A contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties. Each contract will contain many key terms that govern the relationship between those who have signed the contract. Once the agreement is signed, the two parties may have disputes about what the contract actually meant. It is entirely possible for each party to think that a certain clause means something completely different once they begin to perform the contract.
The first place that a court will look in deciding a contractual dispute is to the exact language of the agreement. Each word and comma in the contract has a meaning. There is simply no such thing as a “throwaway” word or sentence. If the court cannot interpret the contract’s plain meaning from the four corners of the document, it would then consider extrinsic evidence to figure out what the parties intended and what they believe the contract says.
Many businesses end up in contract disputes because they did not get the help they needed before they signed the contract. There may have been ambiguous language, or the words failed to reflect what they actually intended. However, once the agreement is signed, a party is bound by the exact words in the agreement.
You should always get legal help to draft and review an agreement before you sign it. In addition, how you act after you are involved in a contract dispute could affect your legal rights. Always seek legal help when you are involved in a contractual dispute.
Contact a Miami Business Law Attorney Today
Attorney Daniel D. Diaz works with businesses and individuals when they need assistance with reviewing a contract before it is signed and helping with disputes afterward. To speak with a lawyer, you can call us today at 756.256.3299 or send us a message online.
