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Reformation
Reformation is a court-ordered correction of a written contract to match what the parties actually agreed to, fixing errors like typos or omissions.
What it actually is
Reformation is an equitable remedy that allows a court to rewrite a contract when the written document does not accurately reflect the parties’ true agreement due to mutual mistake, fraud, or a scrivener’s error. It appears in a lawsuit as a separate claim for relief, usually alongside other contract claims, and requires clear proof of the actual intended terms.
Why it matters in your case
If you are in a case where a contract contains a mistake, reformation can force the other side to accept the corrected version without canceling the entire deal. Practically, it preserves the contract’s benefits while aligning it with what was actually promised.
The common misunderstanding
Many people think reformation lets a court fix a bad bargain or add missing terms that were never agreed upon. In reality, it only corrects errors in reducing the agreement to writing—it cannot change the substance of the deal itself.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.