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What is an Unenforceable Contract? An unenforceable contract is a valid contract that the court chooses, for specific reasons, not to enforce. An unenforceable defense is commonly used in contradistinction to void the contract or make it voidable. Below explains a what makes a contract void or voidable:
An unenforceable contract is a contract that cannot be legally enforced due to a defect in its formation or terms. This can result in financial losses, damaged reputation, and legal disputes. One common reason for a contract to be unenforceable is if it contains illegal or unconscionable terms.
- Lack of Capacity. It's expected that both (or all) parties to a contract have the ability to understand exactly what it is they are agreeing to. If it appears that one side did not have this reasoning capacity, the contract may be held unenforceable against that person.
- Duress. Duress, or coercion, will invalidate a contract when someone was threatened into making the agreement. In an often cited case involving duress, a shipper (Company A) agreed to transport a certain amount of Company B's materials, which would be used in a major development project.
- Undue Influence. If Person B forced Person A to enter into an agreement by taking advantage of a special or particularly persuasive relationship that Person B had with Person A, the resulting contract might be found unenforceable on grounds of undue influence.
- Misrepresentation. If fraud or misrepresentation occurred during the negotiation process, any resulting contract will probably be held unenforceable. The idea here is to encourage honest, good faith bargaining and transactions.
Apr 9, 2020 · However, like everything in law, numerous exceptions can quickly turn a binding contract into an unenforceable one—meaning it cannot be enforced in a court of law. Read on to learn what makes a contract enforceable and the factors that can make it unenforceable before, during, or after signing.
- Rachel Vanni
In summary, an unenforceable contract is a valid agreement that a court will not enforce due to technical defects or illegalities. It’s essential to ensure that all necessary elements are in place when creating a contract to avoid these pitfalls.
An Unenforceable Contract Might Have Been Signed Under Duress. The parties to a contract should be signing it voluntarily. However, one party might force another person to sign a contract. The act of forcing someone to do something they ordinarily would not do is duress.
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In doing so, we will discuss what it means for a contract to be unenforceable and explain eight situations in which a contract is unenforceable, including: Lack of Capacity, Coercion, Undue Influence, Misrepresentation and Nondisclosure, Unconscionability, Public Policy, Mistake, and Impossibility.