intro to contracts Flashcards
Contract
legally enforceable agreement, a promise the law will enforce
7 key characteristics that MUST be present to enforce a contract
- Offer
- Acceptance
- Consideration
- Legality
- Capacity
- Consent
- Writing
3 other important issues that can arise in contracts
- Third party interest
- Performance and discharge
- Remedies
Third party interest
can a third party sue someone in a contract
Performance and Discharge
party fully accomplishes a contract but was their performance enough to satisfy
Remedies
a court will award money or other relief to a party injured by a breach of contract
Bilateral Contract
both parties make a promise (most commonly used)
Unilateral Contract
one party makes a promise that the other party can accept only by actually doing something (less common)
Executory
when a contract has been made but one or more parties has not yet fulfilled its obligations
Executed
when all parties have fulfilled their obligations
Valid Contract
satisfies all of the law requirements and has no problems in any of the 7 must needed characteristics
Unenforceable agreement
occurs when the parties intend to form a valid bargain but a court declares that some rule of law prevents enforcing it
Voidable Contract
Occurs when the law permits one party to terminate the agreement
Void agreement
neither party can enforce. usually because the purpose of the deal is illegal or because on of the parties had no legal authority to make a contract
Express Contract
the two parties explicitly state all the important terms of their agreement (majority uses)