Illustrative case — not a customer result
Illustrative case: account staff send requests, but only the client’s budget owner can approve fees. A clause requiring written approval is not enough if the delivery team treats any request as permission. Route the estimate to the authorized approver and link the decision back to the work plan.
Apply the decision
- Name request and approval roles separately
- Number estimates and approved changes
- Update the delivery plan only after authorization
Boundary and limitations
Check the actual agreement’s approval requirements rather than assuming every email sender can bind the client.
Message for this situation
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I have recorded the request as CR-[number]. I will send the estimate to [authorized approver] and update the delivery plan after approval of the specified version.
Decision record to complete
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Request ID: [complete for this project] requester: [complete for this project] estimator: [complete for this project] authorized approver: [complete for this project] version: [complete for this project] evidence: [complete for this project] plan update: [complete for this project]
More in Contract Clauses
Frequently asked questions
- Which resource should I use next?
- Use the linked primary resource for the actual artifact or decision framework. This article addresses the narrower task: operationalize a change clause.
- What should I avoid assuming?
- Check the actual agreement’s approval requirements rather than assuming every email sender can bind the client.
Continue with the next decision
Freelance Change Control Clause: Copy-Ready Contract Wording
A change-control clause requires added or altered work to be described, priced, scheduled, and approved in writing before it begins.
Next stepContract Clauses
Understand the settings and limitations before choosing wording.
Free editable artifactFreelance Change Order Form Template
A freelance change-order form records the original agreement, requested difference, added and removed work, price adjustment, revised milestones, dependencies, and authorized approval. Give each change an identifier so the client can approve a specific version.
Next stepScopeShield Toolkit — $39
Review the editable text inventory, what it does, and what it does not do before buying.