Contract Checklist Before You Sign (Word)
Most contract problems were visible on the page before anyone signed: a wrong name, a blank amount, a notice period that only works one way, a penalty hidden in a schedule. This checklist walks you through any agreement in the order a careful reviewer reads it, with tick boxes, space for notes and a list of red flags. It ends with the signing formalities for India, the UK, the US and the UAE so the signed document can actually be used later.
Free · no sign-up · opens in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice and WPS Office. Files contain no macros.
Preview
Real view of the file with its sample data (yellow cells are where you type).
CONTRACT CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU SIGN
Read the agreement once from start to end, then go through these checks with the agreement open beside you. Tick each box, and write the clause number and your concern in Notes.
Guidance: This checklist is a reminder of what to read carefully. It is not legal advice; for property, loans, large amounts or long terms, take your notes to a lawyer.
| Agreement | [name / type] | Other party | [ ] |
| Value | [amount and currency] | Start and end | [ ] |
| Received on | [ ] | Sign by (deadline) | [ ] |
| Reviewed by | [ ] | Lawyer consulted | [Yes / No] |
1. Parties and authority
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | Full legal names match ID documents, company records or the trade licence (no nicknames or brand names alone). | |
| ☐ | Addresses are complete, with PIN or postcode, and an email for notices is given for each party. | |
| ☐ | For a company, LLP or firm: the person signing has authority (board resolution, partner consent or power of attorney seen). | |
| ☐ | Each party is legally able to contract (adult, of sound mind, not barred by law). |
2. What is being exchanged
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | The goods, services, property or rights are described so a stranger could tell exactly what is included and what is not. | |
| ☐ | Quantities, specifications, standards and service levels are measurable (numbers, dates, named standards). | |
| ☐ | Schedules, drawings, price lists or annexures referred to are actually attached and signed. |
3. Money and payment
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | Price or fee is stated in figures and words, and both match. | |
| ☐ | It says whether tax (GST, VAT, sales tax) is included or extra. | |
| ☐ | Payment dates, method and bank details are stated; advances and deposits say when and how they are refunded. | |
| ☐ | Late payment interest, if any, is reasonable and stated as a rate, not a vague "penalty". | |
| ☐ | Who pays expenses, stamp duty, registration and other costs is clear. |
4. Dates and term
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | Start date, end date or term, and any renewal (automatic or by agreement) are clear. | |
| ☐ | Deadlines for delivery or completion are stated, with what happens if they are missed. | |
| ☐ | Lock-in periods and notice periods work both ways, or the difference is intended. |
5. Performance and quality
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | How work is checked, accepted or rejected is described (inspection period, acceptance tests, revisions). | |
| ☐ | Warranties or guarantees say what is covered, for how long and the remedy (repair, replace, refund). | |
| ☐ | Changes to scope need a written change order with price and time agreed. |
6. Ending the agreement
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | Either side can end for serious breach after a reasonable notice to fix it. | |
| ☐ | Ending for convenience (without a reason) is allowed or excluded on purpose, with the notice period. | |
| ☐ | What happens at the end is clear: final payment, handover, return of property and data, refund of deposits. |
7. Risk clauses
| ✓ | Check | Notes (clause number, concern) |
| ☐ | Indemnities: who covers which losses, and whether they are capped. One-sided indemnities are understood. | |
| ☐ | Limitation of liability: the cap amount is acceptable and excludes only what the law allows. | |
| ☐ | Insurance required of either party is affordable and actually in place. | |
| ☐ | Personal guarantees, security or post-dated cheques are understood by the person giving them. |
8. Confidentiality, IP and data
…
What's inside
- A cover table to note the agreement, the other party, its value, dates and who reviewed it
- 10 sections with tick boxes: parties and authority, what is being exchanged, money and payment, dates and term, performance and quality, ending the agreement, risk clauses (indemnity, liability, guarantees), confidentiality and IP, disputes and law, signing and records
- 15 common red flags, each with what to ask for instead
- Signing formalities table for India, UK, US and UAE: stamp duty, registration, witnesses, notary and language
- A sign-off box to record who checked the contract and what was changed
How to use it
- Download the file and open it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or WPS Office.
- Fill in the cover table with the agreement's name, the other party, the value and the dates.
- Read the agreement once from start to end without stopping, then go through the checklist section by section with the agreement open beside it.
- Tick each point you have checked. Write the clause number and your concern in the Notes column when something is missing or unclear.
- Read the red flags list and mark any that appear in the agreement.
- Send your notes to the other party (or your lawyer) and ask for the changes before signing. Record the final position in the sign-off box.
Tips
- Check numbers in words and figures match: courts usually prefer the words when they differ.
- Keep the checklist with the signed copy: it shows what you checked and why you agreed.
- For property, loans and long or large deals, use the checklist to prepare questions for your lawyer, not instead of one.
Questions and answers
Is this checklist legal advice?
No. It is a reminder of what to read carefully. It cannot tell you whether a clause is fair or enforceable in your situation; a lawyer can.
Does it work for contracts from other countries?
Yes. The checks are general. The signing formalities table covers India, the UK, the US and the UAE; for other countries, ask a local lawyer about stamp duty, registration and witnesses.
Can I use it for an agreement I am writing myself?
Yes. Read your own draft against it before you send it: the other party's reviewer will look for the same things.