When you enter into a contract (or agreement, same thing really) you cannot possibly foresee all future developments of the relationship that is governed by that contract. As a result, you may find yourself in a situation where you have to amend an existing contract.
How do you amend a contract? By entering into a new contract, which provides for the terms of the amendment. Let's say you entered into a contract on August 10, 2006, which contract provided in its Section 10: "This contract terminates on August 1, 2010." Now you and your contract partner decide that the contract should really go on until August 1, 2012. You plan on amending the original contract.
The amendment of the provision should be in writing and clearly reference the agreement that is being amended. The amendment doesn't have to be very formal, it could be in a simple note or letter, but it should be in writing and signed by all the parties who signed the original agreement.
By way of example, the amendment could look like this:
Amendment
Joe Junior and Daphne Danzig entered into the Service Agreement dated August 10, 2006 and wish to amend the Service Agreement.
Joe Junior and Daphne Danzig hereby amend Section 10 of the Service Agreement by replacing such section in its entirety with the following:
"This Agreement terminates on August 1, 2012."
Other than as amended hereby, the Service Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
So agreed, this ___ day of August, 2007.
Joe Junior (signature)
Daphne Danzig (signature)
There you have it. You can do this as many times as you want, so that you may end up with Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and so forth. However, if there are many changes to an Agreement at the same time, you may be better off by "amending and restating" the Agreement. I'll explain what that means another time.
**This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice**
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Posted by: professional cleaning services | March 09, 2011 at 11:15 PM
A contract is really important. Everyone must treat it seriously, otherwise, one may be incolved in a lawsuit.
Posted by: Settlement Funding | June 03, 2010 at 03:47 AM
Just want to mention that you can amend any contract regardless of what it originaly stated. very nice post. there are tons of articles on contracts and agreement.
Posted by: Fortune Ezeoha | October 07, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Particular emphasis should be directed to the particularities of every contractual situation and the underlying importance of engaging a knowledgeable attorney to insure that there may not be added complexities that need to be properly addressed.
Posted by: Christopher | October 04, 2009 at 07:25 PM
What is the official date for a contract that has been ammended? Would it be the original date of the contract, or does the official contract date change to coincide with the ammended agreement?
Posted by: Deb Haneke | April 26, 2009 at 06:49 PM
amend for new price contract
Posted by: danika cleaning services ltd. | January 02, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Did you ever get a chance to write about "amending and restating" an agreement? Thanks.
Posted by: Joe Dullea | December 02, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Can an amendment relate back to the effective date of the agreement?
Posted by: Tanya | April 07, 2008 at 06:26 PM