What is a Contract?

Find the right Contract Drafting attorney in Menlo Park, CA

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 Menlo Park

There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Menlo Park. The individual 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 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

If an agreement needs a good starting point, you may want to consider a form contract. An attorney in Menlo Park,California can add or remove provisions according to the intent of the parties, and even the specific language can be made more comprehensible so that expectations are clear. However, form contracts can pose problems if they need to be interpreted by courts, particularly if they are used without the advice of an attorney. 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, form contracts will often contain language that is difficult to understand outside the legal community. This can cause disagreement over the meaning of a clause. An attorney can ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, both with form contracts and in negotiations. In Menlo Park, many Lawyers specialize in California contract law.

Talk to a Business Law Attorney now!

Life in Menlo Park

Menlo Park, California is a city in San Mateo County, in the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as "Silicon Valley," due to the large number of high-tech companies located in the area. Menlo Park currently has a population of about 32,000 people.

Menlo Park first got its name in the 1850s, when some of the original settlers to found the city named it after Menlo, Ireland, their hometown. Many people assume that, because Menlo Park is home to many innovative high-tech companies, it is named after Menlo Park, New Jersey, where inventor Thomas Edison did much of his work. However, the name predates much of Edison's work, and the fact that both cities are known for technological innovation and share the same name is a coincidence.

Many large law firms have offices in Menlo Park, thanks to the presence of a large number of high-tech companies.

Thanks to its vibrant and sophisticated business environment, there are many Menlo Park, California attorneys who can handle a wide range of complex cases. If you are in need of legal services, there's almost certainly at least one Menlo Park, California lawyer who can help you with whatever legal issue you might face.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Howard B.
Howard B.

Business - Litigation

Rye Brook, NY

Mark B.
Mark B.

Business - Litigation

Roseland, NJ

David A.
David A.

Business - Litigation

Walnut Creek, CA