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If you are planning to share a major piece of property with someone outside your family (whether it's a lawn mower, car, or entire house), it's wise to create a sharing agreement to memorialize your understanding of the arrangement. However, such an agreement does not have to be on fancy paper or include lots of "heretofores" and "parties of the first part." Instead, you should write your agreement in plain language, so everyone signing it—and anyone who has to read or agree to it later, like new members, a mediator, or even a judge or arbitrator, if you have a dispute—understands exactly what it means.
Your group might—or might not—want your agreement to be legally binding. If your group chooses not to create an enforceable agreement, you can simply write down your shared understanding of how your group will work and the rules members will follow, then sign your names.
If, however, your group wants a binding enforceable agreement (in other words, a contract), you will need to agree to exchange something of value (for example, to provide goods or services, pay money, and so on). From a legal perspective, this is called "consideration." This requirement prevents people from enforcing one-sided promises.
If, for example, someone promises to pay you $500 without you promising to do anything in return, and then the other person doesn't follow through, there isn't a contract and you can't sue to get the money. On the other hand, if someone promises to pay you $500 to landscape a yard, and you do the work, you have a binding contract that you can enforce to get paid.
Everyone who's involved in the agreement should date and sign it. (It could even be handwritten, though we don't recommend that.) For simple sharing arrangements, you won't need to have your signatures notarized.
For anything involving real estate, however, notarization will probably be required. And some states have their own requirements about notarization—for example, a few have laws saying that any transfer of a vehicle must have notarized signatures, and others require fingerprints if you're transferring real estate. If you're transferring property of any kind, check your state's laws.
If you're dealing with real estate, have a lawyer draft or at least review your documents. While we're all for handling matters yourself, the paperwork involved in transferring and owning real estate can be complex and subject to lots of state rules. Even if you draft your own documents, make sure you ask a lawyer to review them before you sign, seal, and deliver them. You'll find more information about hiring a lawyer below.
Here is a sample sharing agreement for a fairly simple arrangement among people who work in the same building to share a bicycle. You'll see that it covers many of the types of issues you'd want to discuss in any sharing arrangement. You'll also see that the agreement is written in straightforward language that's easy to understand, and runs only a couple of pages.
This agreement is between all members of the Grayson Street Bike Sharing Group ("Group"), who all work together at 1010 Grayson Street. We have decided to share the use of an office bicycle. By signing this agreement, each member agrees as follows:
Purpose: We agree to share a bicycle for the purpose of occasional use by members, in order to save money and reduce our use of energy and natural resources.
Shared Property: The shared item is described as follows: blue Trek bicycle, 13 speeds, "Trek" logo on bar, "One Less Car" sticker on back fender.
Initial Members: Initial members of the Group are Sarabeth Johnson, Martin Carver, Joe Nathanson, and Flora Jiminez. The Group may choose to add new members at a later date, as detailed below.
Number of Members: We agree that the Group should have no more than five members, and that all members must be tenants at 1010 Grayson Street.
Timeline: We will begin sharing on July 15, 2024 and will continue until the group chooses to dissolve.
Ownership: The bicycle is and will remain the separate property of Martin Carver.
Structure: We are a loose association of individuals. We do not intend to enter into a partnership or form an incorporated entity.
Benefits: Each member of the Group may use the bicycle when needed, but for no more than ten trips per week, unless the Group agrees to allow a member more trips.
Decisions: Important decisions of the Group will be made by consensus. Important decisions include those relating to the schedule of use of the bicycle. We will discuss decisions over email using our Yahoo group. If the group cannot reach an agreement, Martin will be the decision maker.
Responsibilities: Each member is responsible for complying with the Group's rules, maintaining the schedule of use, and treating the bicycle well. This Group won't have an administrator as our administrative needs are simple.
Rules: Members agree to use the bicycle only at times they sign up for, ride it with care, return it on time, and always lock it carefully.
Procedures: Members will communicate with each other in the following manner: We'll set up a Yahoo group and a calendar for use of the bicycle. Everyone in the Group can sign up to use the bicycle any time within the limits stated above.
Costs: We don't anticipate any significant costs. Flora agrees to keep the bicycle in good working order with maintenance and tune-ups, at no cost to the rest of the group members. If parts or supplies are needed, Joe and Sarabeth will share the costs equally up to $50 per year, in exchange for Martin's allowing use of the bicycle and Flora performing the maintenance work. If repairs or parts are needed that cost more than $50, we'll discuss what to do.
Loss and Liability: Each of us has health insurance. We all agree to hold one another harmless for any injuries or damages that we incur while riding the bicycle. We all agree to wear a bike helmet at all times when riding the bicycle.
Dispute Resolution: If a conflict or dispute arises that we are unable to solve through discussion, we agree to use SEEDS Community Resolution Center to help us resolve our dispute, and to share the minimal cost equally, regardless of who asks for the mediation.
New Members: Membership is limited to tenants at 1010 Grayson Street, and new tenants are welcome to join the Group.
Procedure for Withdrawing from the Group or Expelling Members: Anyone can leave the Group at any time, and Martin is free to stop allowing use of the bicycle whenever he wishes. If anyone feels that another member isn't following the rules, we'll have an in-person meeting to discuss what to do.
Dissolving the Group: There's no formal procedure for dissolving the Group. We'll end it when there are no longer at least two people who want to participate.
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