Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Deed of Variation
"I need a deed of variation to amend the lease terms for a commercial property, extending the lease period by 5 years with a rent review every 2 years and tenant improvement allowances."
What is a Deed of Variation?
A Deed of Variation legally changes specific terms in an existing contract or agreement under Philippine contract law. It's commonly used when parties need to modify parts of their original agreement while keeping other terms intact - like updating payment schedules, extending deadlines, or adjusting delivery requirements.
Unlike creating an entirely new contract, this deed lets you make targeted changes efficiently and keeps the original agreement's history clear. Under Philippine Civil Code requirements, all parties must agree to these modifications, and the deed needs proper notarization to be legally binding. It's particularly useful for commercial leases, construction contracts, and business partnerships.
When should you use a Deed of Variation?
Use a Deed of Variation when you need to modify specific parts of an existing contract while keeping the rest unchanged. This often comes up when adjusting payment terms, extending project deadlines, or updating service specifications in Philippine business agreements. It's especially valuable for long-term contracts where a complete rewrite would be impractical or risky.
The deed proves particularly useful in commercial leases, construction projects, and supplier agreements where circumstances change mid-contract. For example, when tenants need different payment schedules, contractors require timeline adjustments, or service providers must modify their scope of work. Using this deed maintains legal clarity and saves time compared to drafting entirely new agreements.
What are the different types of Deed of Variation?
- Standard Contractual Variations: Used to modify basic contract terms like dates, amounts, or schedules - common in Philippine commercial agreements
- Lease Modifications: Specifically tailored for property agreements, adjusting rental terms, duration, or property use conditions
- Project Timeline Adjustments: Popular in construction and development contracts to revise completion dates and milestone schedules
- Payment Term Revisions: Modifies financial arrangements, installment plans, or pricing structures in existing agreements
- Scope Change Variations: Adapts service specifications or deliverables in professional service contracts and supplier agreements
Who should typically use a Deed of Variation?
- Original Contract Parties: Both sides who signed the initial agreement must agree to and sign the Deed of Variation
- Corporate Legal Teams: Draft and review variations to ensure compliance with Philippine contract law
- Business Owners: Often initiate the need for contract modifications based on changing business requirements
- Property Managers: Frequently use these deeds to update commercial lease terms or tenant agreements
- Notary Public: Authenticates the deed and witnesses signatures as required by Philippine law
- Legal Consultants: Advise on proper structuring and implications of proposed variations
How do you write a Deed of Variation?
- Original Agreement: Locate and review the complete original contract, noting specific clauses to be modified
- Proposed Changes: Document exact modifications needed, including new terms, dates, or amounts
- Party Details: Gather current legal names and contact information for all parties involved
- Supporting Documents: Collect any relevant correspondence or agreements about the changes
- Signing Authority: Confirm who has legal power to execute the variation under Philippine law
- Template Selection: Use our platform's smart templates to generate a legally compliant deed that includes all required elements
- Notarization Plan: Schedule a notary public to witness signatures and authenticate the document
What should be included in a Deed of Variation?
- Title and Date: Clear identification as a Deed of Variation with execution date
- Parties Section: Full legal names and addresses of all original contract parties
- Recitals: Reference to original agreement including its date and purpose
- Variation Details: Precise description of changes, using clear language and specific references
- Continuing Effect: Statement that unmodified terms remain valid and binding
- Governing Law: Explicit reference to Philippine law jurisdiction
- Execution Block: Signature spaces for all parties and witnesses
- Notarial Section: Space for notary acknowledgment as required by Philippine law
What's the difference between a Deed of Variation and a Deed of Rectification?
A Deed of Variation differs significantly from a Deed of Rectification in both purpose and application under Philippine law. While both modify existing agreements, they serve distinct legal functions.
- Purpose and Timing: A Deed of Variation intentionally changes agreed terms for the future, while a Deed of Rectification corrects past errors or omissions in the original document
- Legal Effect: Variations create new binding obligations moving forward, whereas rectifications align the written document with what was originally intended
- Scope of Changes: Variations can introduce completely new terms or substantial modifications, but rectifications are limited to fixing mistakes or clarifying existing intentions
- Proof Requirements: Variations need only current agreement between parties, while rectifications must prove the original document doesn't reflect what was actually agreed upon
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
ұԾ’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; ұԾ’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.