Contracts generally only require that you actually intend to enter into a contract with another party, not that you intend to enter into this specific contract. Once you understand that whatever you are signing is supposed to be legally binding and enforceable by the courts, you are likely stuck with that agreement, even if you didn’t know the terms of it.
Traditionally, courts have said that there is a presumption of intent to be legally bound when signing an Agreement. Therefore, if you put your signature on something in a commercial context, odds are that you will be held to it.
The lesson here is to make sure you read every part of the Contracts you plan on signing, because it will be enforced once you sign it. If you don’t want to read it, or don’t understand what you are reading, hire someone to look it over for you.
(photo by skippyjon)
About Graham Martin
Graham Martin is a solo practitioner focusing on Contract law (including drafting, review, and litigation). He operates Martin Legal Services, LLC in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
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