diff --git a/contracts/src/main/java/com/r3corda/contracts/JavaCommercialPaper.java b/contracts/src/main/java/com/r3corda/contracts/JavaCommercialPaper.java
index c70d06bdd0..c052e5f987 100644
--- a/contracts/src/main/java/com/r3corda/contracts/JavaCommercialPaper.java
+++ b/contracts/src/main/java/com/r3corda/contracts/JavaCommercialPaper.java
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@ package com.r3corda.contracts;
 import com.google.common.collect.*;
 import com.r3corda.contracts.asset.*;
 import com.r3corda.core.contracts.*;
+import static com.r3corda.core.contracts.ContractsDSL.requireThat;
 import com.r3corda.core.contracts.TransactionForContract.*;
 import com.r3corda.core.crypto.*;
+import kotlin.Unit;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.*;
 
 import java.security.*;
@@ -171,59 +173,52 @@ public class JavaCommercialPaper implements Contract {
             if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Issue) {
                 Commands.Issue issueCommand = (Commands.Issue) cmd.getValue();
                 State output = single(outputs);
-                if (!inputs.isEmpty()) {
-                    throw new IllegalStateException("Failed Requirement: output values sum to more than the inputs");
-                }
-                if (output.faceValue.getQuantity() == 0) {
-                    throw new IllegalStateException("Failed Requirement: output values sum to more than the inputs");
-                }
-
                 TimestampCommand timestampCommand = tx.getTimestampBy(issueCommand.notary);
-                if (timestampCommand == null)
-                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Failed Requirement: must be timestamped");
+                Instant time = null == timestampCommand
+                        ? null
+                        : timestampCommand.getBefore();
 
-                Instant time = timestampCommand.getBefore();
-
-                if (time == null || !time.isBefore(output.maturityDate)) {
-                    throw new IllegalStateException("Failed Requirement: the maturity date is not in the past");
-                }
-
-                if (!cmd.getSigners().contains(output.issuance.getParty().getOwningKey())) {
-                    throw new IllegalStateException("Failed Requirement: output states are issued by a command signer");
-                }
+                requireThat(require -> {
+                    require.by("output values sum to more than the inputs", inputs.isEmpty());
+                    require.by("output values sum to more than the inputs", output.faceValue.getQuantity() > 0);
+                    require.by("must be timestamped", timestampCommand != null);
+                    require.by("the maturity date is not in the past", time != null && time.isBefore(output.getMaturityDate()));
+                    require.by("output states are issued by a command signer", cmd.getSigners().contains(output.issuance.getParty().getOwningKey()));
+                    return Unit.INSTANCE;
+                });
             } else {
                 // Everything else (Move, Redeem) requires inputs (they are not first to be actioned)
                 // There should be only a single input due to aggregation above
                 State input = single(inputs);
 
-                if (!cmd.getSigners().contains(input.getOwner()))
-                    throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the transaction is signed by the owner of the CP");
+                requireThat(require -> {
+                    require.by("the transaction is signed by the owner of the CP", cmd.getSigners().contains(input.getOwner()));
+                    return Unit.INSTANCE;
+                });
 
                 if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Move) {
-                    // Check the output CP state is the same as the input state, ignoring the owner field.
-                    State output = single(outputs);
-
-                    if (!output.getFaceValue().equals(input.getFaceValue()) ||
-                            !output.getIssuance().equals(input.getIssuance()) ||
-                            !output.getMaturityDate().equals(input.getMaturityDate()))
-                        throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the output state is the same as the input state except for owner");
+                    requireThat(require -> {
+                        require.by("the state is propagated", outputs.size() == 1);
+                        return Unit.INSTANCE;
+                    });
+                    // Don't need to check anything else, as if outputs.size == 1 then the output is equal to
+                    // the input ignoring the owner field due to the grouping.
                 } else if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Redeem) {
                     TimestampCommand timestampCommand = tx.getTimestampBy(((Commands.Redeem) cmd.getValue()).notary);
-                    if (timestampCommand == null)
-                        throw new IllegalArgumentException("Failed Requirement: must be timestamped");
-                    Instant time = timestampCommand.getBefore();
-
+                    Instant time = null == timestampCommand
+                            ? null
+                            : timestampCommand.getBefore();
                     Amount<Issued<Currency>> received = CashKt.sumCashBy(tx.getOutputs(), input.getOwner());
 
-                    if (!received.equals(input.getFaceValue()))
-                        throw new IllegalStateException("Failed Requirement: received amount equals the face value: "
-                            + received + " vs " + input.getFaceValue());
-                    if (time == null || time.isBefore(input.getMaturityDate()))
-                        throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the paper must have matured");
-                    if (!input.getFaceValue().equals(received))
-                        throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the received amount equals the face value");
-                    if (!outputs.isEmpty())
-                        throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the paper must be destroyed");
+                    requireThat(require -> {
+                        require.by("must be timestamped", timestampCommand != null);
+                        require.by("received amount equals the face value: "
+                                + received + " vs " + input.getFaceValue(), received.equals(input.getFaceValue()));
+                        require.by("the paper must have matured", time != null && !time.isBefore(input.getMaturityDate()));
+                        require.by("the received amount equals the face value", input.getFaceValue().equals(received));
+                        require.by("the paper must be destroyed", outputs.isEmpty());
+                        return Unit.INSTANCE;
+                    });
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/docs/source/tutorial-contract.rst b/docs/source/tutorial-contract.rst
index cee7487eeb..6ff025760c 100644
--- a/docs/source/tutorial-contract.rst
+++ b/docs/source/tutorial-contract.rst
@@ -421,29 +421,34 @@ logic.
           // For now do not allow multiple pieces of CP to trade in a single transaction. Study this more!
           State input = single(filterIsInstance(inputs, State.class));
 
-          if (!cmd.getSigners().contains(input.getOwner()))
-              throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the transaction is signed by the owner of the CP");
+          requireThat(require -> {
+              require.by("the transaction is signed by the owner of the CP", cmd.getSigners().contains(input.getOwner()));
+              return Unit.INSTANCE;
+          });
 
           if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Move) {
-              // Check the output CP state is the same as the input state, ignoring the owner field.
-              State output = single(outputs);
-
-              if (!output.getFaceValue().equals(input.getFaceValue()) ||
-                      !output.getIssuance().equals(input.getIssuance()) ||
-                      !output.getMaturityDate().equals(input.getMaturityDate()))
-                  throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the output state is the same as the input state except for owner");
+              requireThat(require -> {
+                  require.by("the state is propagated", outputs.size() == 1);
+                  return Unit.INSTANCE;
+              });
+              // Don't need to check anything else, as if outputs.size == 1 then the output is equal to
+              // the input ignoring the owner field due to the grouping.
           } else if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Redeem) {
-              Amount received = CashKt.sumCashOrNull(inputs);
-              if (time == null)
-                  throw new IllegalArgumentException("Redemption transactions must be timestamped");
-              if (received == null)
-                  throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: no cash being redeemed");
-              if (input.getMaturityDate().isAfter(time))
-                  throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the paper must have matured");
-              if (!input.getFaceValue().equals(received))
-                  throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the received amount equals the face value");
-              if (!outputs.isEmpty())
-                  throw new IllegalStateException("Failed requirement: the paper must be destroyed");
+              TimestampCommand timestampCommand = tx.getTimestampBy(((Commands.Redeem) cmd.getValue()).notary);
+              Instant time = null == timestampCommand
+                      ? null
+                      : timestampCommand.getBefore();
+              Amount<Issued<Currency>> received = CashKt.sumCashBy(tx.getOutputs(), input.getOwner());
+
+              requireThat(require -> {
+                  require.by("must be timestamped", timestampCommand != null);
+                  require.by("received amount equals the face value: "
+                          + received + " vs " + input.getFaceValue(), received.equals(input.getFaceValue()));
+                  require.by("the paper must have matured", time != null && !time.isBefore(input.getMaturityDate()));
+                  require.by("the received amount equals the face value", input.getFaceValue().equals(received));
+                  require.by("the paper must be destroyed", outputs.isEmpty());
+                  return Unit.INSTANCE;
+              });
           } else if (cmd.getValue() instanceof JavaCommercialPaper.Commands.Issue) {
               // .. etc .. (see Kotlin for full definition)
           }