One commonly asked question is whether a contract has to be in writing. Provided the requirements for a contract to be legally binding are met, there is no reason why contracts should not be verbal. Some contracts must, by law, be in writing, such as insurance contracts and contracts for the sale of land. Otherwise, verbal contracts are not only acceptable but form the largest proportion of the thousands of contracts satisfactorily completed every day.

The problem with a verbal contract is that it if there is a dispute over the terms it may be difficult to prove its terms. People can forget, deliberately or accidentally, what they have agreed, and if there is no written record of contractual terms it could be 'your word against theirs'.

Obviously, the more valuable the goods or services in question, the more important it may be to have a written agreement. A simple, one-off exchange of goods or services can usually be dealt with verbally without problems, whereas a contract that involves multiple dealings or that continues over a long period - such as employment, agistment, share farming agreements and partnership agreements - should usually be in writing for everyone's benefit.