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Write the recitals for your contract
Describe the parties and the deal, and get short, accurate recitals that set out the background and purpose without making promises by accident.
River writes the recitals for your contract: the short opening statements that explain who the parties are, what came before, and why they are signing. Describe the deal and River writes them in plain background paragraphs or in traditional whereas form, consistent with the defined terms in the rest of your contract.
Recitals are context, not commitments. They help a reader, or a court, understand the purpose of the deal, and they are a convenient place to identify an earlier agreement being amended or a dispute being settled. River keeps promises out of the recitals and puts them in the operative terms, where they belong.
What recitals should and should not do
Good recitals are short and factual: who the parties are, the relevant history such as an earlier agreement, and the purpose of this one. Three or four sentences are usually enough. They are especially useful in amendments, settlements and assignments, where the reader needs to know what is being changed or resolved.
Recitals generally are not binding on their own, but courts may use them to interpret unclear operative terms, and a statement of fact in a recital can sometimes be held against the party that signed it. If the operative terms and the recitals conflict, courts usually follow the operative terms. That is why a recital should never be the only place an obligation appears.
Avoid stating facts that may be disputed later, such as a party's admission of fault in a settlement, unless the deal requires it. Keep defined terms consistent: a name defined in the recitals must match how the same party or document is described everywhere else.
How it works
Describe the deal
Who the parties are, what came before, and what this agreement does.
River writes the recitals
Short background statements in the style you choose.
Check the facts
A short note flags anything stated as fact that you should confirm.
Adjust in chat
Ask for whereas form, a shorter version, or the opening paragraph too.
What you get
- Short, factual recitals in plain background or traditional whereas form
- Earlier agreements, amendments and disputes identified precisely
- Defined terms introduced consistently with the rest of your contract
- Promises kept out of the recitals and pointed to the operative terms instead
- Facts that could be held against you flagged before you sign
Common questions
Are recitals legally binding?
Generally not on their own. They explain the background and purpose, and courts may use them to interpret unclear terms. Obligations belong in the operative part of the contract. If a recital and an operative term conflict, courts usually follow the operative term.
Should I use whereas clauses?
Plain background paragraphs say the same thing in clearer words, and many modern contracts use them. Some readers still expect traditional whereas form, especially in formal or older-style agreements. River writes either, and matches your contract if you paste it.
What should recitals in an amendment say?
They should identify the original agreement by name and date, any earlier amendments, and briefly why the parties are changing it. That makes the amendment readable on its own and avoids confusion about which version is being changed.
Can recitals hurt me?
They can if they state as fact something you would later dispute, such as an admission of fault, a valuation or the cause of a problem. Keep them neutral and factual. River flags any statement that could be read as an admission.
Is this legal advice?
No. River writes recitals from what you describe and explains its choices, but it does not give legal advice. For settlements and transactions where the background facts are contested, have a lawyer review the recitals with the rest of the agreement.
Write the recitals for your contract
Describe what you need, add any files you have, and your workspace opens with the work already underway.