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 may 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 may be involved, drafting a contract works best when done with as much knowledge of the law as possible.

Negotiating a Contract in Colville

There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Colville. The particular terms of the contract should all be discussed separately so that the intent of each party is understood by the other. Being forthright about your intentions early on can be helpful, because it allows the terms of the contract to be determined 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

Form contracts can serve as a good starting point for a sound agreement. Attorneys in Colville, Washington often keep past contracts on file, and can add or remove clauses based on the situation. They can also reword the specific language of form contracts to make them more clear. If the parties attempt to use a form contract without an attorney's assistance, there may be risks. First, parties using form contracts often do not read all the terms, and can therefore be unaware of their obligations under the contract. Second, the difficult 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 Colville are experts of Washington contract law.