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Can ChatGPT write a contract?
Short answer
It can draft one, but check it. ChatGPT writes clear terms quickly but may follow US law or miss UK consumer rules. For example, GOV.UK says that when you agree work in a customer's home you must tell them they can cancel within 14 days. Use AI for a first draft, then check it against UK guidance or a solicitor.
What ChatGPT is good for
- Turning your usual way of working into plain-English terms: deposits, payment dates, access, waste removal, extras.
- Explaining a clause in a supplier's contract (check the explanation against the original).
- Drafting a variation or change-order email when a job grows.
What it can get wrong
- US law. Ask for England and Wales (or Scotland or Northern Ireland) law in the prompt, and check anyway.
- Consumer rights. GOV.UK's door-to-door sales page says you must give customers certain information before an order is placed, including their right to cancel within 14 days. If you don't tell them, they can cancel for up to 12 months, and failing to tell them can lead to a fine or prison.
- Unfair terms. Clauses that are unfair to consumers can't be enforced against them, whatever you write.
- Made-up law. AI can invent section numbers or cases. See what is an AI hallucination?
A safer route
Start from our free terms and conditions template for trades, which links to the UK rules it relies on, then use AI to adapt the wording. For high-value or unusual work, pay a solicitor to review it.
Prompt: "Using the law of England and Wales, review these terms for a sole trader [trade] working in customers' homes. Flag anything that conflicts with UK consumer law, including the right to cancel. Use plain British English."
Related questions
Can AI help with contracts?
Yes, for drafting and explaining. Keep personal details out of personal accounts and get important contracts checked.
Is a contract written by ChatGPT legally binding?
A contract can be binding however it was drafted. What matters is what both sides agreed and whether the terms are lawful.
Sources
Checked 17 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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- Is AI regulated in the UK?
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