In Indiana, 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 New Castle

Along with specific clauses that should be included in every New Castle 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. Being upfront about your intentions early on can be helpful, because it allows the terms of the contract to be decided based on clear expectations. Lastly, a clause that determines how to handle a dispute under the contract may be worthwhile to negotiate.

Using a Form Contract

It may save you time to use a form contract instead of drafting your own. Even so, you may want an attorney in New Castle, Indiana to add or remove terms, or to simply make the contract language more clear. There are risks to using a contract that neither party has written, particularly if you proceed without the advice of an attorney. First, using a form contract makes it more likely that one of the parties will not have understood the clauses. This can lead to them being unaware of their duties under the contract. Second, form contracts often use words and language understood only within the legal community. This may cause parties to agree to a clause they don't really understand. With either a negotiated contract or a form, an attorney can ensure that the written document matches the intent of each party. Lawyers in New Castle often specialize in Indiana contract law.