🎀They rush you to sign. The counterparty brings a ready-made contract and asks to resolve the issue quickly, preferably today. They explain this by deadlines, procedures, or supposedly being busy. Usually, if a document is prepared in advance and requires an immediate decision, it means the author has already thought through all the points favorable to themselves. We are left with no time for that 🫡

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Long contracts. They are not necessarily bad, but as a rule, they contain many details that are easily missed when skimming. Risks are distributed unevenly throughout the text: key restrictions may be in the middle, penalties closer to the end, and important definitions in the appendices. More text = higher probability that significant details will go unnoticed.

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If the text contains phrases like “at its discretion,” “has the right not to notify,” or “may change unilaterally.” These formulations create an imbalance of rights. One party gets freedom of action, while the other becomes dependent on its decisions. If the counterparty can do something at its discretion, it means your opinion on that matter is legally disregarded. Such clauses act as unilateral powers, usually not in your favor

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The transaction amount exceeds your monthly income. Here we are talking about simple risk arithmetic. If the contract involves money, and it is significant for you, an error in the terms can lead to serious financial consequences. Fines, penalties, obligations to return funds can potentially turn a profitable deal into a debt pit. The more money at stake, the more costly overlooked details become.

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A contract in a foreign language with an attached translation is a dangerous game. Even a high-quality translation may contain semantic discrepancies with the original. In the event of a dispute, the text in the original language will have legal force, not the one you read and understood. If you do not have sufficient command of the contract language for legal analysis, you risk signing terms beyond your expectations

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