Contract Law Flashcards
(133 cards)
Contract
An agreement which the law will enforce
Elements of contract
- Parties in agreement
- Intention to be legally bound
- Consideration
What important contracts must be in writing (all others don’t)?
- Contracts of guarantee
- Contracts to sell land
- Consumer credit agreements
Offer to enter into a contract (offeror)
+
Acceptance (offeree)
= Contract
Requirements for a valid offer (three)
- Party making it is prepared to enter into contract (willingness)
- Terms of offer are sufficiently certain i.e. drink vs coffee (specific)
- Offer needs to be communicated to the other party (can be oral)
Requests for information are NOT offers
(Example: asking for price is NOT an offer)
Invitations to treat
Invitations to another to make an offer is NOT an offer
(Example: advert selling an item is not an offer to sell to those who want it as could be multiple buyers who would enforce a contract)
Invitations to treat - examples
Adverts
Price lists
Auctions
Tenders i.e. parties submit bids - submissions = offers and the one picked
Invitations to treat = NOT an offer = NO contract
Buyer can make an offer and seller can accept = contract formed
Unilateral contract
Contract where offeror promises to do something IF the offeree actually does something in return e.g. missing dog reward
Only way to accept the offer is to do the requested action
Promise not enough only action is enough
Terminating offers
- Revocation: offer terminated by offeror at any time before it is accepted BUT remember exceptions
Bilateral contracts (i.e. all apart from unilateral) can be revoked at any time until it is accepted
- Rejection: offer terminated by offeree
- Counteroffer
- Passage of time: limited time offer OR if not accepted in a reasonable time
- Operation of law: failure of a condition contained in the offer (explicit or implicit condition)
Offeror > revokes
Offeree > rejects
Situations where offeror can’t revoke offer
- Collateral contract: when parties enter into separate binding contract where offeror agrees not to revoke offer
- Unilateral contract:
Counteroffer = rejection and new offer
Acceptance
The offeree agreeing to be bound by the offer
How are offers accepted?
Bilateral contracts: performance or promise of performance
Unilateral contracts: performance only
Exception: a method of acceptance that’s just as advantageous as the method requested
Silence cannot be stipulated as a method of acceptance of an offer
Acceptance must be communicated to the offeror in some way
Can be by conduct and not words as long as the offeror is aware of the conduct
Action of accepting performance e.g. accepting delivery of goods is usually enough to act as acceptance of conduct
Terms of last offer will control what happens
Acceptance without any communication at all is possible only IF the offer specifically provides that acceptance need not be communicated
The postal rule
Acceptance by post creates contract at moment of posting UNLESS
- Letter wasn’t properly addressed and stamped
- It wasn’t reasonable to accept by post
- The rule has been excluded by the offeror (expressly or by implication)
IMPORTANT: only applies to acceptance NOT rejection or revocation
Rebuttable presumpiton parties did NOT intend a binding agreement
- Domestic family situations
- Social situations
Presumption can be rebutted if the circumstance show a different intent i.e an intent to be legally bound
Rebuttable presumption there is intent for agreement to be binding
Commerical and business agreements
Presumptions can be rebutted if the circumstance show a different intent
Who can lack capacity to be bound?
Minor (under 18)
Mental incapacity
Intoxication (alcohol/drugs)