Written Contract

In one sentence

An agreement between parties that is documented in writing and signed by the parties involved.

Plain English

A written contract is simply an agreement that someone put down on paper (or in a digital document) and that the parties signed. Written contracts are generally more enforceable than oral ones because there's clear evidence of what was agreed to. Many types of contracts must be in writing to be enforceable—like real estate sales, contracts that take more than a year to complete, and agreements to pay someone else's debt.

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Example

You sign a lease for an apartment. That lease is a written contract that spells out the rent, the lease term, and both your and the landlord's responsibilities.

Used in a sentence

“The written contract clearly stated that the seller would deliver the goods by March 15.”

Related terms

Oral Contract

A binding agreement made by spoken words only, with no written documentation.

Formal Contract

A contract that requires specific formalities, such as a seal, notarization, or written form, to be enforceable.

Boilerplate

Standard, pre-written contract language used repeatedly in many agreements without customization.

Contract

A legally binding agreement between two or more parties to do or not do something.

Evidence

Information, documents, or physical items presented in court to prove or disprove facts.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Consideration

Something of value exchanged by each party to make a contract binding.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.