Being asked to sign a backdated deed? Is it even legal??

[Ofnoteandnightmares]

Hello! Any lawyers out there please help!

I'm being asked to sign a Deed of Termination in regards to some work I did two years ago.

I signed on to the project, then quit a couple of months later. The representative of the project is only now asking me to sign a Deed of Termination, which only has a 2020 date and the words:

"The Agreement is terminated with effect from the date of this deed"

"This document has been executed as a deed and is delivered and takes effect on the date stated at the beginning of it."

I know effective dates and date signed are different things but there is no reference to the delay in request, or today's date or any other beyond the back date in 2020 - and of course if I signed it with my own signature dated today.

Is it even legal to backdate a deed like this? I haven't signed it and have requested they acknowledge today's date and request within the deed.

Advice please!

Thank you so much!

Ask them why they are asking you to sign it now. Is it something that should have been done at the point of termination? What is it actually for, what are the consequences if you don’t sign?

Does it even state what “ the agreement” is?

I have - apparently it is to secure their "Chain of Title" and secure financing, and from a legal perspective, it is mostly likely so I cannot legally make a claim over the work in the future. It should have been sent at the time, but it wasn't.

I actually don't know what the consequences are if I don't sign.

The "agreement" is the initial contract I signed to join the project in 2020.

Oops my name changed!

LOL I posted about a weird rash under my eye a while ago - oh well!

Do you belong to a Union or professional association of some kind? They might be able to give you advice?

If it's something you would have happily signed at the time , had they asked, I'd just sign and be done with it.

Unfortunately I've left the industry so not anymore, but thank you for the suggestion

I absolutely get that, but I think it also might be illegal and considered fraud, especially because it is a deed and not just a simple contract.