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 New Bedford
Negotiating the specific terms of a contract is crucial. There are several terms that should be included in every New Bedford 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
It may save you time to use a form contract instead of drafting your own. Even so, you may want an attorney in New Bedford, Massachusetts to add or remove provisions, or to simply make the contract language more clear. There are risks to using a contract that neither party has written, especially if you proceed without the assistance of an attorney. First, parties using form contracts often do not read all the terms, and can therefore be unaware of their obligations under the contract. Second, the difficult language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others difficult to understand. An attorney can ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, both with form contracts and in negotiations. In New Bedford, many Attorneys specialize in Massachusetts contract law.