For a contract, agreement, or legal document to be valid, here are the things you should look for.

  1. Mutual Consent

  2. Competent Parties

  3. Consideration

  4. Lawful Purpose

  5. Clear and Definite Terms

  6. Signatures

  7. Date

  8. Witness Signatures

  9. Notarization

You are not simply looking for words in a document. You are looking for the context, except for the dates, signatures, and identities of each party involved. If you are having trouble identifying these, you can ask help from a lawyer.

 

Mutual Consent

Both parties need to genuinely agree to the terms. This means one party made a clear offer and the other accepted it without pressure or manipulation. If someone was forced or tricked into signing, the agreement may not hold up.

Competent Parties

The people signing the document must be legally capable of entering an agreement. Generally, this means they are of legal age and are of sound mind at the time of signing. A document signed by a minor or someone who lacks mental capacity can be challenged or declared invalid.

Consideration

Consideration is the legal term for something of value being exchanged between both parties. This could be money, a service, a promise to do something, or even a promise not to do something. Without it, the agreement may be seen as a one-sided promise rather than a binding contract.

Lawful Purpose

The agreement must be for something legal. A contract that requires either party to do something illegal is not enforceable, regardless of how well it is written or how many people signed it.

Clear and Definite Terms

The document should clearly state what each party is agreeing to. Vague or contradictory language creates room for disputes and can weaken the document's enforceability. The more specific the terms, the better.

Signatures

A document generally needs to be signed by all involved parties to be binding. An unsigned document is usually considered incomplete. Make sure signatures are present where required, and that they belong to the right people.

Date

The date tells you when the agreement took effect and when obligations began. A missing or incorrect date can lead to disputes down the line, especially if deadlines or timeframes are part of the agreement.

Witness Signatures

Some documents, such as wills, deeds, and certain contracts, require one or more witnesses to sign alongside the main parties. A witness confirms that the signing was done voluntarily and that the signatories are who they say they are. Check whether the type of document you are dealing with requires this.

Notarization (Optional)

Some documents require a notary public to verify the identities of the people signing. Notarization does not automatically make a document legally valid. It adds a layer of credibility and helps prevent fraud, but the other requirements on this list still need to be met.