What is an 'Obligation'

An obligation in finance is the responsibility to meet the terms of a contract. If an obligation is not met, the legal system often provides recourse for the injured party. 

Explaining 'Obligation'

Financial obligations represent any outstanding debts or regular payments that you must make. If you owe or will owe money to anybody, that is one of your financial obligations. Almost any form of money represents a financial obligation – coins, bank notes, or bonds are all promises that you will be credited the accepted value of the item. Most formal financial obligations, like mortgages, student loans or scheduled service payments, are set down in written contracts signed by both parties.  

Further Reading

[J]' src='/thumbnails/?img=http%3A%2F%2Fen.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-ZGFX200803010.htm' />On the fidelity Road to Director's Obligation [J]
en.cnki.com.cn [[J]' href='https:/api.miniature.io/pdf?url=en.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-ZGFX200803010.htm'>PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

Green Finance, Social Obligation and the Business Choices of State-Owned Banks
en.cnki.com.cn [PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

[J]' src='/thumbnails/?img=http%3A%2F%2Fen.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-SXCJ200403027.htm' />The Internal Auditing Obligation for Corporate Governance [J]
en.cnki.com.cn [[J]' href='https:/api.miniature.io/pdf?url=en.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-SXCJ200403027.htm'>PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

Obligation, reason, and Frankfurt examples
www.oxfordhandbooks.com [PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

Comparative costs of negotiated versus competitive bond sales: new evidence from state general obligation bonds
www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

[J]' src='/thumbnails/?img=http%3A%2F%2Fen.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-LAWS200306005.htm' />The Historical Obligation of Chinese Endowment Insurance [J]
en.cnki.com.cn [[J]' href='https:/api.miniature.io/pdf?url=en.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-LAWS200306005.htm'>PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

[J]' src='/thumbnails/?img=http%3A%2F%2Fen.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-REFO201306021.htm' />Government Obligation of Public Service under International Vision [J]
en.cnki.com.cn [[J]' href='https:/api.miniature.io/pdf?url=en.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-REFO201306021.htm'>PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …

[J]' src='/thumbnails/?img=http%3A%2F%2Fen.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-HBFX201001012.htm' />On Five Issues of Natural Obligation [J]
en.cnki.com.cn [[J]' href='https:/api.miniature.io/pdf?url=en.cnki.com.cn%2FArticle_en%2FCJFDTotal-HBFX201001012.htm'>PDF]
… on the potentially high returns of these types of specialty finance investments while … the reference obligation, or pays the counterparty for market losses on the reference obligation … Credit Derivatives that Replicate the Economics of CDOs. A further “synthetic” alternative involves …