Oral Contracts Archives

Making Contracts Work for You

Contracts, Oral Contracts, Oral Representation, Terms, Trial, Written Contracts / By Joan K. Fine

A client said to me after trial, in which she had prevailed on the majority, but not all of the issues: “If only I had taken the time at the beginning to write out what I understood would happen and had the other party sign, we would have had a better chance of having the judge see that last point our way. It didn’t occur to me at the beginning that we could have had such a different understanding of what was to happen (or what was included).”

Get Evidence Early – Landlord/Tenant Conflict

Oral Contracts, Real Estate, Real Estate Attorney / By Joan K. Fine

I recently took over a landlord/tenant case representing the landlord with substantial damage to the property when the tenant left. The landlord had drafted the lease using a document he found online. When we reviewed his evidence, I discovered the following weaknesses.

Contract Mistakes: “It Looks Legitimate”

Contracts, Disagreement, Oral Contracts, Written Contracts / By Joan K. Fine

Yes, you should always have your attorney review a contract to purchase a business or real estate or a lease before you sign the document. Most legal problems that come to me are the result of a poorly drafted or one-sided document. Legitimacy is only one concern; just because “an attorney” drafted a document does not mean that it serves your interests, unless the drafting attorney was your attorney. Your attorney will look out for your interests.