Five documents to keep if a deal might go wrong
Keep these five documents from day one, and most disputes become far easier to win or settle.
Elena Marlowe
·
4 min read
Why documents decide disputes
Most contract disputes aren't won on the law. They're won on who can show what was agreed, what was delivered and what was paid.
Keeping five kinds of document from day one makes almost any dispute easier to settle, or to win.
The five to keep
01
The signed agreement
The final version, with every schedule and amendment.
02
Emails that changed the terms
Price, scope and deadline changes agreed outside the contract.
03
Invoices and payment records
What was billed, what was paid, and on which dates.
04
Delivery or acceptance records
Signed receipts, sign-offs and approval emails.
05
Notices sent and received
Any breach, termination or reminder letter, with proof of delivery.
Memory fades. Paper doesn't.
What not to do
Four habits that weaken a good case:
Agreeing changes by phone and never writing them down.
Deleting old emails to save space.
Keeping records only on a personal phone.
Sending angry messages that become evidence.
If a deal is going wrong
Save everything now
Export the emails, back up the files and write down a timeline while it's fresh. Don't delete anything, even if it looks unhelpful.
A tidy folder saves hours of legal time, and your money.
What happens next
With these five in hand, most disputes can be assessed in a single call. Send me what you have and I'll tell you where you stand.
WRITTEN BY
Elena Marlowe
Commercial litigator in New York since 2013. I run a one-lawyer practice and write these to answer the questions I hear on first calls.
This article is general information, not legal advice about your situation. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney–client relationship.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Keep the signed contract and every amendment
Save emails that changed the terms
Keep records of what you paid and when
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