Civil law, commercial contracts
Contract review: why do annexes and correspondence matter?
Prepare the annexes, amendments and relevant correspondence as well as the main contract. Separately note what each party must do, when and for what payment. This makes the actual point of disagreement easier to identify.
Prepared and sources reviewed:
Reviewed by Skirmantas Šmuilys, head of MB Opus Justitia, on .
Put the versions in order
Separate the signed contract from later drafts. Gather annexes, amendments, orders and acceptance records. Mark each file with its date and status: signed, proposed or disputed.
Points to flag before a consultation
- Each party’s obligations, the scope of goods or work and the acceptance process.
- Price, adjustment terms, payment stages and deadlines.
- Clauses on delay, liability, termination and delivery of notices.
- Messages discussing the disputed clause or the action taken.
A specific question for each disagreement
Set out events chronologically and separate what a document confirms from what you recall. Be specific: “Does the acceptance certificate also cover the additional work?” An assessment needs all relevant circumstances, rather than an extract from a single clause.
Questions and answers
Can you review a contract that has already been signed?
Yes. Explain the review’s purpose and provide the signed version with amendments. If a disagreement has arisen, include a chronology and the relevant records.
What if an annex mentioned in the contract is missing?
Identify the missing annex and what you know about it. Do not guess its contents. The review will need to clarify whether an annex was agreed and which version was used.
Official sources
This is general preparation information, not individual legal advice. Specific action and current rules must be assessed against your circumstances.