I have found a free contract template online which I can adjust to fit my situation, so do I really need to get a lawyer involved?

• Adjusting a free online template can be a cheaper alternative to using a lawyer to draft one for you. You will need to be very careful in how it is drafted and adapted to your situation. Otherwise it may still end up costing you in the long run if the contract does not adequately protect your interests and something goes wrong down the track.
• You could draft the contract yourself and then have a lawyer review it. Alternatively if there are any specific areas you are not sure about you could consult a lawyer on just those areas.
• If you are using a contract template that you have found online try and use one that is tailored to Australia. A common problem people find when using contract templates found online is that by not going through the contract carefully or not understanding the significance of it they have unwittingly agreed to have the laws of a state in the USA govern the contract even though both parties to the contract are based in Australia.
• It is advisable to get a lawyer involved where the transaction is complicated.
• You could use our Fixed Fee Quote service to call for tenders from lawyers to help you draft a contract suited to your needs.