Counterpart

In conveyancing. The corresponding part of an instrument; a duplicate or copy. Where an instrument of conveyance, as a lease, is executed in parts, that is, by having several copies or duplicates made and interchangeably executed, that which is executed by the grantor is usually called the original, and the rest are counterparts; although where all the parties execute every part, this renders them all originals.

2 BL Com. 296. Shep. Touch, (by Preston) 50.

See Duplicate. The term counterpart seems derived from the ancient practice of executing indentures and chirographs by writing them twice on the same sheet of parchment, beginning from a space in the middle, (where it was afterwards divided by cutting through 0 the parts, when thus written, lying opposite or counter to each other. See Chirograph, Indenture,