A contract in Iowa 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. In business transactions, written contracts are usually preferred for their reliability. These documents are best drafted by those who understand the law, because the very reason for a contract is to legally obligate the parties.

Negotiating a Contract in Keokuk

Negotiation of each specific 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 Keokuk contract to give it the desired legal effect. Being forthright about your intentions can help the contract goal of mutual understanding of expectations. To conclude negotiations, you may want to include a clause that determines what is to be done if a party fails to meet its duty.

Using a Form Contract

Using a form contract as a baseline for your agreement may save you time. Attorneys practicing Iowa law in Keokuk can be helpful in selecting the right form, and can also revise the contract to make it the best fit for your distinct situation. 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, the difficult language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others challenging to understand. An attorney can ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, both with form contracts and in negotiations. In Keokuk, many Attorneys specialize in Iowa contract law.