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 Pacific

There is more to a contract than what is required for it to be valid in Pacific. The individual terms of the contract should all be discussed separately so that the intent of each party is understood by the other. The terms of the contract may be decided based on clear expectations if both parties are upfront about their intentions early on. Also, parties may want to discuss whether they need a provision for resolving any disputes under the contract.

Using a Form Contract

If an agreement needs a good starting point, you may want to consider a form contract. An attorney in Pacific,Washington can add or remove provisions according to the intent of the parties, and even the specific language can be made more comprehensible so that expectations are clear. However, form contracts can pose problems if they need to be interpreted by courts, particularly if they are used without the advice of an attorney. First, parties are less likely to read form contracts completely, which may lead to one side being unaware of their duties 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. Whether you negotiate or use a form, an attorney can help ensure that the written contract matches your intent. Many Lawyers in Pacific are experts in Washington contract law.