When reading contracts or engaging in negotiations, you may come across the term “party of the first part.” It might appear intimidating at first, but it’s actually fairly straightforward to understand.
At its most basic, “party of the first part” is a legal term that is used to refer to one of the parties in a legal agreement or contract. It is the first party listed in the contract and generally consists of the individual or entity that is creating the agreement. Generally speaking, if two parties are engaging in a contract, one would be designated as the “party of the first part” and the other as the “party of the second part.”
For example, suppose that a local restaurant owner and a delivery service enter into an agreement. The restaurant owner may be referred to as the “party of the first part and the delivery service as the “=party of the second part.” The term “party of the first part” is typically used to refer to the party who instituted or initiated the agreement.
In some respects, the term “party of the first part” is outdated due to its use of language that is no longer necessary or widespread. This archaic language may seem confusing to some who are not versed in legal terminology, but the meaning is simple enough. As long as you understand the concept of what a “party of the first part” is, then you should have no trouble understanding contracts or other legal documents.