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 Leominster
Negotiating the specific terms of a contract is crucial. There are several terms that should be included in every Leominster contract to ensure that the agreement protects the interests of the parties. The terms of the contract may be determined based on clear expectations if both parties are forthright about their intentions early on. Also, parties may want to discuss whether they need a provision for resolving any disputes under the contract.
Using a Form Contract
If an agreement needs a good starting point, you may want to consider a form contract. An attorney in Leominster,Massachusetts can add or remove terms according to the intent of the parties, and even the specific language can be made more comprehensible so that expectations are clear. There are risks to using a contract that neither party has written, especially if you proceed without the help of an attorney. First, using a form contract makes it more likely that one of the parties will not have understood the terms. This can lead to them being unaware of their duties under the contract. Second, the difficult language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others hard to understand. An attorney can ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, both with form contracts and in negotiations. In Leominster, many Attorneys specialize in Massachusetts contract law.