Promissory Note for a Personal Loan

Lending money to a friend or relative? A simple written promissory note avoids misunderstandings about how much, when and how it will be paid back.

What to prepare

Full names and addresses of lender and borrower
Loan amount, in words and figures
Interest, if any, written as a rate per year or month
Due date or installment schedule

Good to know for this situation

Write the interest clearly. Interest that is not stated in writing may not be collectible.
Keep proof of release of the money, such as a bank transfer receipt.
Notarization is optional for many notes but makes the document stronger as evidence.

Template only, not legal advice. Checked 2026-11-11.

Questions

Does a promissory note need to be notarized?: Not necessarily to be valid between the parties, but notarization makes it a public document and stronger evidence.
What if no interest is agreed?: Say so in the note ("without interest") so there is no dispute later.

Other document situations