📄 Essential elements of every contract

To be legally valid and enforceable, a contract must include:

• Identification of both parties (name, ID number, address, representative)

• Subject of the contract – what the agreement covers

• Expression of mutual consent – agreement to the terms

• Legal form – typically written, but oral can suffice in some cases

• Date and signatures

⚠️ Most common mistakes

• Unclear subject matter

• Incomplete party identification (e.g., name but no ID number)

• Missing price, payment method, or deadlines

• Vague or inconsistent wording, often from combining templates

• Contract is not signed or not dated

🧑‍⚖️ Why it matters

Without the essentials:

• you lack certainty about the actual agreement,

• the other party can challenge the contract,

• you have no proof in court of what was agreed,

• it’s often impossible to enforce performance or apply penalties.

📚 Real-life example:

A client signed a contract for developing a web application. But the contract didn’t specify any required features. The developer delivered “something,” but the client was unhappy – and had nothing concrete to rely on. The court ruled the contract too vague to enforce a specific outcome.

✅ Lawyer’s recommendation:

Even simple contracts need structure. Don’t rely on “it’ll work out.” A brief consultation can go a long way – we’ll make sure your contract protects your interests.