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 Kelso

There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Kelso. The specific 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

Using a form contract as a baseline for your agreement may save you time. Attorneys practicing Washington law in Kelso 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 assistance of an attorney may pose problems. First, form contracts have the tendency to go unread. Any party who does not carefully review all the contract terms can be left unaware of their obligations under the contract. Second, form contracts will often contain language that is difficult to understand outside the legal community. This can cause disagreement over the meaning of a term. Attorneys can help ensure that a written contract matches the intent of the parties, whether negotiating a contract or using a form. Washington contract law is a field in which many Kelso Attorneys have specialized.