What to check before signing anything, and what can wait.
Most people meet this once and never think about it again, which is exactly why it is worth reading up on.
The exceptions
Most of the confusion comes from two terms that sound alike and mean different things. The exceptions matter more than the rule, and there are three of them.
What to check first
The practical effect is easier to see in a single example than in a summary. Nobody is required to explain this to you, which is half the problem.
Whatever you decide, write down why. The reasoning is the part you forget.