Léchéance

Léchéance is not a standard form in contemporary French. The concept it denotes is typically expressed by échéance, a feminine noun meaning a due date, deadline, or maturity date. It is used across contexts such as finance, law, contracting, and administration to indicate the moment when a payment, obligation, or right becomes due or expires.

The correct spelling for the term is échéance. The form léchéance is generally regarded as incorrect in modern French orthography, though you may encounter it as a mistaken variant in historical texts or casual writing. When used with a definite article, the usual written forms are l’échéance, la échéance, etc., depending on the sentence.

In finance and accounting, échéance refers to the maturity date of a debt instrument, the expiration of a contract, or the due date of payments. In everyday and administrative use, it marks when a bill must be settled or when a lease, loan, or insurance contract reaches its end date. In the context of financial derivatives, the term designates the expiration date of an option or futures contract.

Échéance is closely linked to the word échéancier, which denotes a schedule of due dates or a timetable of payments. Phrases such as à l’échéance or à la date d’échéance are common to indicate when a payment is due or when a contract term ends.

Etymology traces échéance to Old French escheance, from escheir, meaning to fall or come due, reflecting the moment when an obligation becomes due. See also expiration, maturity, and due date.