Not every promise requires a contract. But even if you trust the other party, terms can still be forgotten or contested. In addition, the specific language of a contract and the terms within can be very important in enforcing the contract in the event of a breach. California Civil Code section 1549 provides that “[a] contract is an agreement to do or not to do a certain thing.” Courts have defined the term as follows: “A contract is a voluntary and lawful agreement, by competent parties, for a good consideration, to do or not to do a specified thing.” Robinson v. Magee (1858) 9 Cal. 81, 83. California Civil Code section 1622 provides that “all contracts may be oral, except