Arbitration/Mediation/contract issue

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Expert: - 8/12/2010


Question
so this is going to sound dumb but i live at home going to college and slowly in the last 4 years have baught cows from my parents. i think they may be getting a divorce, heres the dumb part, i dont want to loose my six "babies" (cows) they are HUGE pets that i love dearly. i have raised them since they were babies. i have a homemade contract that i made them sign (sad i know) all the times i have ever baught a cow from them. my problem is my mom says shes going to sell them out from under me so i guess my question is, can a homade contract agreement be binding if i had to go to court over this???? i live in MO.

Answer
Lesli,

A homemade contract is just as binding as a contract drafted by an attorney.  You need to show there was a meeting of the minds and that you paid something of value for the cows.

I wish you the best of luck.

Paul D. Friedman, M.A., Ph.D., J.D.

Arbitration/Mediation

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Paul D. Friedman, M.A., Ph.D., J.D.

Expertise

I am a licensed attorney and Judge Pro Tempore who has conducted and been involved in hundreds of mediations and thousands of arbitrations. I can answer questions regarding settlement conferences, mediations or arbitrations. I do not give legal advice over the internet and it would be helpful to list your location such as country or state.

For more information, you can view my website at WWW.EXPERTETHICS.COM

Experience

I am a licensed attorney, Judge Pro Tempore and adjunct professor.

Experience in the area
I have been a licensed attorney since 1989 and a Judge Pro Tempore since 2005. Additionally, I have a masters degree in bioethics and a doctorate of philosophy regarding comparative ethics

Organizations
State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of Colorado (inactive)
District of Columbia Bar (inactive)
Federal Bar
Licensed in Arizona District Court
Licensed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Licensed in the United States Supreme Court
American Bar Association
National Board of Trial Advocacy
American Association for Justice
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities
Kennedy Institute of Ethics
National Association of Realtors

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts 1985
Juris Doctorate 1989
Master of Arts in Bioethics 2004
Doctorate of Philosphy 2006

Awards and Honors
Phi Beta Kappa
Multiple Who's Who

Publications
A list of my copyrighted publications and presentations is contained at WWW.EXPERTETHICS.COM

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