Bava Batra

A BOND MAY BE WRITTEN FOR A BORROWER THOUGH THE LENDER IS NOT PRESENT.  IT [MUST] NOT, HOWEVER, BE WRITTEN FOR THE LENDER UNLESS THE BORROWER IS WITH HIM. THE FEE  IS PAID BY THE BORROWER. A DEED [OF SALE] MAY BE WRITTEN FOR THE SELLER IN THE ABSENCE OF THE BUYER.  IT [MUST] NOT BE WRITTEN, HOWEVER, FOR THE BUYER UNLESS THE SELLER IS PRESENT.  THE FEE  IS TO BE PAID BY THE BUYER. DEEDS OF BETROTHAL  AND MARRIAGE  ARE NOT TO BE WRITTEN EXCEPT WITH THE CONSENT OF BOTH PARTIES, AND THE FEE IS PAID BY THE BRIDE GROOM. A CONTRACT OF TENANCY ON SHARES  OR ON A FIXED RENTAL  IS NOT WRITTEN EXCEPT WITH THE APPROVAL OF BOTH PARTIES, AND THE FEE IS PAID BY THE TENANT.  DEEDS OF ARBITRATION  AND ALL [OTHER] JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS ARE NOT WRITTEN EXCEPT WITH THE APPROVAL OF BOTH PARTIES, AND BOTH PAY THE FEE.  RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID; TWO [DEEDS] MAY BE WRITTEN  FOR THE TWO PARTIES, ONE FOR EACH. GEMARA. What [is meant by] PROVIDED THEY ARE KNOWN? — Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: Provided the name of the man is known  [in the case of] a letter of divorce,  and the name of the woman in [the case of] a receipt. R. Safra and R. Aha b. Huna and R. Huna b. Hinena sat [together] and Abaye [also] was sitting with then, and, while they were in session,  they raised [the following] question: [Why is] the name of the man required  [to be known] in [the case of] a letter of divorce, [and] not the name of the woman; [and] the name of the woman [and] not that of the man in [the case of] a receipt? [Surely] there is reason to fear that one might write  a letter of divorce and give  it to the wife of another person;  and sometimes a woman might procure the writing  of a receipt and give it to a strange  man!  — Abaye said to them: Thus said Rab, 'The name of the man  in [the case of] a letter of divorce, and the same law [applies] to the name of the woman; the name of the woman  in [the case of] a receipt and the same law [applies] to the name of the man'. But is [there no reason] to apprehend  [that there might be a case] of two [persons of the name of] Joseph b. Simeon  living in the same town [and that one of them] might write  a letter of divorce and deliver  it to the other's wife? — R. Aha b. Huna said to them: Thus said Rab: Two [persons of the name of] Joseph son of Simeon who live in one town, must not divorce their wives except in the presence of each other. Is [there no reason], however, to apprehend  that [a person] might go to another town and make his name [there] known as Joseph b. Simeon and [then] would write  a letter of divorce  and carry it to the wife of that person?  — R. Huna b. Hinena said to them: Thus said Rab; Provided one's name was known in a town [for] thirty days, he need not be suspected. What [is the law where one's name] is not known?  Abaye said, Where they  call him  and he answers.  R. Zebid said, 'A deceiver is vigilant in his deceit'. A certain receipt [was produced] on which the signature of R. Jeremiah b. Abba appeared. The woman,  [however], came before him [and] said to him, 'It was not I',  'I also said to them'.  [R. Jeremiah] replied, '[that] it was not she';  but they  told me, 'She has grown old and her voice has become rough'.  Said Abaye: Although the Rabbis said,