The situation: A designer agrees by phone with a client to design a logo for a fee, delivers the work, then the client denies the deal and refuses to pay.
Applicable law: The Civil Code recognizes oral and written contracts equally in principle — a contract forms by offer and acceptance. The issue isn't validity but proof: whoever claims the contract and its terms must prove them. So WeChat messages, transfers and drafts become decisive evidence.
Outcome: The designer produced WeChat chats showing agreement on price and delivery, proved the oral contract, and recovered his fee.
📄 Contracts · Awareness case
An Oral Deal Is Valid… But Prove It! · Yalla China
🤝 Governing law: 民法典（合同编）/ Civil Code (Contracts)
Is an oral contract binding in China, and what's its real problem?
Illustrative, general educational examples — not real specific facts and not legal advice; for awareness only. For an actual situation, consult a licensed lawyer.
🎓 The lesson / takeaway
Lesson: An oral contract's validity is useless if you can't prove it. Turn every important deal into writing or a dated message.
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026