Do you have a contract that you are in a dispute about due to the other party not meeting their obligations as part of the contract? Here is what you need to know about how a court interprets contracts.

The Entire Contract Is Read As A Whole

Your contract may be broken up into sections with separate headings, but the court will look at the entire contract as a whole. Those headings are just used for organizational purposes and cannot be looked at individually. That's why it is so important that the entire contract is read thoroughly with all parts considered equally.

The Illegal Sections Will Be Thrown Out

If a court determines that there are sections of the contract that are not legal, then the court will disregard those illegal sections and look at the rest of the contract as a whole. Having one portion of a contract that is illegal will not invalidate the entire contract under the law.

The Interpretations By Others Are Not Factored

Know that a contract dispute will be settled by looking at the contract and only the contract. Having additional information about the terms of the contract is not going to help your case because if the information provided is not in the contract, then it cannot be used to settle a contract dispute. That is why it is so important that you have a contract modified before you sign it to include all relevant information about it. This is often referred to looking at the four corners of the contract. 

The Contract Can Be Interpreted By A Judge Or Jury

Know that you have the option for a contract dispute to be decided by a judge or jury. However, your lawyer will likely have a recommendation for which direction you should go depending on your unique situation. For example, if you want a contract to be interpreted as closely to the law as possible, it may be best to request a judge so that there is as little outside influence as possible. A jury is more likely to add their own interpretation to the contract, which may or may not favor your situation. 

Have more questions about your contract dispute? Make sure to reach out to a contract dispute lawyer in your area that handles these types of cases. They'll be able to give you the best possible chance for racing the outcome that you desire.