What makes a document, or agreement legally binding?

Question

Doe's it need to have witnesses when being signed?

Answer 1

An agreement needs consent of both the parties and then witnessed that it is duely signed by the parties, date, place and at end notary's stamp and signature, if required.

Answer 2

Document is the signature that assures that both parties agree.. as for a verbal agreement it's the assumption of the meeting of minds. What makes both hold up in court is the same.. all parties have agreed to the terms. Like I said.. The document has the actual proof by the signature and the verbal is an assumption of the meeting of minds. So the Document ofcourse would hold more water. EDIT: A signed paper contract can NOT be ammended or even slightly changed by any verbal contract.. The signed document can NEVER be changed or added additional agreements by ANYTHING VERBAL.. The only way to change a written and signed contract is by another written and signed contract.. It can NOT be changed verbally and there is no such thing as a Verbal contract when there is a signed Contract in hand. So sorry all the verbal agreements after the written contract are void. AGAIN.. THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGED A SIGNED CONTRACT IS BY ANOTHER SIGNED CONTRACT.. YOU CAN NOT MIX THE TWO REGARDLESS OF WHO WITNESSED IT, THE CHANGES MUST BE ON THE ORIGINAL WRITTEN CONTRACT AND MUST BE INITIALED TO BE LEGALLY BINDING.

Answer 3

What you are referring to are the conditons that creat a legally binding contract. Common law requires that there be agreement as to what you are intending to do [i.e. a meeting of the minds the attorneys call it], Secondly, both parties must have the capacity [i.e. that is the ability or not impaired by drugs, mental disorder. Special rules apply to contracts with minors etc] to enter into a contract, Third there must be some form of consideration [i.e. money, property of some sort]. A contract can be written, it can be an oral agreement. A contract can be interperted to exist from the words and actions of the parties involved. This should give you a good idea.

Answer 4

If your talking about a contract you need to show an intention to make legally binding relations, consideration ie. cash, an offer of a product/service and acceptance. All this has to be witnessed depending on what the document is. You may need a witness to prove an element at a later date rather than to make it a legal doc.

Answer 5

Almost certainly, any agreement has to be witnessed, preferably by a non-involved party, to be binding. There are exceptions to this but are rare. The intent has to be proven in court to work around this.

Answer 6

Signed and witnessed in front of a Solicitor I think

Answer 7

A Notary Public's signature.