In trade and contract law, a drop dead date is a provision added to a legal or trade act, such as a contract or a court order. Such a provision sets a last-delay date (hence the name drop dead date) pas which certain consequences will automatically follow, such as cancelling the contract, taking property or entering a judgment. For the musical group Provision, see Provision (musical group) For accounting term provision, see Provision (Accounting) ... A contract is a promise or an agreement that is enforced or recognized by the law. ... A court order is an official proclamation by a judge (or panel of judges) that defines the legal relationships between the parties before the court and requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case. ... // Use of the term In common usage, property means ones own thing and refers to the relationship between individuals and the objects which they see as being their own to dispense with as they see fit. ... A judgment or judgement (see spelling note below), in a legal context, is synonymous with the formal decision made by a court following a lawsuit. ...