§ 172.141.Form and Content of Arbitration Award

Title 7. Alternate Methods of Dispute Resolution · Chapter 172. Arbitration and Conciliation of International Commercial Disputes · Subchapter F. Arbitration Award · Last amended 1997 · Last verified August 29, 2026

In one sentenceSection 172.141 requires an award in writing signed by all the arbitrators, allows a signed majority with the omission explained, requires reasons unless the parties agreed otherwise or it is an agreed award, and requires the date and place.

Full Text of § 172.141

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a)An arbitration award must be in writing and signed by all the members of the arbitration tribunal. In an arbitration with more than one arbitrator, the signatures of the majority of the members of the tribunal are sufficient if the reason for an omitted signature is stated.

(b)The arbitration award must state the reasons on which it is based, unless the parties have agreed that no reasons are to be given, or the award is an award on agreed terms under Section 172.117.

(c)The arbitration award must state its date and the place of arbitration as determined under Section 172.106. The award is considered to have been made at that place.

End

Plain-English Summary

The form of the award, and each requirement has a purpose in enforcement.

The award is in writing and signed by all the members of the tribunal.

A majority of signatures will do in a multi-member arbitration, if the reason for an omitted signature is stated.

That provision defeats the holdout. An arbitrator who refuses to sign cannot prevent an award from issuing, so long as the omission is explained.

Reasons are required. The award must state the reasons on which it is based.

Two exceptions apply — the parties agreed that no reasons are to be given, or the award is an award on agreed terms under Section 172.117.

A reasoned award is the international norm, and it matters for enforcement: a court asked to enforce an award abroad reads the reasons to see what was decided.

The date and the place must be stated. The place is the one determined under Section 172.106.

The award is considered made at that place, wherever the arbitrators signed it.

That deeming provision is doing real work. The place of the award determines which courts supervise it and, under international conventions, how it is treated when enforcement is sought elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must an international arbitration award contain?

Writing, signatures, the reasons on which it is based, and its date and the place of arbitration.

What if an arbitrator refuses to sign?

The signatures of a majority suffice if the reason for the omitted signature is stated.

Are reasons always required?

No, if the parties agreed that none are to be given or the award is an award on agreed terms.

Where is an award considered made?

At the place of arbitration determined under Section 172.106.

Amendment History

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 5.02, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov). Enacted by the Texas Legislature. Current through May 14, 2026. Last verified August 29, 2026. · Official source