The purpose of a written contract is to have the parties write down what they have agreed on. Oral contracts are, with a few exceptions, also legally binding, but it may be difficult to prove what was actually agreed.

The party who claims something must be able to provide evidence of it. If the other party does not want to sign a written contract, you should still write down what you have agreed on and send it to the other party. Ask the other party to confirm that they have received it, and to get back to you if there is anything that does not comply with what was agreed. Do this before your business relationship begins. All documentation can be used later to determine what you and the other party have agreed on.

The most important things

If you are not familiar with writing contracts, it can be easy to leave out the most important things: what, who, when, where, how and what price.

Important concepts

If you give something away, you give up your rights to it forever. When you provide something, you borrow or rent it out for a limited period of time or for a particular purpose.

Interpretation services

Do not be afraid to ask what various clauses in a contract mean. If you are unsure about the meaning of the wording in a contract, it is a good idea to ask the other party to confirm that they share your interpretation of the wording before you sign the contract.

Authorised signatory

When you enter into a contract with a company, it is important to verify that an authorised signatory of the company has signed the contract. You can contact the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) to check who are authorised signatories for a specific company.

Addendums and amendments

It is always possible to make a new agreement or amend a previous contract if both parties agree to do so. Be sure to document all changes in the contract, because this is a common area of dispute between parties. When you make amendments or supplementary agreements, they should also be in writing. It is enough to send an email and ask the respondent to confirm the change. Make sure that the additional provisions do not inadvertently clash with the main contract. Specify clearly which contract you are amending, or if the old contract is to be dissolved

Annexes and references

If there are annexes to the contract, the contract itself should always contain clear references to them. The same applies if you refer to public documents or information, such as base amounts (basbelopp) or the consumer price index. Specify the order in which the annexes must apply, because there may be provisions in one annex that contradict the provisions in one or more of the other annexes, or of the contract itself.

Legal advisory services

If you feel uncertain about any aspect of a contract, it is a good idea to hire someone who can provide you with legal advice before the contract is signed. By getting help to ensure that you truly agree, your cooperation will run more smoothly. It is less expensive to get help to achieve a good contract from the outset than to be embroiled in lengthy and costly disputes after the contract is signed. This is particularly important if you want to enter into a contract that you are not familiar with, or a contract of great importance to you.

Standard contracts

In most industries, there are standard contracts. Find out if the contract has been negotiated between representatives of different stakeholders or if it has been drawn up by the other party with whom you intend to enter into a contract. You can also make addendums and amendments to standard contracts.

If a dispute arises

If the parties of a contract disagree on its interpretation and cannot resolve the dispute themselves, the dispute can be adjudicated in a general court. 

Disputes and summons applications

Entering contracts (in Swedish)

Content of the contract

We have put together a few points that can be useful to keep in mind when a contract is being drawn up.

Content of the contract