The Final Review Checklist Before You Both Sign

You have drafted your agreement. Both of you have discussed the terms. You are almost ready to sign. But before you do, take one more pass through the document with fresh eyes.

This checklist catches the things people commonly miss—gaps that seem minor now but become major problems when circumstances change or the arrangement ends. Run through every item. If something does not apply to your arrangement, skip it. But do not skip it because it is uncomfortable—those are usually the items that matter most.

The Review Process

Before diving into the checklist, a few ground rules:

Both parties should review independently. Do not sit together and rush through this. Each person should take the agreement home (or to a quiet space) and review it alone, with time to think.

Sleep on it. Seriously. Review the agreement, then wait at least 24 hours before signing. Terms that seem fine in the excitement of a new arrangement may look different after a night's sleep.

Ask someone you trust. If you have a trusted friend, mentor, or advisor, ask them to read the agreement and give you honest feedback. An outside perspective catches things you will miss because you are emotionally invested. This is especially important if there is a power imbalance in the arrangement.

Tools like SugarDaddyContracts.com can help you generate a structured starting point, but always customize and review the output to match your specific situation.

The Checklist

Overall Structure and Completeness

Both parties are identified (names, pseudonyms, or other identifiers)
The purpose of the arrangement is stated (what it is and what it is not)
The effective date is included
Every section is complete (no "TBD" or "we'll figure this out later" placeholders)
The language is clear to both parties (if either person does not fully understand a section, rewrite it—see our guide on plain language vs. legal language)
Both parties contributed to the terms (not just one person drafted and the other approved)

Financial Terms

For detailed guidance on this section, see how to write financial terms clearly.

Expectations and Commitments

Each party's commitments are listed specifically
Meeting frequency and duration are defined
Communication expectations are clear (channels, response times, availability windows)
Both parties' commitments are equally specific (not one vague and one detailed—that is a red flag)
There are no open-ended obligations ("always available" or "whenever needed" are not specific commitments)
Expectations are realistic (can both parties actually deliver what they are promising?)

Boundaries

Physical boundaries are explicitly stated
Emotional boundaries are addressed (expectations about emotional availability, depth of connection)
Time boundaries are defined (when contact is and is not appropriate)
Social boundaries are clear (public behavior, interactions with each other's social circles)
Digital boundaries are specified (social media, photos, tagging, location sharing)
Boundaries are written as clear statements, not vague guidelines
Both parties have had the opportunity to add boundaries

Confidentiality

Confidential information is specifically defined (not just "everything")
Exceptions are listed (trusted confidants, professionals, legal obligations)
Digital privacy is addressed (messaging platforms, photo storage, screenshots)
Social media rules are specified
Consequences for breaching confidentiality are defined
Post-arrangement confidentiality obligations are stated
A timeline for deleting private data after the arrangement ends is included
Confidentiality protects BOTH parties equally (not just the one with more to lose)

For a deep dive, see writing a confidentiality section that actually works.

Duration and Review

Start date is specified
Duration or renewal terms are defined (fixed term, auto-renewal, open-ended with reviews)
Regular check-in schedule is established (monthly, quarterly)
Check-in format is defined (in person, video call, specific questions to discuss)

Exit Clause

Either party can exit (no mutual-consent-required lock-in)
No reason is required to exit (the right to leave should be unconditional)
Notice period is defined and appropriate (long enough to protect the other party, not so long it traps anyone)
How notice is delivered is specified
What happens during the notice period is defined (financial terms, meetings, contact)
Financial transition terms are included (especially if one party depends on the other)
Post-arrangement contact terms are defined (no-contact period, or terms for ongoing communication)
The exit clause does not punish the person who leaves
The exit clause accounts for power imbalances (if one person's circumstances are more affected by the end, protections are in place)

For more detail, see how to write an exit clause both parties will respect.

Amendments

A process for proposing changes is defined
Changes require both parties' agreement (no unilateral amendments)
Changes must be documented in writing
Previous versions are retained

See how to handle amendments and updates.

Dispute Resolution

A step-by-step process for resolving disagreements is included
There is a cooling-off period before escalation
A third-party mediation option is identified (even if informal)
The process is realistic (not overly legalistic for a casual arrangement)

Fairness Check

This section is not about specific terms—it is about the agreement as a whole.

Read through the agreement from the other person's perspective. Does it still seem fair?
Compare each party's obligations. Are they balanced? If one person's obligations are significantly heavier, is there a clear reason?
Check for one-sided protections. Does the confidentiality section protect both parties? Does the exit clause work for both parties? Are the financial terms fair in context?
Look for vague terms that benefit one person. Vagueness in one person's obligations combined with specificity in the other's is a sign of imbalance.
Consider the worst-case scenario. If this arrangement ends badly, does the agreement protect both people?
Ask: "Would I sign this if our positions were reversed?" If the answer is no, the agreement needs revision.

Practical and Logistical

Both parties have their own copy of the agreement
The format matches your privacy needs (digital, paper, encrypted)
Both parties have signed and dated the agreement
Storage location is secure (not somewhere the other person can access and alter your copy)
You have discussed what to do if one person loses their copy

After Signing

Signing is not the end of the process. It is the beginning of the arrangement's active phase. Keep these practices going:

Honor the check-in schedule. The reviews you scheduled in the agreement should actually happen.
Refer to the agreement when questions arise. That is what it is for.
Amend when needed. Do not let the written terms drift from reality.
Store it securely. Treat the agreement with the same care you would give any important personal document.

The Bottom Line

A final review is not about finding problems. It is about making sure the agreement you are about to sign accurately reflects what both of you discussed, protects both of you fairly, and will serve you well as the arrangement evolves.

Take the time. Run through each item. Ask the uncomfortable questions now so you do not have to answer them later under much worse circumstances.

For the complete guide on building your agreement from scratch, visit our Writing Your Agreement hub, and start with how to structure a casual agreement if you are still in the drafting phase.