Halakhah for Bava Batra 10:6

מִי שֶׁנִּמְחַק שְׁטַר חוֹבוֹ, מְעִידִין עָלָיו עֵדִים, וּבָא לִפְנֵי בֵית דִּין וְעוֹשִׂין לוֹ קִיּוּם, אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי בֶן פְּלוֹנִי נִמְחַק שְׁטָרוֹ בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, וּפְלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי עֵדָיו. מִי שֶׁפָּרַע מִקְצָת חוֹבוֹ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, יַחֲלִיף. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, יִכְתּוֹב שׁוֹבֵר. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, נִמְצָא זֶה צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת שׁוֹמֵר שׁוֹבְרוֹ מִן הָעַכְבָּרִים. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, כָּךְ יָפֶה לוֹ, וְלֹא יוּרַע כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל זֶה:

If one's bill of indebtedness were erased [and there are witnesses who saw it being erased (i.e., losing its impression) of itself or being blurred by water], he secures for it witnesses [who know when it was written and what was written it], and they certify it [before beth-din, writing for him all that was written in that bill, viz.]: "This man, the son of this man — his bill was erased on this and this day, and this man and that man are his witnesses."] If one paid part of his debt, R. Yehudah says: He should exchange it. [i.e., He should tear up that bill and another should be written for the balance.] R. Yossi says: He should write a receipt. R. Yossi said: "This one, then, [the borrower] must guard his receipt from the mice!" [For if it is lost, the lender can claim the entire debt!] R. Yossi said to him: "It is better for him [the lender] thus" [that the borrower be required to guard his receipt, so that he hasten to repay the (entire) debt], and this one's [the lender's] power should not be weakened [by having to write another bill ( of indebtedness). For the date of his (original) debt was earlier, and now (with a new bill), it will be later, and he will be able to seize bound property only from the time of the second bill. The halachah is in accordance with R. Yossi, that a receipt is written.]

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