Contract Management

Just my experience: an MSA is often written with an "effective date" defined in the contract, i.e. wording such as "...this MSA is effective as of 05/31/2024..." in which case the effective date of contract would be that date, regardless of executive signatures. The counter signature simply acknowledges agreement with that statement at the time of signature.

If no effective contract initiation date is specifically noted in the content of the MSA, then I would agree with your choice to use the counter signature date as the effective date of the terms if only as a courtesy to the undefined effective term initiation.

Note: this obviously can make for messy litigation if the effective date is not clearly defined and something unsavory occurred between 05/31/2024 and 06/07/2024.

Just my opinion.

Hi, 

I do not believe you are correct. If the contract has an effective date, say January 1, even if one party signs January 10 and the other signs January 20, the contract obligations took effect on January 1, that being the effective date. This is especially critical when calculating the term. We use the Effective date, then if no Effective Date is provided, we look to the later of the 2 parties to sign. 

I hope this helps.

Hi, 

I do not believe you are correct. If the contract has an effective date, say January 1, even if one party signs January 10 and the other signs January 20, the contract obligations took effect on January 1, that being the effective date. This is especially critical when calculating the term. We use the Effective date, then if no Effective Date is provided, we look to the later of the 2 parties to sign. 

I hope this helps.

Hi, 

I do not believe you are correct. If the contract has an effective date, say January 1, even if one party signs January 10 and the other signs January 20, the contract obligations took effect on January 1, that being the effective date. This is especially critical when calculating the term. We use the Effective date, then if no Effective Date is provided, we look to the later of the 2 parties to sign. 

I hope this helps.

Stanley is correct in the explanation of effective date.

Hi, 

I do not believe you are correct. If the contract has an effective date, say January 1, even if one party signs January 10 and the other signs January 20, the contract obligations took effect on January 1, that being the effective date. This is especially critical when calculating the term. We use the Effective date, then if no Effective Date is provided, we look to the later of the 2 parties to sign. 

I hope this helps.