There have been several instances this year in 2025 where individuals have contacted DaMore Law with a situation where the person entered into a lease or an agreement for the purchase and sale of a business without consulting an attorney.  In many instances, the person calling our office had limited or no prior business experience.

For various reasons, whether based on upbringing, culture or personality, some individuals have a high level of trust when interacting with strangers.

In the past or in certain parts of the world, cultural norms allow for more informal transactions between people without lawyers and contracts.  For better or worse, in the United States, it is better to protect you, your family, your business, and your assets by having appropriate agreements (contracts) between you and the person you are dealing with, whether they are strangers or friends.

Why?

In many cases, when everyone is optimistic about doing business with each other, they may enter into agreements without hesitation.  However, if the relationship between you and the other person changes and becomes negative, you want to have an agreement in writing that talks about what happens if things become negative or if you want to terminate the relationship.

I have personally talked with individuals who have risked or lost tens of thousands of dollars because they did not have an appropriate agreement before doing business with a stranger.  Unfortunately, in almost every instance, the individual had limited options to successfully reverse their decision and recover their money. And if they attempted to sue the other person, they would need to spend thousands of dollars for an attorney to help recover their money.

Invest some time and effort and speak with an attorney before doing business with a stranger.