Key Checkpoints Before Signing a Contract

Contracts set out the parties’ mutual rights and obligations. Reading the complete text together with its annexes and referenced documents makes it possible to compare its scope with the parties’ expectations.

Authority to sign, payment conditions, delivery or performance criteria and termination provisions should be clear before signature. Inconsistent terminology or blank fields may create later uncertainty.

General checklist

• Verify the parties’ names, identification details and addresses.
• Check the signatory’s authority against the relevant records.
• Read the subject, quantity, quality and delivery terms in measurable terms.
• Identify price, currency, payment dates and allocation of expenses.
• Review duration, renewal, termination and notice clauses together.
• Confirm that annexes are complete and consistent with the contract.
• Check dates, signatures, stamps and any blank fields.

Mandatory rules and formal requirements vary with the type of contract. This checklist is a general starting point for reviewing the document’s structure.

This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.