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API reference · Free

Contract review

Send a contract and a state. Each clause comes back labelled, with that state’s verified rule, the authority behind it, and a read of whether the clause trips the rule’s known trap.

POST/api/v1/contracts/reviewAPI key or session
Status
Enabled
Price
Free
Coverage
602 rules · 28 states
Max input
200,000 chars

Free for every signed-in lawyer and every key; response fields may still change. Nothing is invoiced. The review's own model spend, under a cent, counts toward a key's spend cap like any call.

What comes back

  • Clause labels

    The model sorts each section into clause families such as non-competition or choice of law.

    clauses[].families[]
  • Verified rules

    The rule, its trap and its authority, copied from our contract-law store. The model never writes law.

    rules[]
  • Trap read

    Whether the clause appears to trip the trap, with a short explanation in the clause’s own words.

    trap_assessment

A family with no verified rule for your state returns no_verified_rule and states no law for it.

Quickstart

curl https://docketrouter.ai/api/v1/contracts/review \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DOCKETROUTER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "$(jq -Rs '{text: ., jurisdiction: "tx", party: "employer"}' agreement.txt)"

Example: a real review

GrabAGun Digital Holdings Inc., EX-10.1 employment agreement filed 2026-08-13 · Texas, for the employer · run 2026-09-17 · deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash · 22.6 s · $0.00071 model cost

  • 44sections
  • 22labelled
  • 14with a verified rule
  • 8no_verified_rule
  • 2appear to trigger
  • 0traps not assessed

4 of 44 sections shown below, every value exactly as returned.

5.1Definition and Use of Confidential Informations21
Trade secrets and confidentialityverified_rulelabelled by model
Does the Texas trade secret statute wipe out our confidentiality clause, or does the NDA still do work?
tx-tutsa-displaces-tort-not-contract · as of 2026-09-14
  • Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 134A.007
does_not_appear_to_triggerThe clause defines Confidential Information as trade secrets and proprietary information, not as material that never qualified as a trade secret.
Rule

The NDA still does work — that is the express carve-out. The chapter displaces conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other law of this state providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret. But it does NOT affect: contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or criminal remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation. It also does not affect disclosure of public information by a governmental body under Chapter 552, Government Code.

Recorded trap

The displacement provision is why a confidentiality clause is not surplusage next to the statute: TUTSA absorbs the common-law tort claims but leaves the contract claim standing, and a contract claim can reach material that never qualified as a trade secret at all. Note this section was AMENDED in 2025 and its subsection (c) was repealed effective 4 December 2025, so pre-2026 commentary on its scope should be re-checked rather than relied on.

7.2Non-Competitions26
Non-competitionverified_rulelabelled by model
Is this non-compete enforceable, and does the consideration have to be exchanged at signing?
tx-noncompete-ancillary-and-timing · as of 2026-09-16
  • Light v. Centel Cellular Co. of Tex., 883 S.W.2d 642
  • Marsh USA Inc. v. Cook, 354 S.W.3d 764
  • Alex Sheshunoff Mgmt. Servs., L.P. v. Johnson, 209 S.W.3d 644
  • Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.50
  • Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.52
does_not_appear_to_triggerThe clause is a non-competition covenant but does not mention consideration or the employer's interest giving rise to it.
Rule

A covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is ancillary to or part of an otherwise enforceable agreement at the time the agreement is made, and only to the extent its limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity are reasonable and impose no greater restraint than is necessary to protect the promisee's goodwill or other business interest. The employer's consideration does NOT have to give rise to its interest in restraining the employee from competing: consideration reasonably related to an interest worthy of protection -- trade secrets, confidential information or goodwill -- satisfies the statutory nexus (Marsh USA v. Cook, 2011, which abandoned the stricter test Light had stated). The employer's promise may still be executory when the agreement is made; if the employer then performs and a unilateral contract is formed, the covenant is enforceable so long as the Act's other requirements are met (Sheshunoff, 2006).

Recorded trap

The superseded test is the one still quoted. Light (1994) required that the employer's consideration 'give rise to the employer's interest in restraining the employee from competing', and that sentence is still repeated in briefs and forms, but Marsh USA Inc. v. Cook (Tex. 2011) held it 'is not anchored in the text of the Act' and replaced it with a reasonable-relationship nexus -- which is why goodwill-based consideration such as stock options now supports a covenant. Light is abrogated, not erased: its 'otherwise enforceable agreement' step (mutual non-illusory promises) and its second prong (the covenant must be designed to enforce the employee's own return promise) were not the question in Marsh. A covenant that is a stand-alone employee promise with no new consideration from the employer still fails (Sheshunoff). And the health-care carve-outs are separate statutory conditions, not reasonableness factors: physicians under sec. 15.50(b), and since S.B. 1318 (eff. Sept. 1, 2025) dentists, nurses and physician assistants under sec. 15.501, each require a buyout, a one-year limit, a five-mile radius and clearly stated written terms.

14GOVERNING LAWs38
Choice of lawverified_rulelabelled by model
Will Texas honour a choice-of-law clause even where the chosen law offends Texas public policy?
tx-qualified-transaction-choice-of-law-overrides-policy · as of 2026-09-14
  • Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 271.005
does_not_appear_to_triggerThe clause selects Texas law but does not reference § 271.005(b) or a 'qualified transaction'; it is a general choice-of-law clause.
Rule

For a 'qualified transaction', yes — and that is the unusual part. The law of a particular jurisdiction governs an issue relating to a qualified transaction if the parties agree in writing that it governs the issue, including the validity or enforceability of the agreement or a provision of it, AND the transaction bears a reasonable relation to that jurisdiction. Subsection (b) then provides that the chosen law governs REGARDLESS of whether applying it is contrary to a fundamental or public policy of Texas or of any other jurisdiction. The section is expressly subject to §§ 271.007, 271.008(b), 271.009, 271.010 and 271.011, and to Chapter 272.

Recorded trap

Subsection (b) is the whole payload and it is bounded: it removes the usual fundamental-policy escape hatch, but only for a QUALIFIED TRANSACTION, which is a defined term this row does not reach. Outside that definition the ordinary conflicts analysis still applies, so citing § 271.005(b) for an everyday commercial agreement proves nothing.

Will a Texas court enforce our forum-selection and choice-of-law clauses, and how far do they reach?
tx-forum-selection-and-choice-of-law-scope · as of 2026-09-14
  • In re AIU Ins. Co., 148 S.W.3d 109
  • Sonat Expl. Co. v. Cudd Pressure Control, Inc., 271 S.W.3d 228
does_not_appear_to_triggerThe clause covers 'any dispute, claim or controversy relating to this Agreement, the Employee’s employment or the termination thereof', which is broad, not narrow.
Rule

Enforcement of a mandatory forum-selection clause is required unless the party resisting it clearly shows enforcement would be unreasonable and unjust, or that the clause is invalid for fraud or overreaching. A contractual choice-of-law clause is enforced according to its own scope -- a dispute falling outside that scope is instead analyzed under a most-significant-relationship test, which can select a different state's law.

Recorded trap

A choice-of-law clause drafted narrowly (e.g. covering only the contract's performance, not a related tort claim) will not automatically extend to every dispute between the parties -- read its scope literally, do not assume it is a blanket selection.

Arbitrationverified_rulelabelled by model
Is this arbitration clause enforceable under the Texas Arbitration Act?
tx-arbitration-valid-but-chapter-scope-carve-outs · as of 2026-09-14
  • Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.001
  • Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.002
appears_to_triggerThe clause mandates arbitration under AAA rules but does not show attorney signatures as required by Chapter 171 for certain contracts.
Rule

The clause itself is valid: a written agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable if it is an agreement to arbitrate a controversy that either exists at the time of the agreement or arises between the parties after that date, and a party may revoke it only on a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract. But Chapter 171 does not apply at all to: a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and a labor union; an agreement for the acquisition by one or more individuals of property, services, money or credit in which the total consideration furnished by the individual is not more than $50,000; a claim for personal injury; a claim for workers' compensation benefits; or an agreement made before January 1, 1966. The under-$50,000 and personal-injury carve-outs can be opted back into, but only where the parties agree in writing AND the agreement is signed by each party and each party's attorney — and, for personal injury, only on the advice of counsel.

Recorded trap

The attorney-signature requirement is the one that quietly defeats ordinary drafting. A perfectly standard arbitration clause in a consumer or small-services contract worth $50,000 or less falls outside the chapter unless each party's ATTORNEY signed it, and consumer agreements essentially never carry attorney signature blocks. The same is true of any personal-injury claim. Separately, this row is about the TEXAS act only: the Federal Arbitration Act may independently govern the same clause and is not addressed here, so 'outside Chapter 171' is not the same as 'not arbitrable'.

15SEVERABILITYs39
Severabilityno_verified_rulelabelled by model

No verified Texas rule for this family, so the review states no law for this clause.

Raw JSON for these sections
{
  "object": "contract_review",
  "beta": true,
  "jurisdiction": "tx",
  "party": "employer",
  "filename": "grabagun-employment-agreement-ex10-1.txt",
  "input": {
    "chars": 34459,
    "segments": 44
  },
  "classifier": {
    "mode": "model",
    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash"
  },
  "clauses": [
    {
      "id": "s21",
      "number": "5.1",
      "heading": "Definition and Use of Confidential Information",
      "path": [
        "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT",
        "CONFIDENTIALITY"
      ],
      "start": 13989,
      "end": 15618,
      "chars": 1629,
      "excerpt": "5.1 Definition and Use of Confidential Information. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means trade secrets and any other proprietary or confidential information that derives independent economic value to the Company from ",
      "families": [
        {
          "family": "trade-secret-confidentiality",
          "classified_by": "model",
          "result": "verified_rule",
          "rules": [
            {
              "jurisdiction": "tx",
              "clause": "trade-secret-confidentiality",
              "rule_id": "tx-tutsa-displaces-tort-not-contract",
              "question": "Does the Texas trade secret statute wipe out our confidentiality clause, or does the NDA still do work?",
              "rule": "The NDA still does work — that is the express carve-out. The chapter displaces conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other law of this state providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret. But it does NOT affect: contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or criminal remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation. It also does not affect disclosure of public information by a governmental body under Chapter 552, Government Code.",
              "trap": "The displacement provision is why a confidentiality clause is not surplusage next to the statute: TUTSA absorbs the common-law tort claims but leaves the contract claim standing, and a contract claim can reach material that never qualified as a trade secret at all. Note this section was AMENDED in 2025 and its subsection (c) was repealed effective 4 December 2025, so pre-2026 commentary on its scope should be re-checked rather than relied on.",
              "status": "verified",
              "as_of": "2026-09-14",
              "notes": null,
              "authority": [
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 134A.007",
                  "decided": "2013-09-01",
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 2,
                    "probe_query": "actual or threatened misappropriation of a trade secret may be enjoined and this chapter displaces conflicting tort remedies",
                    "index": "statutes",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_3ed35ace7c037e74",
                      "quote": "(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), this chapter displaces conflicting tort, restitutionary, and other law of this state providing civil remedies for misappropriation of a trade secret. (b) This chapter does not affect: (1) contractual remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; (2) other civil remedies that are not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret; or (3) criminal remedies, whether or not based upon misappropriation of a trade secret.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ],
              "authority_checks": [
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 134A.007",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                }
              ],
              "trap_assessment": {
                "result": "does_not_appear_to_trigger",
                "explanation": "The clause defines Confidential Information as trade secrets and proprietary information, not as material that never qualified as a trade secret.",
                "assessed_by": "model"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "s26",
      "number": "7.2",
      "heading": "Non-Competition",
      "path": [
        "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT",
        "NON-SOLICITATION"
      ],
      "start": 19667,
      "end": 20392,
      "chars": 725,
      "excerpt": "7.2 Non-Competition. The Employee agrees that for a period of one year after termination of his employment with the Company he will not compete, directly or indirectly, with the Company in fields of business in which the Company is engaged ",
      "families": [
        {
          "family": "non-competition",
          "classified_by": "model",
          "result": "verified_rule",
          "rules": [
            {
              "jurisdiction": "tx",
              "clause": "non-competition",
              "rule_id": "tx-noncompete-ancillary-and-timing",
              "question": "Is this non-compete enforceable, and does the consideration have to be exchanged at signing?",
              "rule": "A covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is ancillary to or part of an otherwise enforceable agreement at the time the agreement is made, and only to the extent its limitations as to time, geographical area and scope of activity are reasonable and impose no greater restraint than is necessary to protect the promisee's goodwill or other business interest. The employer's consideration does NOT have to give rise to its interest in restraining the employee from competing: consideration reasonably related to an interest worthy of protection -- trade secrets, confidential information or goodwill -- satisfies the statutory nexus (Marsh USA v. Cook, 2011, which abandoned the stricter test Light had stated). The employer's promise may still be executory when the agreement is made; if the employer then performs and a unilateral contract is formed, the covenant is enforceable so long as the Act's other requirements are met (Sheshunoff, 2006).",
              "trap": "The superseded test is the one still quoted. Light (1994) required that the employer's consideration 'give rise to the employer's interest in restraining the employee from competing', and that sentence is still repeated in briefs and forms, but Marsh USA Inc. v. Cook (Tex. 2011) held it 'is not anchored in the text of the Act' and replaced it with a reasonable-relationship nexus -- which is why goodwill-based consideration such as stock options now supports a covenant. Light is abrogated, not erased: its 'otherwise enforceable agreement' step (mutual non-illusory promises) and its second prong (the covenant must be designed to enforce the employee's own return promise) were not the question in Marsh. A covenant that is a stand-alone employee promise with no new consideration from the employer still fails (Sheshunoff). And the health-care carve-outs are separate statutory conditions, not reasonableness factors: physicians under sec. 15.50(b), and since S.B. 1318 (eff. Sept. 1, 2025) dentists, nurses and physician assistants under sec. 15.501, each require a buyout, a one-year limit, a five-mile radius and clearly stated written terms.",
              "status": "verified",
              "as_of": "2026-09-16",
              "notes": null,
              "authority": [
                {
                  "kind": "case",
                  "cite": "883 S.W.2d 642",
                  "name": "Light v. Centel Cellular Co. of Tex.",
                  "decided": "1994",
                  "court": "Tex.",
                  "verified": {
                    "cite_in_index": true,
                    "name_matches_index": true,
                    "support_verdict": "unclear",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14"
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "case",
                  "cite": "354 S.W.3d 764",
                  "name": "Marsh USA Inc. v. Cook",
                  "decided": "2011",
                  "court": "Tex.",
                  "verified": {
                    "support_verdict": "supports",
                    "checked": "2026-09-16",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-caselaw-tx",
                      "row_id": "85385c21b4a84b05",
                      "cl_opinion_id": "2541088",
                      "quote": "Consideration for a noncompete that is reasonably related to an interest worthy of protection, such as trade secrets, confidential information or goodwill, satisfies the statutory nexus; and there is no textual basis for excluding the protection of much of goodwill from the business interests that a noncompete may protect.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "case",
                  "cite": "209 S.W.3d 644",
                  "name": "Alex Sheshunoff Mgmt. Servs., L.P. v. Johnson",
                  "decided": "2006",
                  "court": "Tex.",
                  "verified": {
                    "cite_in_index": true,
                    "name_matches_index": true,
                    "support_verdict": "unclear",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-caselaw-tx",
                      "row_id": "ecfc809b4e80cb9c",
                      "cl_opinion_id": "894789",
                      "quote": "we hold that a covenant not to compete is not unenforceable under the Covenants Not to Compete Act solely because the employer's promise is executory when made. If the agreement becomes enforceable after the agreement is made because the employer performs his promise under the agreement and a unilateral contract is formed, the covenant is enforceable if all other requirements under the Act are met.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.50",
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 1,
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "probe_query": "covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement",
                    "index": "statutes-exact (brute-force cosine on the corpus host; the SERVED approximate index does NOT return this section for this query -- see docs/TX-RETRIEVAL-ANN-RECALL.md)",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_06c0abd3300be49a",
                      "quote": "a covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is ancillary to or part of an otherwise enforceable agreement at the time the agreement is made to the extent that it contains limitations as to time, geographical area, and scope of activity to be restrained that are reasonable and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to protect the goodwill or other business interest of the promisee.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.52",
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 2,
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "probe_query": "covenant not to compete is enforceable if it is ancillary to an otherwise enforceable agreement",
                    "index": "statutes",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_f145f270eae3f9b0",
                      "quote": "The criteria for enforceability of a covenant not to compete provided by Sections 15.50 and 15.501 and the procedures and remedies in an action to enforce a covenant not to compete provided by Section 15.51 are exclusive and preempt other law, including common law.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ],
              "authority_checks": [
                {
                  "cite": "883 S.W.2d 642",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": false
                },
                {
                  "cite": "354 S.W.3d 764",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": false,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                },
                {
                  "cite": "209 S.W.3d 644",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                },
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.50",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                },
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 15.52",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                }
              ],
              "trap_assessment": {
                "result": "does_not_appear_to_trigger",
                "explanation": "The clause is a non-competition covenant but does not mention consideration or the employer's interest giving rise to it.",
                "assessed_by": "model"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "s38",
      "number": "14",
      "heading": "GOVERNING LAW",
      "path": [
        "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT"
      ],
      "start": 26841,
      "end": 27401,
      "chars": 560,
      "excerpt": "14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced according to the laws of the State of Texas (regardless of that state or any other jurisdiction’s conflict of law principles). The Parties agree to submit any dispute, clai",
      "families": [
        {
          "family": "choice-of-law",
          "classified_by": "model",
          "result": "verified_rule",
          "rules": [
            {
              "jurisdiction": "tx",
              "clause": "choice-of-law",
              "rule_id": "tx-qualified-transaction-choice-of-law-overrides-policy",
              "question": "Will Texas honour a choice-of-law clause even where the chosen law offends Texas public policy?",
              "rule": "For a 'qualified transaction', yes — and that is the unusual part. The law of a particular jurisdiction governs an issue relating to a qualified transaction if the parties agree in writing that it governs the issue, including the validity or enforceability of the agreement or a provision of it, AND the transaction bears a reasonable relation to that jurisdiction. Subsection (b) then provides that the chosen law governs REGARDLESS of whether applying it is contrary to a fundamental or public policy of Texas or of any other jurisdiction. The section is expressly subject to §§ 271.007, 271.008(b), 271.009, 271.010 and 271.011, and to Chapter 272.",
              "trap": "Subsection (b) is the whole payload and it is bounded: it removes the usual fundamental-policy escape hatch, but only for a QUALIFIED TRANSACTION, which is a defined term this row does not reach. Outside that definition the ordinary conflicts analysis still applies, so citing § 271.005(b) for an everyday commercial agreement proves nothing.",
              "status": "verified",
              "as_of": "2026-09-14",
              "notes": null,
              "authority": [
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 271.005",
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 2,
                    "probe_query": "parties to a qualified transaction may agree that the law of a particular jurisdiction governs",
                    "index": "statutes",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_3b8a605e3105d028",
                      "quote": "(a) Except as provided by Section 271.007 , 271.008 (b), 271.009 , 271.010 , or 271.011 or by Chapter 272 , the law of a particular jurisdiction governs an issue relating to a qualified transaction if: (1) the parties to the transaction agree in writing that the law of that jurisdiction governs the issue, including the validity or enforceability of an agreement relating to the transaction or a provision of the agreement; and (2) the transaction bears a reasonable relation to that jurisdiction. (a-1) Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the choice of governing law specified in the terms applicable to a certificated or uncertificated security issued by a foreign state as defined by 28 U.S.C. Section 1603 in a qualified transaction, including any change in that governing law, applies retroactively to all issues relating to such security. (b) The law of a particular jurisdiction governs an issue described by this section regardless of whether the application of that law is contrary to a fundamental or public policy of this state or of any other jurisdiction.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ],
              "authority_checks": [
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 271.005",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                }
              ],
              "trap_assessment": {
                "result": "does_not_appear_to_trigger",
                "explanation": "The clause selects Texas law but does not reference § 271.005(b) or a 'qualified transaction'; it is a general choice-of-law clause.",
                "assessed_by": "model"
              }
            },
            {
              "jurisdiction": "tx",
              "clause": "choice-of-law",
              "rule_id": "tx-forum-selection-and-choice-of-law-scope",
              "question": "Will a Texas court enforce our forum-selection and choice-of-law clauses, and how far do they reach?",
              "rule": "Enforcement of a mandatory forum-selection clause is required unless the party resisting it clearly shows enforcement would be unreasonable and unjust, or that the clause is invalid for fraud or overreaching. A contractual choice-of-law clause is enforced according to its own scope -- a dispute falling outside that scope is instead analyzed under a most-significant-relationship test, which can select a different state's law.",
              "trap": "A choice-of-law clause drafted narrowly (e.g. covering only the contract's performance, not a related tort claim) will not automatically extend to every dispute between the parties -- read its scope literally, do not assume it is a blanket selection.",
              "status": "verified",
              "as_of": "2026-09-14",
              "notes": null,
              "authority": [
                {
                  "kind": "case",
                  "cite": "148 S.W.3d 109",
                  "name": "In re AIU Ins. Co.",
                  "decided": "2004",
                  "court": "Tex.",
                  "verified": {
                    "cite_in_index": true,
                    "name_matches_index": false,
                    "support_verdict": "unclear",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-caselaw-tx",
                      "row_id": "7d855b905df1b228",
                      "cl_opinion_id": "894598",
                      "quote": "In The Bremen, the Supreme Court held that a \"forum clause should control absent a strong showing that it should be set aside,\" and that \"[t]he correct approach [is] to enforce the forum clause specifically unless [the party opposing it] could clearly show that enforcement would be unreasonable and unjust, or that the clause was invalid for such reasons as fraud or overreaching.\"",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "case",
                  "cite": "271 S.W.3d 228",
                  "name": "Sonat Expl. Co. v. Cudd Pressure Control, Inc.",
                  "decided": "2008",
                  "court": "Tex.",
                  "verified": {
                    "cite_in_index": true,
                    "name_matches_index": true,
                    "support_verdict": "unclear",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-caselaw-tx",
                      "row_id": "6da845e28db7d7f1",
                      "cl_opinion_id": "895066",
                      "quote": "Under Texas choice-of-law rules governing contracts (including oilfield indemnity clauses), we look to the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws — specifically section 187 for contracts that contain an express choice of law, and section 188 for those that do not.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ],
              "authority_checks": [
                {
                  "cite": "148 S.W.3d 109",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                },
                {
                  "cite": "271 S.W.3d 228",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                }
              ],
              "trap_assessment": {
                "result": "does_not_appear_to_trigger",
                "explanation": "The clause covers 'any dispute, claim or controversy relating to this Agreement, the Employee’s employment or the termination thereof', which is broad, not narrow.",
                "assessed_by": "model"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "family": "arbitration",
          "classified_by": "model",
          "result": "verified_rule",
          "rules": [
            {
              "jurisdiction": "tx",
              "clause": "arbitration",
              "rule_id": "tx-arbitration-valid-but-chapter-scope-carve-outs",
              "question": "Is this arbitration clause enforceable under the Texas Arbitration Act?",
              "rule": "The clause itself is valid: a written agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable if it is an agreement to arbitrate a controversy that either exists at the time of the agreement or arises between the parties after that date, and a party may revoke it only on a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract. But Chapter 171 does not apply at all to: a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and a labor union; an agreement for the acquisition by one or more individuals of property, services, money or credit in which the total consideration furnished by the individual is not more than $50,000; a claim for personal injury; a claim for workers' compensation benefits; or an agreement made before January 1, 1966. The under-$50,000 and personal-injury carve-outs can be opted back into, but only where the parties agree in writing AND the agreement is signed by each party and each party's attorney — and, for personal injury, only on the advice of counsel.",
              "trap": "The attorney-signature requirement is the one that quietly defeats ordinary drafting. A perfectly standard arbitration clause in a consumer or small-services contract worth $50,000 or less falls outside the chapter unless each party's ATTORNEY signed it, and consumer agreements essentially never carry attorney signature blocks. The same is true of any personal-injury claim. Separately, this row is about the TEXAS act only: the Federal Arbitration Act may independently govern the same clause and is not addressed here, so 'outside Chapter 171' is not the same as 'not arbitrable'.",
              "status": "verified",
              "as_of": "2026-09-14",
              "notes": null,
              "authority": [
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.001",
                  "decided": "1997-09-01",
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 2,
                    "probe_query": "a written agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable and a court shall order the parties to arbitrate",
                    "index": "statutes",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_0e49ea90a1815451",
                      "quote": "(a) A written agreement to arbitrate is valid and enforceable if the agreement is to arbitrate a controversy that: (1) exists at the time of the agreement; or (2) arises between the parties after the date of the agreement. (b) A party may revoke the agreement only on a ground that exists at law or in equity for the revocation of a contract.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                },
                {
                  "kind": "statute",
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.002",
                  "decided": null,
                  "verified": {
                    "retrievable": true,
                    "rank": 1,
                    "probe_query": "this chapter does not apply to an agreement for the acquisition of property or services in which the consideration is not more than $50,000 unless signed by each party and each party's attorney",
                    "index": "statutes",
                    "checked": "2026-09-14",
                    "corpus": {
                      "dataset": "docketx/us-statutes",
                      "row_id": "tx-stat_d56c0dc61ea23df1",
                      "quote": "(a) This chapter does not apply to: (1) a collective bargaining agreement between an employer and a labor union; (2) an agreement for the acquisition by one or more individuals of property, services, money, or credit in which the total consideration to be furnished by the individual is not more than $50,000, except as provided by Subsection (b); (3) a claim for personal injury, except as provided by Subsection (c); (4) a claim for workers' compensation benefits; or (5) an agreement made before January 1, 1966. (b) An agreement described by Subsection (a)(2) is subject to this chapter if: (1) the parties to the agreement agree in writing to arbitrate; and (2) the agreement is signed by each party and each party's attorney. (c) A claim described by Subsection (a)(3) is subject to this chapter if: (1) each party to the claim, on the advice of counsel, agrees in writing to arbitrate; and (2) the agreement is signed by each party and each party's attorney.",
                      "checked": "2026-09-16"
                    }
                  }
                }
              ],
              "authority_checks": [
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.001",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                },
                {
                  "cite": "Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 171.002",
                  "verified": true,
                  "index_verified": true,
                  "source_verified": false,
                  "corpus_verified": true
                }
              ],
              "trap_assessment": {
                "result": "appears_to_trigger",
                "explanation": "The clause mandates arbitration under AAA rules but does not show attorney signatures as required by Chapter 171 for certain contracts.",
                "assessed_by": "model"
              }
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "s39",
      "number": "15",
      "heading": "SEVERABILITY",
      "path": [
        "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT"
      ],
      "start": 27401,
      "end": 27997,
      "chars": 596,
      "excerpt": "15. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, (a) such provision will be deemed amended to conform to applicable laws of such jurisdiction so as to be",
      "families": [
        {
          "family": "severability",
          "classified_by": "model",
          "result": "no_verified_rule",
          "rules": []
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "missing_families": [
    {
      "family": "venue-selection",
      "result": "verified_rule",
      "verified_rule_ids": [
        "tx-major-transaction-venue-one-million"
      ],
      "note": "Not detected in this document. Absence is not by itself a defect, and a clause the classifier missed would also appear here. The store holds verified tx rule(s) for this family; read them at GET /api/v1/contracts/rules?jurisdiction=tx&clause=venue-selection."
    },
    {
      "family": "limitation-of-liability",
      "result": "verified_rule",
      "verified_rule_ids": [
        "tx-lol-fair-notice"
      ],
      "note": "Not detected in this document. Absence is not by itself a defect, and a clause the classifier missed would also appear here. The store holds verified tx rule(s) for this family; read them at GET /api/v1/contracts/rules?jurisdiction=tx&clause=limitation-of-liability."
    },
    {
      "family": "force-majeure",
      "result": "no_verified_rule",
      "verified_rule_ids": [],
      "note": "Not detected in this document. Absence is not by itself a defect, and a clause the classifier missed would also appear here."
    },
    {
      "family": "warranty-disclaimer",
      "result": "verified_rule",
      "verified_rule_ids": [
        "tx-warranty-disclaimer-magic-words"
      ],
      "note": "Not detected in this document. Absence is not by itself a defect, and a clause the classifier missed would also appear here. The store holds verified tx rule(s) for this family; read them at GET /api/v1/contracts/rules?jurisdiction=tx&clause=warranty-disclaimer."
    }
  ],
  "choice_of_law_notice": null,
  "coverage": {
    "jurisdiction": "tx",
    "read_at": "2026-09-17T06:38:30.295Z",
    "families_with_verified_rules": [
      "anti-assignment",
      "arbitration",
      "attorney-fees",
      "choice-of-law",
      "dtpa-waiver",
      "electronic-signature",
      "entire-agreement",
      "indemnity",
      "lien-waiver",
      "limitation-of-liability",
      "limitation-of-remedy",
      "limitations-period",
      "liquidated-damages",
      "non-competition",
      "prompt-payment",
      "statute-of-frauds",
      "trade-secret-confidentiality",
      "unconscionability",
      "usury",
      "venue-selection",
      "warranty-disclaimer"
    ],
    "families_with_unverified_rows": [
      {
        "family": "force-majeure",
        "statuses": [
          "no-verified-authority"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "families_without_rules": [
      "consumer-protection-waiver",
      "notices",
      "payment-terms",
      "severability",
      "termination"
    ],
    "verified_rules": 26,
    "checkable_against_our_index": true,
    "publicly_served": true,
    "note": "Verified rules exist for 21 clause families in \"tx\". Every other family is reviewed for presence only and says no_verified_rule."
  },
  "summary": {
    "segments": 44,
    "classified_clauses": 22,
    "clauses_with_verified_rules": 14,
    "clauses_without_verified_rule": 8,
    "appears_to_trigger": 2,
    "unclear": 0,
    "not_assessed": 0,
    "missing_standard_families": 4,
    "text": "44 sections read; 22 classified into clause families. 14 matched a verified tx rule from the store; 8 have no verified tx rule and were not checked against tx law. Trap assessments: 2 appear to trigger a recorded trap, 0 unclear, 0 not assessed. 4 of 12 commonly included families were not detected."
  },
  "disclosures": {
    "holds_contract_prose": false,
    "can_answer_as_of_a_date": false,
    "model_writes_law": false,
    "stores_submitted_contract": false,
    "rules_source": "Every rule, trap and authority is copied verbatim from the DocketRouter contract-law store (GET /api/v1/contracts/rules) at request time.",
    "not_legal_advice": "For licensed attorneys. This is a research aid, not legal advice and not a substitute for an attorney's review. Rules and authorities are copied from DocketRouter's verified contract-law store for the jurisdiction you named; a clause marked no_verified_rule has NOT been checked against that jurisdiction's law and may be unenforceable or require changes. Clause classification and trap assessments are made by a language model and can be wrong. The store does not track later amendments or decisions after each rule's as_of date."
  },
  "usage": {
    "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash",
    "calls": [
      {
        "purpose": "classify",
        "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash",
        "input_tokens": 4789,
        "output_tokens": 234,
        "cost_usd": 0.000436266,
        "provider": "DeepInfra",
        "latency_ms": 6130,
        "ok": true,
        "finish_reason": "stop",
        "max_output_tokens": 1544
      },
      {
        "purpose": "trap_assessment",
        "model": "deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash",
        "input_tokens": 5616,
        "output_tokens": 881,
        "cost_usd": 0.000276948,
        "provider": "DeepInfra",
        "latency_ms": 16228,
        "ok": true,
        "finish_reason": "stop",
        "max_output_tokens": 2870
      }
    ],
    "input_tokens": 10405,
    "output_tokens": 1115,
    "cost_usd": 0.000713,
    "cost_complete": true
  }
}

Coverage

Where a verified rule is served today: 602 rules across 28 states, read from the store when this page was built.

Clause familyTXCANJALCTIAILKSMEMNMTNCNENYOHORRIUTVAWIDEFLWAIDNDAKLASD
Anti-assignment
Arbitration
Attorney's fees
Choice of law
Electronic signature
Limitations period
Liquidated damages
Non-competition
Statute of frauds
Usury
Warranty disclaimer
Indemnity
Limitation of remedy
Unconscionability
Entire agreement
Lien waiver
Limitation of liability
Trade secrets and confidentiality
Venue selection
Prompt payment
Consumer-protection waiver
Force majeure
DTPA waiver
Personal injury release
Rules served26242322222222222222222222222222222222222121212020181717

A rule is served only when it and every authority behind it are verified; written but unverified rules are never served. Any other state, dc or us is accepted: clauses are labelled and every family returns no_verified_rule.

Request body

  • textstringrequired
    The contract as plain text, up to 200,000 characters.
  • jurisdictionstringrequired
    Two-letter state code, dc or us. Never defaulted.
  • partystring
    The side you act for. Changes how traps are read, not which rules are returned.
  • focusstring[]
    Review only these clause families (ids). An unknown family is a 400 listing the known ones.
  • classifier"model" | "keyword"
    Default model. keyword labels clauses by deterministic keyword matching and skips that model call.
  • contract_typestring
    What kind of contract this is: construction, oilfield-services, employment, franchise, consumer, sale-of-goods, services, other or unknown. A rule the store limits to other kinds of contract is not served and is named under rules_not_applicable. Omit it and the classification call labels the type from the same list. unknown, or a model label outside the list, filters nothing.
  • filenamestring
    Echoed back.

Response

Returned with 200 OK.

  • object"contract_review"
    Object type.
  • jurisdictionstring
    Lower-cased echo; also party, filename, beta.
  • inputobject
    chars and segments (sections the contract was split into).
  • classifierobject
    mode (model, keyword or keyword_fallback), model, and a note when it fell back.
  • contract_typeobject
    The type rules were filtered on: value (a type, other or unknown), source (caller, model or none), and a note saying why it is unknown. unknown filters nothing.
  • clausesobject[]
    Every section of the contract, in order.
    Child attributes (7)
    • idstring
      Section id, e.g. s26.
    • numberstring | null
      Section number as written.
    • headingstring | null
      Section heading as written.
    • pathstring[]
      Enclosing headings.
    • start, end, charsnumber
      Character offsets into your text.
    • excerptstring
      Opening of the section.
    • familiesobject[]
      Clause families this section was labelled with. Empty for recitals, definitions and signature blocks.
      Child attributes (6)
      • familystring
        Clause family id.
      • classified_by"model" | "keyword"
        Which classifier applied the label.
      • result"verified_rule" | "no_verified_rule"
        Whether the store serves a rule for this family in your jurisdiction.
      • rulesobject[]
        Served rules. Empty when no_verified_rule.
        Child attributes (12)
        • rule_idstring
          Stable id in the store.
        • jurisdictionstring
          Always the jurisdiction you asked for.
        • clausestring
          The family id.
        • questionstring
          The drafting question the rule answers.
        • rulestring
          The rule, verbatim from the store.
        • trapstring | null
          How a clause fails under this rule, verbatim from the store.
        • statusstring
          Always verified in a response.
        • as_ofstring | null
          Date the rule was last checked.
        • notesstring | null
          Store notes on the rule and its sources.
        • authorityobject[]
          kind, cite, name, court, decided and the verified record, as the store holds them.
        • authority_checksobject[]
          Per authority: cite, verified, index_verified, source_verified, corpus_verified, computed at request time.
        • trap_assessmentobject
          The model's read of this clause against the trap.
          Child attributes (5)
          • resultstring
            One of the trap results.
          • explanationstring | null
            The model's reason, quoting the clause.
          • explanation_withheldstring
            Present when the explanation cited authority the store does not hold for this rule; the explanation is then dropped.
          • assessed_by"model" | null
            Who read the clause.
          • reasonstring
            Why a trap was not read.
      • store_rows_without_verified_ruleobject[]
        Present when the store has rows for the family that are not verified: rule_id and status only.
      • rules_not_applicableobject[]
        Present when verified rules for the family were held back because they apply only to other kinds of contract: rule_id and the store's applies_to. When every verified rule is held back, result is no_verified_rule.
  • missing_familiesobject[]
    Common families not detected: family, result, verified_rule_ids, rules_not_applicable when some were held back, note. Absence is not by itself a defect.
  • choice_of_law_noticestring | null
    Set when the contract appears to choose a different state's law than the one you asked for.
  • coverageobject
    What the store serves for your jurisdiction, computed on this request.
    Child attributes (7)
    • families_with_verified_rulesstring[]
      Families with a served rule.
    • families_with_unverified_rowsobject[]
      family and statuses of rows not yet verified.
    • families_without_rulesstring[]
      Families with no row at all.
    • verified_rulesnumber
      Served rule count.
    • checkable_against_our_indexboolean
      Whether citations for this jurisdiction can be checked against our index.
    • publicly_servedboolean
      Whether the jurisdiction is served publicly.
    • read_at, notestring
      When the store was read, and a one-line statement of coverage.
  • summaryobject
    Counts (segments, classified_clauses, clauses_with_verified_rules, clauses_without_verified_rule, appears_to_trigger, unclear, not_assessed, missing_standard_families) and a text sentence.
  • disclosuresobject
    Fixed statements: model_writes_law, stores_submitted_contract, holds_contract_prose and can_answer_as_of_a_date are all false; rules_source; not_legal_advice.
  • usageobject
    Tokens and upstream-reported cost. A cost the upstream did not report is null, never estimated.
    Child attributes (5)
    • modelstring | null
      Model used.
    • callsobject[]
      One per model call: purpose, model, provider, input_tokens, output_tokens, cost_usd, latency_ms, ok, error.
    • input_tokens, output_tokensnumber
      Totals over successful calls.
    • cost_usdnumber | null
      Sum of the calls' reported cost.
    • cost_completeboolean
      False when any call's cost was not reported.
  • billingobject
    pricing_enabled, charged_usd, unit (review), and a note while reviews are not invoiced.
  • request_id, took_msstring, number
    Also sent as the x-docketrouter-request-id header.

Trap results

trap_assessment.resultMeaning
appears_to_triggerThe clause appears to do what the recorded trap describes. Read the rule and its authority before relying on the clause.
does_not_appear_to_triggerRead against the trap and does not appear to trip it. Not a finding that the clause is enforceable.
unclearRead against the trap; the clause text does not settle it.
not_assessedNot read, and reason says why: the model call failed, its answer was cut off, or the review passed 40 clauses. The rule is still returned.
no_trap_recordedThe store holds a rule for this family but no trap to read the clause against.

Limits and errors

LimitValueOn breach
text200,000 characters413, stating the limit; nothing is truncated
Trap reads per review40 clausesLater clauses keep their rule; trap is not_assessed
Requests per key or session10 per minute, burst 3429 with Retry-After
Model calls per review2Set a client timeout of at least 200 seconds
Upstream model failureany call502 with a request id; not billed

Data and advice

  • The contract is held in memory for the request and not stored. Usage logs record token counts, not text. See Providers and data.
  • Each rule carries its as_of date; a review cannot say what the law was on an earlier date.
  • A research aid for licensed attorneys. Not legal advice.

Something here wrong or missing? Mail hello@docketrouter.ai with the request_id and we will fix the docs or the API, whichever is broken.