Under certain circumstances, documents simply signed through the course of business might be considered contracts. Purchase orders, receipts, sales agreements and others are contracts when they are held to be legally binding. For any such agreements, it is essential that you understand your end of the bargain and the legal consequences of it. Otherwise, you could be held legally accountable for something you did not expect.
How Can I Ensure a Contract is Good?
Reading a document before you sign it is obviously the cardinal rule. The clauses outlining your duties under the contract are especially worthy of special attention. If the document is too long for a worthwhile read, or it is so commonplace that reading it is not practical, there are still other ways you can effectively review it. An attorney in Northampton, Pennsylvania can review any contract before you sign it, whether it is a standardized document or a negotiated document. Lawyers review contracts to ensure that the intent of their client is given proper legal expression within the written documents.
What if I Don't Understand a Contract in Pennsylvania?
A written contract is the expression of an agreement between two individuals; it is not the agreement itself. Regardless of any confusing contract language, you are legally bound only according to both parties' understanding of the contract. If you do not understand a contract, you might want to look for an outside source in Northampton to review and explain it. It is unwise to rely on the other party's representation of what is contained in the contract. Negotiations in some particular fields, such as finance, can require unique expertise; but no matter how complicated the situation, the objective of contract law in Pennsylvania is to give legal effect to the intent of the parties involved.