A contract in California is an agreement about anything of value between two or more parties who intend the agreement to have legal effect. It may be oral or written, as long as all parties agree to the contractual terms. The reliability of written contracts typically make them the preferred means for businesses to transact. Since the intent of a contract is to be legally effective, they are best formed by those who understand the law.

Negotiating a Contract in Maywood

There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Maywood. The specific terms of the contract should all be discussed separately so that the intent of each party is understood by the other. Stating your intentions clearly at the start of negotiations is helpful, since then the parties may carefully detail the obligations and duties of the contract based on mutual expectations. Also, you may want to negotiate a process that can be followed should one party not fulfill its end of the contract.

Using a Form Contract

If an agreement needs a good starting point, you may want to consider a form contract. An attorney in Maywood,California can add or remove terms according to the intent of the parties, and even the specific language can be made more comprehensible so that expectations are clear. Using a form contract without the assistance of an attorney may pose problems. First, a party using a form contract may not have thoroughly read all the terms, and can thereby remain unaware of his performance obligations and liabilities if events do not go as planned. Second, form contracts often contain language that is specific to the field of law, and using forms without an understanding of this language can cause future disagreements over a contract's meaning. With either a negotiated contract or a form, an attorney can ensure that the written document matches the intent of each party. Attorneys in Maywood often specialize in California contract law.