In Illinois, when two parties come to a mutually understood agreement that they intend to have legal force, a contract is created. There are both written and oral contracts, since all that is required is that the parties agree and understand each other. Most businesses want to solidify their agreements in writing so that they can rely on them in the future. Since many legal principles might be involved, drafting a contract works best when done with as much knowledge of the law as possible.

Negotiating a Contract in Oak Forest

Along with particular clauses that should be included in every Oak Forest contract for it to be valid, it is important to adequately discuss each term to make sure that the intent of each party is understood by the other. Stating intentions clearly in the early stages of negotiations can lead to a contract that includes clearer terms. To conclude, the contracts that are easiest to enforce have clauses that decide how to handle disputes.

Using a Form Contract

Many Oak Forest, Illinois Lawyers use form contracts as a template for any new agreement. The attorney will add or remove contract provisions that the parties want, plus modify the specific language of the form contract to meet the parties' needs. This usually saves all parties time and money. 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, parties are less likely to read form contracts completely, which may lead to one side being unaware of their duties under the contract. 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. With either a negotiated contract or a form, an attorney can ensure that the written document matches the intent of each party. Lawyers in Oak Forest often specialize in Illinois contract law.