable when it is adopted into a parent contract and subsequently agreed upon. Until that point, a heads of agreement will not be legally binding (See Fletcher Challenge Energy v Electricity Corporation of New Zealand [2002]2 NZLR 433).