When parties to an agreement intend it to have legal effect, that agreement is called a contract. In New Jersey, contracts might be oral or written, as long as both parties have the same understanding of the terms of the agreement. Businesses most often prefer the reliability of written contracts in their transactions. These instruments are best written by those with an expertise of the law, since the intent behind a contract is to give it legal effect.

Negotiating a Contract in Hackettstown

Negotiating the particular terms of a contract is crucial. There are several terms that should be included in every Hackettstown contract to ensure that the agreement protects the interests of the parties. 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 Hackettstown, New Jersey 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, parties using form contracts often do not read all the clauses, and can therefore be unaware of their obligations under the contract. Second, using a contract that someone else has written can obligate the parties to a contract clause that they do not 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 Hackettstown often specialize in New Jersey contract law.