Creating and Managing Contracts on Laymans
You don't need to pay a lawyer $500+ to draft a simple contract.
Whether you're negotiating a settlement, setting up a payment plan, formalizing a service agreement, or documenting any arrangement between parties - Laymans gives you the tools to create legally sound contracts with AI assistance. Our platform turns your attached evidence, previous correspondence, and stated terms into professional contract documents that can be certified, notarized, and shared securely.
=� Step-by-Step Guides
New to contracts on Laymans? Follow these workflows:
- Getting Started - Create your account and set up encryption
- Your First Case - Complete case creation workflow (applies to contracts too)
- Managing Documents - Organize evidence and reference materials
What You Can Do with Contracts on Laymans
Laymans helps you create Contract-type Cases - AI-powered agreements between any two parties that package your terms, evidence, and legal clauses into professional documents.
Common contract types you can create:
| Contract Type | What It's For | Example Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement Agreements | Resolve disputes without going to court | Landlord-tenant agreements, damage settlements, debt resolution |
| Payment Plans | Formalize installment arrangements | Medical bills, legal fees, personal loans, rent arrears |
| Service Contracts | Define terms for work or services | Freelance agreements, consulting contracts, contractor terms |
| Business Agreements | Partnerships and vendor relationships | Independent contractor agreements, partnership terms, vendor contracts |
| Personal Agreements | Family and personal arrangements | Custody agreements, property division, personal loans |
Why Laymans is different: Instead of generic fill-in-the-blank templates, Laymans' AI assistant Leyla analyzes your situation from attached evidence (emails, invoices, previous agreements), learns from reference templates you've gathered, and structures contract clauses based on what actually works legally.
How contract creation works
- Start a Contract Case - Name your project and select "Contracts" as document type
- Attach your resources - Upload casefiles (invoices, emails, prior agreements), reference briefcase templates
- Talk to Leyla - Our AI extracts facts from your documents, identifies parties, pulls payment terms, and suggests clauses
- Structure your agreement - Leyla creates an omnibus contract you can add clauses to and manage in-app
- Edit collaboratively - Use our secure text editor to refine terms with the other party
- Share and sign - Invite counter-parties to review and sign your contract
- Finalize and certify - Export court-ready, certified, or notarized copies
Start now: How to Start a Case (select "Contracts" as document type)
AI-Assisted Contract Drafting
Laymans doesn't just fill in templates - our AI actively helps you draft better contracts.
What Leyla does for you:
| Feature | How It Helps | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence extraction | Pulls dates, amounts, party names from attached documents | No manual re-typing of facts |
| Clause generation | Suggests legally sound clauses based on your situation | Professional language without lawyer fees |
| Resource integration | References your casefiles, bookmarked templates, and briefcases | Builds on work you've already done |
| Omnibus structuring | Organizes all terms into a comprehensive master agreement | Nothing gets forgotten |
| Payment term automation | Calculates schedules, interest, late fees from your inputs | Mathematically accurate terms |
Contracts are agreements between parties
Unlike letters or litigation documents you control entirely, contracts require the other party's agreement. Laymans makes it easy to share drafts, negotiate terms collaboratively, and finalize when both parties are satisfied.
How it works in practice:
You're settling a landlord dispute over $2,400 in damages. You upload:
- The original lease (casefile)
- Photos of the apartment condition (casefile)
- Email correspondence with the landlord (casefile)
- A settlement agreement template from our marketplace (briefcase)
Leyla analyzes everything and drafts a settlement agreement that:
- Identifies both parties correctly from the lease
- References the damage amount from correspondence
- Proposes a payment plan ($400/month for 6 months)
- Includes clauses for late payments, dispute resolution, and mutual release
- Incorporates provisions from the template you referenced
You review, edit the payment terms, and send it to the landlord for review - all within Laymans.
Settlement Agreements: Resolve Disputes Without Court
Most legal disputes settle before trial - why not skip the expensive litigation entirely?
Settlement agreements are contracts where parties resolve a dispute by agreeing to terms that avoid further legal action. Laymans makes settlement drafting accessible.
When to use settlement agreements:
- Landlord-tenant disputes - Security deposit fights, damage claims, early lease termination
- Consumer complaints - Defective products, service disputes, billing errors
- Debt resolution - Negotiate payoff amounts, payment schedules, credit reporting
- Personal injury - Minor accidents, property damage, medical bills
- Employment issues - Wrongful termination settlements, unpaid wages, severance agreements
Key clauses Laymans helps you include:
Payment Terms - How much, when, and how
- Lump sum or installment schedule
- Payment methods accepted
- Late payment consequences
- Early payment incentives
Mutual Release - Both parties give up future claims
- General release of all claims
- Specific release (limited to this dispute)
- Carve-outs for enforcement of this agreement
Confidentiality - Keep settlement terms private
- Non-disclosure of settlement amount
- Non-disparagement clauses
- Exceptions (attorneys, accountants, court orders)
Dispute Resolution - What happens if terms are violated
- Mediation before litigation
- Arbitration clauses
- Jurisdiction and venue
- Attorney fee provisions
Pro tip: Settlement agreements are most effective when both parties feel they're getting something. Use Laymans to model different payment scenarios and find terms that work for everyone.
Payment Plans: Formalize Financial Arrangements
Owing money is stressful. A clear payment plan reduces conflict and protects both parties.
Payment plan contracts establish installment arrangements for debts, bills, or purchases. They turn informal promises into enforceable agreements.
Common payment plan scenarios:
| Situation | Why You Need a Contract | What Laymans Provides |
|---|---|---|
| Medical debt | Hospital won't sue while you're making payments | Automated payment schedules with late fee calculations |
| Legal fees | Attorney needs assurance you'll pay in installments | Retainer agreements with payment tracking |
| Personal loans | Lending to family/friends without damaging relationships | Professional documentation that clarifies expectations |
| Rent arrears | Catch up on back rent without eviction | Payment plan with lease preservation terms |
| Damage claims | Paying for damages over time instead of lump sum | Graduated payment structures with completion incentives |
What makes a good payment plan contract:
- Clear payment schedule - Exact amounts, dates, and methods
- Default provisions - What happens if you miss a payment (grace periods, late fees, acceleration)
- Interest calculations - APR, simple vs. compound, when interest accrues
- Early payment terms - Can you pay off early? Any discounts for doing so?
- Collateral or security (if applicable) - What secures the debt?
- Accounting/record-keeping - How payments are tracked and credited
Leyla automates the math: Tell Leyla the total amount, number of payments, and any interest rate - she calculates the exact schedule, total cost, and per-payment amounts automatically.
Make it enforceable
Payment plan contracts are more enforceable when:
- Certified through Laymans verification services
- Notarized (available during finalization)
- Signed by both parties with witnesses
- Include consequences for breach (right to accelerate balance, attorney fees)
Service Contracts: Define Work Arrangements
Handshake deals fail when expectations aren't clear. Service contracts prevent "he said, she said" disputes.
Service contracts define the terms of work between parties - what will be done, when, how much it costs, and what happens if things go wrong.
Use cases for service contracts:
- Freelance work - Writing, design, consulting, programming
- Home repairs - Contractors, handymen, renovations
- Professional services - Bookkeeping, legal services, marketing
- Caregiving - Childcare, eldercare, pet sitting
- Event services - Photography, catering, entertainment
Essential service contract terms:
Scope of Work - Exactly what will be done
- Detailed description of services
- Deliverables and specifications
- Timeline and milestones
- What's NOT included (avoiding scope creep)
Payment Structure - How and when you'll pay
- Flat fee, hourly rate, or milestone payments
- Deposit or retainer requirements
- Invoicing schedule
- Accepted payment methods
- Late payment penalties
Termination Clauses - How to end the arrangement
- Notice period required
- Termination for cause vs. convenience
- Final payment calculations
- Return of materials or work product
Warranties and Liability - Who's responsible for what
- Quality guarantees
- Liability limitations
- Insurance requirements
- Indemnification provisions
Intellectual Property - Who owns the work product
- Work-for-hire provisions
- License grants
- Portfolio/marketing usage rights
- Confidentiality of proprietary information
Start from templates: Search Laymans for service contract briefcases in your field - legal professionals and experienced freelancers share templates you can customize with Leyla's help.
Sharing and Negotiating Contracts
Contracts aren't useful until the other party agrees. Laymans makes sharing and collaboration secure.
How to share contracts on Laymans:
| Sharing Method | Best For | How To |
|---|---|---|
| Direct link | Simple contracts with trusted parties | Generate shareable link from case details |
| Secure collaboration | Complex negotiations requiring back-and-forth | Invite other party to collaborate in text editor |
| Export and email | Parties not on Laymans | Export PDF and send via encrypted email |
| Public for reference | Template contracts you want to share with the community | Make casefile public (while keeping your case private) |
Keep negotiations private
While you can make contract templates public to help others, keep your actual contract cases PRIVATE until finalized. Only share with the specific parties involved and your legal servicers.
Collaborative contract negotiation:
Laymans' collaborative text editor allows you and the other party to:
- Edit the same document in real-time
- Leave comments on specific clauses
- Track changes and revision history
- Compare versions to see what changed
- Agree on final terms before signing
Real-world workflow:
- You draft initial contract terms in Laymans
- Share editing link with the other party
- They propose changes to payment schedule (highlighted in the editor)
- You counter-propose on timeline terms
- Leyla flags any contradictory clauses automatically
- Both parties approve final version
- You finalize and both parties receive certified copies
Certification, Notarization, and Enforcement
A contract is only as good as its enforceability. Laymans provides tools to make your agreements legally bulletproof.
Making contracts enforceable:
| Service | What It Does | When You Need It | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verification | Proves document exists and hasn't been altered | Always - it's free! | Verification Services |
| Certification | Official attestation of document authenticity | Court filings, formal agreements | During finalization process |
| Notarization | Witnesses signatures and verifies identity | Real estate, loan agreements, affidavits | Purchase notary service |
| QR code tracking | Allows anyone to verify document is genuine | Public-facing contracts, shared agreements | Auto-generated during finalization |
Document verification features:
Laymans automatically provides:
- Blockchain timestamping - Immutable proof of when contract was created
- Hash verification - Mathematical proof document hasn't been altered
- QR code validation - Anyone can scan to verify authenticity
- Audit trail - Complete history of edits and who made them
Get it notarized
For contracts involving significant money, property, or legal rights, invest in notarization. Laymans connects you with remote notary services - verify identities, sign via video conference, and get notarized documents in minutes.
What makes contracts enforceable in court:
- Offer and acceptance - Both parties agreed to terms (tracked in Laymans)
- Consideration - Something of value exchanged (documented in contract)
- Legal purpose - Contract isn't for illegal activity
- Capacity - Parties are competent to contract (verified if notarized)
- Written documentation - Terms are clear and documented (Laymans provides this)
- Signatures - Both parties signed (Laymans supports digital signatures)
Contract Management Tools
Creating the contract is just the beginning. Laymans helps you manage performance, track compliance, and enforce terms.
Built-in contract management:
- Payment tracking - Monitor which installments have been paid
- Deadline reminders - Get notified before performance deadlines
- Milestone completion - Check off deliverables as work is completed
- Dispute documentation - If breached, document violations in casefiles
- Amendment creation - Modify terms and track contract versions
- Related cases - Link contracts to parent cases (e.g., settlement from litigation)
When contracts are breached:
If the other party doesn't honor the agreement, Laymans helps you take action:
- Document the breach - Create casefiles with evidence of violations
- Send demand letter - Create a Letter-type case referencing the contract
- File for enforcement - Create a Litigation-type case to enforce the contract in court
- Reference original contract - Leyla pulls terms from the original contract case automatically
The power of the ecosystem: A contract you create today becomes the evidence for the demand letter tomorrow and the litigation complaint next month - all interconnected within Laymans.
Smart Contract Features
Laymans offers advanced features that go beyond simple contract templates:
Clause libraries and automation:
- Standard clause insertion - Common provisions (severability, entire agreement, amendments)
- Jurisdiction-specific terms - Clauses tailored to your state's laws (e.g., Texas property code)
- Industry-specific provisions - Terms common in your field (construction, tech, healthcare)
- AI-suggested improvements - Leyla identifies missing provisions or vague terms
Advanced contract types:
Conditional contracts - Terms that trigger based on conditions
- "If X happens, then Y payment is due"
- Performance-based payment releases
- Contingency clauses (e.g., contract void if financing falls through)
Multi-party agreements - Contracts involving 3+ parties
- Joint ventures and partnerships
- Construction contracts (owner, contractor, subcontractors)
- Settlement agreements with multiple defendants
Evergreen contracts - Auto-renewing agreements
- Service contracts that renew annually
- Subscription agreements
- Retainer arrangements with termination provisions
Getting Started with Contracts
| Step | Action | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create your account and encrypt your data | Start Registration |
| 2 | Gather your evidence and reference materials | Create a Casefile |
| 3 | Search for contract templates relevant to your situation | Conducting Your First Search |
| 4 | Start a Contract-type case | How to Start a Case |
| 5 | Talk to Leyla and attach your resources | Build Your Case Using AI |
| 6 | Finalize and certify your contract | How to Finalize Your Case |
Contract Resources and Support
| Resource | What You'll Find | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Briefcases | Contract templates shared by legal professionals | Search for "contract" + your issue area |
| Seminars | Educational content on contract law and negotiation | What is a Seminar? |
| Legal services | Hire an attorney to review your contract | Purchase Services |
| Public records | Find sample contracts and court filings | Access Public Records |
| Movements | Join collective actions for systemic contract issues | Apply to a Movement |
When to get a lawyer
While Laymans makes contract creation accessible, some situations require professional legal review:
- Contracts involving real estate or significant property
- Business formation and partnership agreements
- Employment contracts with complex equity/IP provisions
- Contracts in heavily regulated industries (healthcare, finance, construction)
- Any contract where the other party has legal representation
Use Laymans to draft the initial terms and understand the issues, then hire a lawyer to review before finalizing.
Why Create Contracts on Laymans
| Traditional Approach | Laymans Approach |
|---|---|
| Pay lawyer $500-2000 to draft simple contract | Draft with AI assistance for free |
| Fill out generic template that doesn't fit your situation | AI customizes based on your actual evidence and facts |
| No way to collaborate with other party on terms | Built-in collaborative editing and version control |
| Pay separately for notarization services | Access notary services directly in platform |
| No proof of document authenticity | Automatic verification, timestamping, and QR codes |
| Contract sits in a file drawer | Integrated case management and deadline tracking |
| Start from scratch if you need to enforce | Convert to demand letter or litigation with one click |
Laymans makes contracts accessible, professional, and enforceable - so you can formalize agreements without expensive lawyers eating into what little money is at stake.