Questions to Ask Before Signing an Agreement
A plain-language guide to the clauses, deadlines and responsibilities worth discussing before you sign.
An agreement can look routine while placing important obligations on you. A careful review begins with understanding what each side must do, when they must do it, and what happens if the plan changes. Use these questions to prepare for a document review rather than treating them as legal advice about your own contract.
Are the parties and the work clear?
Check that the parties are identified correctly and that the agreement describes the actual goods, services or rights being exchanged. Broad phrases can hide different expectations. If a schedule, statement of work or annexure is mentioned, confirm that it is attached and matches what was discussed.
- Who is signing, and in what capacity?
- What exactly is each party promising to deliver?
- Which schedules and referenced documents form part of the deal?
What money and deadlines are involved?
Look for the total price, payment trigger, due dates, taxes and any additional charges. Check how changes to scope affect the price and timeline. Ask whether a delay by one party changes the other party’s obligations.
For a long-running arrangement, note renewal dates and any notice period needed to change or end it.
Discuss the matter and a suitable consultation scope with our team.
What happens if something goes wrong?
Termination, refunds, liability, dispute handling and confidentiality often receive less attention than the headline price. Read those clauses together. A promise that seems reassuring in one section may be limited elsewhere in the document.
- How can the arrangement end?
- What happens to payments, data and materials after it ends?
- How are complaints or disputes raised?
- Are important assurances written into the signed version?
How to request a useful review
Share the complete current draft, its attachments and a short note describing your role and goals. Point out clauses that concern you and any deadline for signing. A lawyer can then discuss scope, identify material issues and suggest questions or revisions tailored to the transaction. Do not send sensitive information through an unsecured first message.
For general information only. This article is not legal advice, does not address your specific facts, and may not reflect every local requirement. Consult a qualified professional before acting on a legal matter.
Ask about document review
Share a short summary of the matter and your location. We will discuss availability, scope and any fee before work begins.