In Tennessee, a contract is different from a normal agreement in that the parties to a contract intend their agreement to have legal effect. Contracts might be oral or written, as long as both parties have the same understanding of the terms of the agreement. The reliability of written contracts typically make them the preferred means for businesses to transact. Since the intent of a contract is to be legally effective, they are best formed by those who understand the law.
Negotiating a Contract in Forest Hills
Negotiation of each particular 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 Forest Hills contract to give it the desired legal effect. Stating your intentions clearly at the start of negotiations is helpful, since then the parties may carefully detail the obligations and duties of the contract based on mutual expectations. Also, you may want to negotiate a process that can be followed should one party not fulfill its end of the contract.
Using a Form Contract
Using a form contract as a baseline for your agreement may save you time. Lawyers practicing Tennessee law in Forest Hills can be helpful in selecting the right form, and can also revise the contract to make it the best fit for your particular situation. Using a form contract without the guidance of an attorney may pose problems. First, parties using form contracts often do not read all the clauses, and can therefore be unaware of their obligations 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. With either a negotiated contract or a form, an attorney can ensure that the written document matches the intent of each party. Lawyers in Forest Hills often specialize in Tennessee contract law.