5-13 Contracts Flashcards
- legally enforceable agreement
- agreement between two or more competent persons which is enforceable by law
Contract
A situation in which one of the parties to a contract fails or otherwise refuses to perform the obligations established in that contract
Breach of contract
- a contract which will be enforced by the court
- contract enforceable by the law
Valid contract
An agreement of no legal effect
Void contract
- an agreement which is not in the form required by law, but can be made so by the parties
- an agreement which is not currently binding / enforceable by law but can be made so by the parties
Unenforceable contract
A contract which would be an enforceable agreement, but due to circumstances, may be set aside by one of the parties
Voidable contract
- contract in which parties express their intentions, either orally or in writing, at the time of the agreement
- contract with terms of the agreement specified in words
Express contract
contract with major terms implied by the parties’ conduct / act or implied / deduced from the facts
(2 names)
Implied contract
Implied in fact contract
Those contracts which must be in a special form / manner of creation / produced in a certain way, such as under seal
Formal contract
Obligation entered into before a court to do an act required by law
Recognizance
Document of payment, such as a check
Negotiable instrument
Contract that is not formal, whether written, oral, or implied
Simple contract
Contract with terms in writing
Written contract
Contract with terms spoken
Oral contract
Contract in which terms have not been completely executed / carried out / fulfilled by the parties
Executory contracts
Contracts in which the terms have been fulfilled / fully performed by the parties
Executed contracts
A contract formed when an act is done in consideration for a promise
Unilateral contract
A contract which consists of mutual exchange of promises to perform some future acts
Bilateral contract
- implied (in law) contracts
- a fictional contract created or implied by a court for a person who is unable to contract for himself
- an obligation which law creates in the absence of agreement
- imposition of rights and obligations by law without a contract
- is invoked by courts where there is unjust enrichment
- the function of a quasi-contract is to raise an obligation in law where in fact the parties made no promises
Quasi contract
One benefiting unfairly at another’s expense
Unjust enrichment
- an expression of willingness of offer or to enter contractual agreement
- a proposal to make a contract
Offer
The party who initiates, or makes, an offer
Offeror
The person to whom an offer is made
Offeree
Binding promise to hold an offer open
Option
Merchant’s signed, written offer to sell or purchase goods saying it will be held open
Firm offer
- an agreement to an offer resulting in a contract
- drawee’s signed agreement to pay draft
Acceptance
Refusal to accept
Rejection
- an intended acceptance which changes or qualifies an original offer and in effect, rejects that offer and becomes a new offer
- offeree’s response that rejects offer by varying terms of initial offer
Counteroffer
the necessity that the parties desiring to enter into contracts meet all requirements
Contractural capacity
The repudiation of, or election to avoid, a voidable contract
Disaffirmance
- those persons under full legal age
- person under legal age to contract
- by most states (but not all) the standard is under the age of 18
Minor
items, required or proper and useful, for sustaining a human being at an appropriate / reasonable living standard (ex: food, clothing, shelter)
Necessaries
Person found guilty by a court of a major criminal offense
Convict
Persons who are under the influence of alcohol to the extent that their judgment may be impaired
Intoxication
Persons who are afflicted with a serious mental disorder impairing their ability to function
Insane
- approval of unauthorized act
- confirming an act which was executed without authority or an act which was voidable
- adult indicating contract made while a minor is binding
Rafitication