A contract in Washington is an agreement made by parties that intend their agreement to have legal effect. As long as parties to a contract have the same understanding about the contractual terms, the contract might either be written or entirely oral. Most businesses want to solidify their agreements in writing so that they can rely on them in the future. Since many legal principles might be involved, drafting a contract works best when done with as much knowledge of the law as possible.
Negotiating a Contract in Bellingham
There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Bellingham. The particular terms of the contract should all be discussed separately so that the intent of each party is understood by the other. 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
Many Bellingham, Washington Lawyers use form contracts as a template for any new agreement. The attorney will add or remove contract provisions that the parties want, plus modify the specific language of the form contract to meet the parties' needs. This usually saves all parties time and money. 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, the challenging language used in the field of contracts can make agreements written by others challenging to understand. Whether you decide to negotiate a contract or use a form contract, an attorney will be able to help you ensure that the written instrument matches your intent. Many lawyers practicing in Bellingham are experts of Washington contract law.