Naradasmriti m2.38

m2.38

ājñā lekhaḥ paṭṭakaḥ śāsanaṃ vā ādhiḥ pattraṃ vikrayo vā krayo vā /
rājñe kuryāt pūrvam āvedanaṃ yas tasya jñeyaḥ pūrvapakṣaḥ vidhijñaiḥ //

A royal edict, a (private) document, a written title, a grant, a pledge, a (promise reduced to) writing, a sale, or purchase: one who brings a claim in regard to any one of these before the king is known as defendant among those conversant with the rules (of legal pleading).