Contract in Uzbek — how to review risks before you sign
A partner in Tashkent sends a shartnoma in Uzbek. Machine translation gives the gist but not whether you face unlimited liability, work-for-hire IP, or payment only after open-ended acceptance.
Here is what to check first — and how to get a risk summary in English without confusing that with a certified translation for a bank.
When Uzbek contracts show up
- Local entity or sole proprietor in Uzbekistan
- Subcontract chain with a UZ company
- Annexes in Uzbek while the master agreement is in another language
Watch for sections on to'lov shartlari (payment), javobgarlik (liability), maxfiylik (confidentiality), intellektual mulk (IP).
Seven checks before signing
- Payment timing — deposit, milestones, or pay-when-they-accept with no deadline.
- Penalties — daily rate, caps, your delay vs theirs.
- Termination for convenience — short notice, no payment for work done.
- IP — who owns deliverables; perpetual royalty-free license to them.
- Governing law / courts — Uzbekistan only while you are elsewhere.
- Currency — USD vs UZS, FX fees, who bears conversion risk.
- Controlling language — “Uzbek text prevails” — then you need precise meaning, not gist.
AI review vs certified translation
| Goal | Tool |
|---|---|
| Decide whether to sign | AI contract risk review with explanations in EN |
| Bank, visa, court | Certified translation with stamp |
Upload the PDF to Contractoor, pick English for explanations — structured risks in ~2 minutes. If an authority needs paper, use certified translation on the same files.
Practical tips
- Compare versions if they sent RU/EN drafts — mismatches matter.
- Put scope, dates, and amounts in a numbered appendix.
- Do not sign Friday EOD without at least this checklist.
Informational only, not legal advice.