State laws on leases and rental agreements can vary, but a landlord or property management company should provide you with a copy of your signed lease upon request. You should make your request in writing, so you have proof if there is a dispute later.
If you want one then you should make a copy at the time of signing if handed a paper copy, or sign two copies so that you each have one. But once the lease is already signed there is no specific law requiring the landlord to give you a copy.
A lease agreement is a legally binding contract outlining the terms under which one party agrees to rent property, whether real or personal, from another party. This agreement includes important details such as the rent amount, duration, responsibilities of both parties, and conditions for terminating the agreement.
It if matters to you personally to have an original (no matter which party you are), then sign two original copies. The landlord keeps the original, though in most states is required by law to supply a copy to the tenant. Both should technically be ORIGINALS…..as both must be signed by the landlord and tenant.
If you do not have access to a current statement for whatever reason, you can always contact the dealer where you leased the car. Some dealers will keep copies on file for reference, but even if they do not have it on hand, they should be able to get you the proper contact information so you can obtain it.
It is possible to draft your own lease agreement, but you are leaving yourself open to issues.
What you need is a notarized copy of the lease agreement. Bring the original to a notary. Tell them you need a certified copy of the document. They will make a copy of it and sign it, saying it's a certified copy of the lease.
The California Civil Code states that a lease is void if it is "contrary to the policy of the law." However, it is not clear whether a lease with contradictory provisions is contrary to the policy of the law.
For example, California does not require lease notarization, while other states like Ohio may have different requirements.