General legal information about contract terms in the UK, not legal advice.
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Novation

Novation replaces one party to a contract with another, transferring both rights and obligations. It needs the consent of all parties, usually through a short novation agreement.

Prepared by a retired English qualified solicitor (LLB, LLM) · reviewed · applies across the UK unless stated · how we draft

In more detail

Unlike an assignment, a novation releases the outgoing party from its obligations.

Put it into a contract

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Reviewed 2026-09-24. General legal information, not legal advice.