Over the years, I’ve heard from dozens of readers who have lent money to friends and family members, only to become outraged when the deal goes sour. The problem is, they write to me after they’ve made the loan. By now, they’ve been waiting months, even years, for repayment without success, hoping I can wave a magic wand to get their money back.
I tell these readers that I wish they'd written to me before they lent the money. Doing things right from the start makes all the difference in the end. Here’s how.
Accept Reality
Lend only the amount of money you can afford to give as a gift. Don’t tell your potential borrower this, but know in your heart that if you just hand over the money, the chances of being repaid in full are fairly slim. That’s a fact of life. There’s a reason this borrower is coming to you and not to a bank, conventional lender, or credit card to borrow money.Promissory Note
This is a legally binding document that when signed by both parties creates a contract. A promissory note lays out the details of repayment, including the total amount to be repaid, due dates, and penalties if the terms and conditions are violated. It sets the stage for you, the lender, to express your expectations. It puts the borrower on notice of these expectations and puts this arrangement on a business level with a tone of legality.
