Indentured servants were typically bound by contracts that were:

Indentured servants were usually bound by contracts that specified a fixed period of time, commonly ranging from four to seven years. This contract stipulated that in exchange for their labor, indentured servants would receive passage to the Americas, along with food, shelter, and sometimes additional remuneration at the end of the term. This system was designed to provide labor for the colonies while allowing individuals to seek new opportunities in a new land. The fixed-duration contracts distinguished indentured servitude from slavery; after fulfilling their contract, indentured servants were free to seek their own livelihood. This contractual agreement created a specific timeframe for servitude, unlike indefinite arrangements, lifelong commitments, or the absence of formal contracts, which did not characterize indentured servitude.