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 necessary 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?

Before you sign anything, read what you are signing. Pay careful attention to the clauses of your duties under the contract. 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. Whether they are routine documents or negotiated agreements, an attorney in Washington, Pennsylvania can review any contract before you sign it. In reviewing a contract, a lawyer will ensure that your intent is what shows up in the written document.

What if I Don't Understand a Contract in Pennsylvania?

The words of a contract are the expression of an agreement, not the agreement itself. It is the parties' understanding of the contract as it is made that determines its legal effect, regardless of the particular words used. If you do not understand a contract, you might want to look for an outside source in Washington to review and explain it. It is unwise to rely on the other party's representation of what is contained in the contract. Particular fields, such as finance, may pose certain demands in contract law that can be cumbersome. But regardless of the situation, a contract under Pennsylvania law is to give legal effect to the intent of the forming parties.