A contract will only be legally binding upon the contracting parties if the following requirements are complied with: consensus, contractual capacity, certainty, possibility, legality and formalities. 39 The above requirements will be discussed next.
For example, if your friend mows your lawn without asking for anything in return, this does not count as a contract because you have not promised consideration. If your friend promises to mow your lawn but doesn't do it, you can't sue for damages.
A contract must contain several characteristics in order to be legitimate and recognized by the common law, including an offer, acceptance, consideration, the desire to establish legal relations, authority and ability, and certainty.
Ct. 421, 428 (2010) (“Put another way, 'an enforceable agreement requires (1) terms sufficiently complete and definite, and (2) a present intent of the parties at the time of formation to be bound by those terms.
Lesson Summary. A contract is a legal agreement between two or more parties in which they agree to each other's rights and responsibilities. Offer, acceptance, awareness, consideration, and capacity are the five elements of an enforceable contract.
In order that the acceptance can be treated as valid it is necessary that the same must be communicated to the offeror either by the offeree or by some duly authorised person on his behalf. If the communication is made by an unauthorised person, it does not result in a contract.
Understanding these seven essential elements of a contract — offer, acceptance, consideration, legally competent parties, meeting of the minds, terms of the contract, and legality of purpose — will help you check whether any agreement you enter into is a strong, legally binding contract.
To be legally enforceable, an agreement must contain all of the following criteria: An offer and acceptance; Certainty of terms; Consideration; An intention to create legal relations; Capacity of the parties; and, Legality of purpose.