In Michigan, 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. In business transactions, written contracts are typically preferred for their reliability. These documents are best drafted by those who understand the law, because the very reason for a contract is to legally obligate the parties.

Negotiating a Contract in Muskegon County

Negotiating the particular terms of a contract is crucial. There are several terms that should be included in every Muskegon County contract to ensure that the agreement protects the interests of the parties. The terms of the contract may be decided based on clear expectations if both parties are upfront 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 Muskegon County, Michigan to add or remove terms, or to simply make the contract language more clear. There are risks in using form contracts 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 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. Lawyers can help ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, whether negotiating a contract or using a form. Michigan contract law is a field in which many Muskegon County Lawyers have specialized.