Contract agreement query

[Dread66]

Hi,

Just a quick question if I may. I'm looking at opening a cafe as a sole trader in a local community centre and I have a question regarding the contract agreement. The contract (partnership agreement) looks like a template downloaded from the internet and while looking semi-official there are some concerns on my side. I always believed a contract had to be signed and witnessed by both parties and a notary? They have handled it slightly differently, the chair of the centre signed it and gave it to me to sign and they are arranging a witness to sign but he will have not seen both parties sign the document so how can he be a witness? The alarm bells have been going off as people have been telling me this does not constitute a legal document and can be challenged and amended at any point by the committee of the centre. Is this correct? Is it legal or have I signed an agreement that is not worth the paper it's printed on?
Thanks very much for your help!

[R0b]

Contracts do not need to be signed, witnessed and also by a notary, we are not like our European counterparts. Contracts can be made verbally or in writing (verbal contracts much hard to prove for obvious reasons).

You don't need a witness for simple contracts and wouldn't invalidate the contract unless it specifically says the contract is not valid unless properly witnessed. Assuming you have both signed the contract, there isn't anything based on the information given that would suggest the contract is not legally binding.

What I would be more concerned about is that you have signed a partnership agreement and that you think it has been downloaded from the internet - that's where alarm bells should be going off.

Have you actually read the terms and conditions, what obligations you are under and the rights you have in this contract?