Contract renewal - working before receiving signed copy

[SueEllen]

A friend of mine had the same situation. A contract has to be signed by both parties to be enforceable. My friend wasn't covered by his liability insurance without a completed contract, just something to bear in mind.

Not in any country within the UK it doesn't unless the contract contains a clause explicitly saying so.

In the case where a contract doesn't have such a clause and isn't signed by one or either party, the actions of both parties show whether a contract is agreed. So if you work and the client pays then you have a contract.

[SueEllen]

No it doesn't. The precedent for that was set in the House of Lords in 1877 and has not been overturned in 140 years.

Poster hasn't heard of verbal contracts