Connecticut Edition Download - Construction Contract Writer

If you're a Connecticut construction contractor, you need to be good at writing Connecticut construction contracts.
Once installed on your Windows computer, Construction Contract Writer will make it easy to draft enforceable Connecticut contracts that fit your jobs precisely and avoid the penalties imposed by Connecticut and federal law.

• A home improvement contract which does not comply with Connecticut's Home Improvement Act can not be enforced against the property owner. Most violations are class B misdemeanors punishable by a fine of $1,000 or six months in prison or both.
• A home improvement contract which does not comply with Home Solicitation Sales Act qualifies the contractor for a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both.
• Violation of Connecticut's Home Improvement Act or Home Solicitation Sales Act is also a violation of Connecticut's Unfair Trade Practices Act (General Statutes Sections 42-110a to 42-110q). A willful violation of CUTPA (such as failure to offer or honor the 3-day notice of cancellation) is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000. In addition, an owner who suffers a loss as a result of any unfair trade practice may bring suit to recover actual damages and punitive damages and may be awarded attorney fees.
• Failure to make the disclosures required by the New Home Construction Act, Connecticut General Statutes Section 20-417d, is punishable by a fine of up to $1,500 (Section 20-417f).
• Use of other than "plain language" in a consumer contract makes the contractor liable for damages of up to $100 plus attorney fees up to $100.
• Omission of the contract clause required by Connecticut General Statutes Section 42-158j makes a contractor or owner liable for a fine of from $100 to $500 under Connecticut General Statutes Sections 54-195 and 53a-43.
• Any attempt to enforce contract terms which do not comply with Connecticut's Prompt Payment Act can result in an award of attorney fees against the enforcing party.
• Contract retainage which does not comply with Connecticut's Prompt Payment Act makes the owner liable for attorney fees and an additional one and one-half per cent of the retained amount for each month or fraction of a month until retainage is paid in full.
• Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572k voids any clause in a construction contract which would require indemnification of someone for their own negligence.
• Failure to make federal truth in lending disclosures requires restitution of the overcharge and makes the creditor liable for the debtor's attorney fees.
• Failure to include the disclosures required by 12 Code of Federal Regulations Section 226.15 extends the right of rescission to three years (rather than three days).
• Omitting insulation disclosures required by 16 Code of Federal Regulation Section 460 can result in an $11,000 fine.

When a job goes bad, you better have an iron-clad contract. Consider what happens if you get into a dispute before collecting final payment. An attorney for the other side won't be impressed with your two-page "legal in all 50 states" contract. Most likely, you'll discover that the signed agreement is either partially or totally unenforceable under state law. Game over! You lose. You're not going to collect another dime on that job. Fortunately, there's a better way.

Just answer a series of questions -- like an interview -- to construct a legal contract for each project you take on. Construction Contact Writer explains in plain English what you need to know before answering an interview question. If you know the job and you know what the job requires, Construction Contract Writer will do the rest.

Whether you are writing commercial or residential construction contracts, you'll be able to anticipate where disputes could arise and settle them in the contract before they happen. Then include the warranty protection you intend, the payment schedule, and create subcontracts from the prime contract.

Resolve key issues in your favor with bias control.
Many contract clauses in Construction Contract Writer suggest a bias that favors either the owner, the contractor or the subcontractor. That allows you to shift burden or risk to a particular party. Want to draft a contract that protects the property owner? No problem. Need an aggressive contract that pushes the limits in your favor? That's easy. Of course, if you just want a balanced and fair contract, Construction Contract Writer will do that too.

Need legal help drafting a contract?
Construction Contract Writer even includes a feedback button to an attorney on the Craftsman Book Co. staff to help if you get stumped. This service is free, and you can expect a response within 24 hours.

When you're done, save the contract for future use or modification at a later date. Print contracts directly or export to MS Word or Adobe PDF for electronic delivery or archiving on disk.

Construction contract law changes. But don't worry -- update subscriptions are available. Your contracts have to change to stay in compliance. That's why Construction Contract Writer includes an 'Update' button. You'll be invited to click 'Update' when a change affects the contracts you're drafting. A connection to the Web is required.

Even experienced construction contract attorneys will find plenty of useful reference material in Construction Contract Writer.
Construction Contract Writer cites local court decisions and code sections relevant to key interview questions.

System Requirements: