In Massachusetts, when two parties come to a mutually understood agreement that they intend to have legal force, a contract is formed. There are both written and oral contracts, since all that is required is that the parties agree and understand each other. Businesses most often prefer the reliability of written contracts in their transactions. These instruments are best written by those with an understanding of the law, since the intent behind a contract is to give it legal effect.
Negotiating a Contract in Cambridge
Negotiating the specific terms of a contract is crucial. There are several terms that should be included in every Cambridge contract to ensure that the agreement protects the interests of the parties. Being forthright about your intentions early on can be helpful, because it allows the terms of the contract to be determined 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 Cambridge, Massachusetts to add or remove provisions, or to simply make the contract language more clear. If the parties attempt to use a form contract without an attorney's assistance, there may be risks. First, parties are less likely to read form contracts thoroughly, which may lead to one side being unaware of their duties under the contract. Second, the difficult language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others difficult to understand. Attorneys can help ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, whether negotiating a contract or using a form. Massachusetts contract law is a field in which many Cambridge Attorneys have specialized.