A contract in California is an agreement about something 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 generally 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 Claremont

Negotiation of each particular term in a contract is important to ensure that the intent of each party is met. Also, there are certain clauses that should be included in every Claremont contract to give it the desired legal effect. Stating your intentions clearly at the outset 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

Using a form contract as a baseline for your agreement may save you time. Lawyers practicing California law in Claremont can be helpful in selecting the right form, and can also revise the contract to make it the best fit for your individual situation. Using a form contract without the advice of an attorney may pose problems. First, a party using a form contract may not have completely read all the terms, and can thereby remain unaware of his performance obligations and liabilities if events do not go as planned. Second, the challenging language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others difficult to understand. An attorney can ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, both with form contracts and in negotiations. In Claremont, many Lawyers specialize in California contract law.