Contracts are everywhere. A contract is a written or spoken agreement, that is intended to be enforceable by law. Contracts are voluntary agreements between two or more parties covering a wide range of legal matters. Your cellphone plan, mortgage, lease, purchase agreement for vehicle, and utility provider agreements are all contracts. Even buying coffee at the diner is a form of contract.

Having a written contract in place for certain matters is an essential step in most situations. Many contracts are signed without reading the terms. While this is common for many “everyday” agreements, many contracts should be more carefully considered. For example, if you plan to sell your home, invest in a business, loan money, sell property or land, or provide business services to another, you should consider having a thorough contract in place. A contract should outline the rights, responsibilities, and expectations between the parties and provide the greatest degree of protection possible.

Our attorneys have experience reviewing, negotiating, and drafting many types of contracts, including:

• Land Purchase Agreements
• Partnership Agreements
• Shareholder Agreements
• Asset Purchase Agreements
• Purchase or Sale of a Business
• Contracts for Deed
• Residential and Commercial Lease Agreements
• Service Contracts
• Oil and Gas Agreements
• Pipeline Agreements
• Surface Use Agreements
• And many others

Our attorneys are trained to look for potential issues and advise you on the best terms and provisions to include in your contract. A well-written contract will minimize the risk of going to court. If you have to proceed to a court, a well-written contract will make winning your case much easier.

There are many contract templates you can find online which can be modified for your situation. However, these freely available one-size-fits-all templates found on the internet are not the best way to reduce your risk of exposure. These DIY contracts may save you money in the short term, but may cost you thousands or even millions if the contract does not hold up to scrutiny in the future.

Generic contracts found online are often poorly written, fail to address potential liabilities, may fail to protect your specific interests, and are usually not written to comply with individual state laws. Contractual disputes can break up long-held business relationships, destroy a company’s reputation, distract your staff from growing the business, and even bankrupt your company. Retaining an attorney with experience drafting contracts is a worthwhile business expense. Good contracts are your insurance against business disputes and, like insurance, you may never need the specific protections in your contract but you will be happy to have them if the unexpected need arises.

To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, please call Johnson & Sundeen, LTD, in Watford City, North Dakota today at 701-444-2211 or email us at JSLO@dakotalawdogs.com.