Enforceable Contracts

In addition to being clear and specific, a contract must meet certain criteria to make it legally enforceable. A legally enforceable contract can be used in court to support a decision on a disputed item. If a contract does not have certain essential ingredients, it is not legally enforceable.

Most contracts never see a courtroom and they could easily be verbal unless there is a specific reason for the contract to be in writing. When something goes wrong, a written contract protects both parties. If one party to a valid (enforceable) contract believes the other party has broken the contract (the legal term is breached) the party being harmed can bring a lawsuit against the party who it believes has breached the contract.

The legal process, or litigation, determines whether the contract has been breached or whether there are circumstances that negate the breach. The court, however, will only hear a contract dispute if the contract is valid.

Contracts vs. Agreements

Many people use the terms contract and agreement interchangeably, but they are not precisely the same thing. Black's Law Dictionary defines an agreement as "a mutual understanding between...parties about their relative rights and responsibilities." It defines a contract as "An agreement between...parties creating obligations that are enforceable."

Essentials of Business Contracts

There are six required, essential elements for a contract to be valid (enforceable by a court). The first three, considered here together, relate to the agreement itself, and the other three relate to the parties making the contract.

• Offer, Acceptance, and Mutual Consent: Every contract must include a specific offer and acceptance of that specific offer. Both parties must consent of their free will. Neither party can be coerced or forced to sign the contract, and both parties must agree to the same terms. Implied in these three conditions is the intent of the parties to create a binding agreement. If one or both parties are not serious, there's no contract.
• Consideration: There must be something of value exchanged between the parties. The thing of value may be money or services, but both parties must give something (otherwise, it is a gift, not a contract).
• Competence: Both parties must be of "sound mind" to comprehend the seriousness of the situation and understand what is required. This definition requires that neither party be a minor, both must be sober (not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when signing the contract), and neither can be mentally deficient. If one party is not competent the contract is not valid and the non-competent party can disavow (ignore) the contract.
• Legal Purpose: The contract must be for a legal purpose. It cannot be for something illegal, like selling drugs or prostitution. Remember that it is not illegal to enter into a contract that doesn't have all of these essential items; it just means that if an essential is missing the contract cannot be enforced by a court.

When a Contract Must Be in Writing

As noted above, verbal contracts can have the force of law, but some types of contracts must be in writing, like long-term contracts and contracts for marriage (pre-nuptials). There is also such a thing as an implied contract. You can unknowingly enter into a contract with someone and be forced to abide by its terms.