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

Recitals are the short background statements at the start of a contract, usually lettered (A), (B), explaining who the parties are and why they are entering into it.

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

In more detail

Recitals help interpret the contract but should not contain obligations.

Put it into a contract

Be Contract Wise provides very powerful, carefully prepared tools to draft and review simple or complex contracts under the law of England and Wales or Scots law, explaining every clause in plain English.

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