A contract is an agreement between parties , creating mutual obligations that are enforceable by law . The basic elements required for the agreement to be a legally enforceable contract are: mutual assent , expressed by a valid offer and acceptance ; adequate consideration ; capacity ; and legality .
The terms of the contract must be agreed upon mutually. An offer is made, understood by both parties, and accepted. Both parties must agree to the same thing. This is sometimes referred to as “a meeting of the minds.”
Valid contracts consist of three key criteria: offer, acceptance, and consideration (the exchange of something of value from both sides). Once a contract is signed in Maryland, it is typically binding. Maryland has very few laws that allow a person to cancel an accepted 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.
A contract that is void is not legally enforceable and the parties thereto are not legally obligated to each other. Generally, contracts are void because the subject matter is not legal or one of the contracting parties does not have the competency to contract.
The terms of the contract must be agreed upon mutually. An offer is made, understood by both parties, and accepted. Both parties must agree to the same thing. This is sometimes referred to as “a meeting of the minds.”
Statutes of Limitations in Maryland OffenseStatute : No time limit : No time limit Receiving stolen property: 2 years or no time limit Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106(b)(1) (2025); Md. Code Crim. Law § 7-104(i) (2025) Robbery: No time limit 7 more rows •
Section 2A-201 - Statute of Frauds. (b) There is a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by that party's authorized agent, sufficient to indicate that a lease contract has been made between the parties and to describe the goods leased and the lease term.