> ...how does one go about resolving vague contracts that > result in dispute? Many law schools have legal clinics designed just for that purpose. They like small straight forward cases to train students on. (BTW they will often help you draft a general purpose consulting contract) If you are not demanding specific performance and the amount in question is less that some amount (usually US$5,000) you can represent yourself in small claims court. However, small claims court is a lousy venue for "he said" vs. "she said" kinds of arguments over oral agreements. The judge's job is to resolve issues and when everything is muddy and undocumented the status quo tends to win. > Does anyone have experience with non-court > solutions methods? Are there generally available > public services (free or not) that help guide > individuals through some of these issues? Try the American Arbitration Association (http://www.adr.org) if your contractor will agree to use them. They're not free, but they are non-profit, strive to be even-handed and have a good reputation. Win Wiencke -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics