Notices Clause
Also called: Notice Provision · How to Give Notice
A notices clause specifies how formal communications under a contract — termination notices, breach notices, address changes — must be delivered to be legally effective, and to which address or contact. An email that feels like adequate notice may not count at all if it doesn't match what the clause requires.
In more detail
This is one of the most overlooked clauses in a contract until it matters urgently — when a party needs to send a termination or breach notice, delivering it the wrong way can mean it was never legally given at all, regardless of whether the other side actually saw it.
Contracts typically specify permitted delivery methods (registered post, courier, email, or a combination), the address or contact each method must go to, and when notice is deemed received — which can differ meaningfully from when it was actually sent.
Modern contracts increasingly permit email as a valid notice method, but older templates sometimes require physical delivery only — worth checking specifically rather than assuming email is always sufficient.
A vendor emails a termination notice to a general company inbox rather than the specific legal contact named in the notices clause. If the clause requires notice to that named contact by courier or registered post, the email may not constitute valid notice — potentially invalidating the termination.
What our lawyers check
- Which delivery methods are permitted, and whether email is included
- The specific address or contact notice must be sent to
- When notice is deemed received under the clause
- Whether the clause has been kept current with the parties' actual contact details
Contracts where this clause matters
Related terms
This definition is general information about commercial contracting practice, not legal advice. How a clause operates depends on the specific wording of your agreement and the law that governs it. For advice on your contract, have it reviewed by a lawyer.
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