Some documents that are simply signed through the normal course of business are still contracts. These include purchase orders, receipts, and sales agreements, among others. As a legally binding agreement, a contract must be fully understood in order for its legal consequences to be appreciated. Not expecting a contract's enforcement is typically no excuse under the law.

How Can I Ensure a Contract is Good?

Obviously, reading anything before you sign it is the first step. But as you read it, pay careful attention to the terms of an agreement that outline your responsibilities and duties. However, documents can often be too lengthy for a worthwhile read, or so commonplace that reading each one is not practical. If so, there are still other ways you can effectively review it. A Bay Harbor Islands, Florida attorney can look over a contract before you sign it, as well as review any standardized documents that you deal with on a routine basis. In so doing, the Attorney will ensure that the legal effect of the documents matches your intent.

What if I Don't Understand a Contract in Florida?

Although contracts are expressed in words, the agreement itself is what matters. Regardless of the language, parties to a contract are typically legally bound only according to their understanding of the contract. Since it's your understanding that matters, relying on the other party's explanation of the contract terms may lead to problems. In Bay Harbor Islands, you can find a neutral third party that is qualified to review and explain the contract. Negotiations in some specific fields, such as finance, can require unique expertise; but no matter how complicated the situation, the objective of contract law in Florida is to give legal effect to the intent of the parties involved.