When parties to an agreement intend it to have legal effect, that agreement is called a contract. In Ohio, contracts may be oral or written, as long as both parties have the same understanding of the terms of the agreement. In business transactions, written contracts are generally 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 Delphos

Negotiation of each specific term in a contract is important to ensure that the intent of each party is met. Also, there are certain clauses that should be included in every Delphos contract to give it the desired legal effect. Being forthright about your intentions can help the contract goal of mutual understanding of expectations. To conclude negotiations, you may want to include a clause that determines what is to be done if a party fails to meet its duty.

Using a Form Contract

Using a form contract as a baseline for your agreement may save you time. Attorneys practicing Ohio law in Delphos can be helpful in selecting the right form, and can also revise the contract to make it the best fit for your individual situation. Using a form contract without the assistance of an attorney may pose problems. First, a party using a form contract may not have thoroughly read all the terms, and can thereby remain unaware of his performance obligations and liabilities if events do not go as planned. Second, form contracts will often contain language that is difficult to understand outside the legal community. This can cause disagreement over the meaning of a term. With either a negotiated contract or a form, an attorney can ensure that the written document matches the intent of each party. Attorneys in Delphos often specialize in Ohio contract law.