Before you sign
How to read a contract in full, find its subject, price and deadlines, and understand what happens if someone changes their mind.
contracts in plain words: a reference guide
Contracts in plain words
Contracts turn up in daily life more often than you might think: renting a flat, having a bathroom redone, buying a neighbour's bike, lending money to a friend, ticking "I agree" on a website. This guide helps you understand what you are actually signing, which terms deserve attention and how to keep proof in case you disagree later. Everything here describes Russian law; rules differ in other countries, so check your own law or ask a local lawyer.
A contract is not written for the days of friendship but for the day the parties start remembering things differently. Five minutes of careful reading before signing usually costs less than a month of arguing afterwards.
Where to start
Renting and services
What to look for when renting a home from a private landlord and when hiring a tradesperson for repairs or other work.
Lending money
When Russian law requires a loan between private individuals to be in writing, and why a receipt helps even between people close to each other.
If the contract is broken
Hypothetical cases explained: which papers to gather, how to open negotiations, when to send a formal claim and when to see a lawyer.
Guide sections
- Basics
The parts of any contract: parties, subject, price, deadlines, liability and termination, and when a contract counts as concluded under Russian law.
- Guides
Checklists for common everyday contracts: renting from a private landlord, repairs and services, buying second-hand, online offers; how to read them and red flags.
- Documents
What proves an agreement: the contract, a receipt, an acceptance certificate, messages, a payment slip; when the law requires writing and why deadlines matter.
- Examples
Hypothetical cases: a delayed repair job, a deposit not returned, a friend's unpaid loan, changed online terms, a faulty second-hand item, an undated contract.
- What's new
New and updated sections of the guide and a way to check for yourself whether a rule has changed. The catalogue of standalone articles is here too.
- Terms
A glossary of contract terms: party, offer, acceptance, essential terms, receipt, acceptance certificate, claim, penalty and the limitation period.
- FAQ
Short answers to common questions about signing contracts, lending money, receipts and everyday disputes, based on Russian law.
Before signing a contract: five steps
Read the document from start to finish
Do not stop at the first page and the amount. Important terms often sit in the middle or in annexes printed in small type.
Find the subject, price and deadlines
Answer three questions for yourself: what exactly is being handed over or done, how much it costs and by what date. If even one answer is vague, ask for clearer wording.
Check who the parties are and who signs
Compare the other party's details with their identity document, and if a representative is signing, see on what basis they are acting.
Ask about termination and liability
Find out whether you can leave the contract early, what that costs and what happens in case of delay or poor-quality work.
Take your own copy
Each party should keep a signed copy with all annexes. Store it with receipts, certificates and messages until all payments are fully settled.
The essentials in brief
Are you a law firm?
No. Juristprud is a reference guide with general explanations. We have no attorneys or lawyers taking clients, we do not represent anyone and we are not connected with any government body.
Can I get advice on my contract from you?
No, we do not review personal situations or accept requests. If you have a dispute or a major transaction, show your documents to a practising lawyer: they can assess details a reference guide cannot take into account.
Do I need a written contract if I lend money to a friend?
Under Article 161(1)(2) of the Russian Civil Code, transactions between citizens for an amount exceeding ten thousand roubles must be made in simple written form, unless the law requires notarisation. For a loan of that size it makes sense to draw up a contract or at least a receipt. In other countries the rules differ.
How long do I have to go to court?
Under Russian law the general limitation period is three years (Article 196(1) of the Russian Civil Code). The law may set other periods for certain kinds of claims, so ask a lawyer how it is calculated in your case.
About the project
A different website used to run on this domain, and later unrelated spam pages appeared here. Their content has not been preserved and we do not reproduce it. This guide has no connection with them; only the name of the domain remains.
Today this site gathers calm explanations of everyday contracts for people without legal training. We rely on the Russian Civil Code, do not publish ready-made templates, do not name firms and do not give personal advice: in a real dispute the right step is to see a lawyer. If you live outside Russia, the rules may be different, so check your own law or consult a local lawyer.
Related sections
- Basics
The parts of any contract: parties, subject, price, deadlines, liability and termination, and when a contract counts as concluded under Russian law.
- Guides
Checklists for common everyday contracts: renting from a private landlord, repairs and services, buying second-hand, online offers; how to read them and red flags.
- Documents
What proves an agreement: the contract, a receipt, an acceptance certificate, messages, a payment slip; when the law requires writing and why deadlines matter.
Sources
- Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Part One), Articles 161, 196, 432
- Official Internet Portal of Legal Information (pravo.gov.ru)
These materials are based on the Civil Code of the Russian Federation and describe Russian law. Rules change over time, so check the article against the current version on the official Russian legal information portal, and take a real dispute to a lawyer. Rules differ in other countries: check your own law or ask a local lawyer.