What Is An Unenforceable Promise?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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An unenforceable contract or transaction is

one that is valid but one the court will not enforce

. Unenforceable is usually used in contradiction to void (or void ab initio) and voidable. If the parties perform the agreement, it will be valid, but the court will not compel them if they do not.

What is an enforceable promise?

Courts enforce a promise

if it is made as a part of a bargained exchange for another promise or for the performance of forbearance of an act

. If the consideration was a return promise from the promisee, then the return promise will likewise be enforceable.

What is an example of an unenforceable contract?

Contracts that include terms opposing state or federal law are automatically unenforceable. For example, if

an employer forces an employee to sign a contract that prevents him or her from taking sick leave

, it would be considered unenforceable.

What does unenforceable mean in law?

Description for a contract that will not be enforced by a court even though it is valid. An unenforceable contract provision is

not void

, and if the parties perform as stated in the contract, the court will not object.

Which agreement is unenforceable by law?

(h) An agreement enforceable by law is

a contract

; (i) An agreement which is enforceable by law at the option of one or more of the parties thereto, but not at the option of the other or others, is a voidable contract; (j) A contract which ceases to be enforceable by law becomes void when it ceases to be enforceable.

What makes an agreement illegal?

A contract is considered an “illegal contract” when the subject matter of the agreement relates to an illegal purpose that violates the law. Basically, contracts are

illegal if the formation or performance of the agreement will cause the parties to participate in illegal activities

.

What are the contracts which Cannot be enforced?

The following types of contracts cannot be enforced:

A contract for the nonperformance (breach) in which compensation is proper relief

.

A contract that becomes too complex with too much detail involved

.

A contract that involves personal skill or knowledge

(as mentioned above)

Is a promise enforceable by law?

Consideration is the price for which the promise of the other is bought, and the promise thus given for value is enforceable.” An agreement without consideration is a bare promise and exnudo pacto non aritio actio, i.e., cannot be held to binding on the parties. …

Are all promises enforced by law?

The obligation to keep promises is a commonly acknowledged moral duty. Yet

not all promises – however solemnly vowed – are enforceable at law

. … Thus, a promise may be enforceable to the extent that the promisee has incurred substantial costs, or conferred benefits, in reasonable reliance on the promise.

Is a promise in writing enforceable?


A promise is not legally binding

, but a contract is. … If you make an offer to an employee or business associate who accepts, whether verbally or silently, and you then renege on the offer later, the court may consider your original offer to be a legally enforceable contract.

What is not unenforceable?

An unenforceable contract or transaction is

one that is valid but one the court will not enforce

. Unenforceable is usually used in contradiction to void (or void ab initio) and voidable. If the parties perform the agreement, it will be valid, but the court will not compel them if they do not.

What is the difference between void and unenforceable?

A void contract

is missing an element

. In a voidable contract, there is an option for the parties to enforce the terms even though an element is missing, or some other issue exists with the terms. When a contract is unenforceable, it means the contract terms are too confusing, unclear or lack several elements.

What is another word for unenforceable?

Unenforceable synonyms

In this page you can discover 5 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for unenforceable, like:

enforceable

, inapplicable, unenforceability, voidable and of no effect.

How do I prove a verbal agreement?

  1. Letters.
  2. Emails.
  3. Text messages.
  4. Texts.
  5. Quotes.
  6. Faxes.
  7. Notes made at the time of the agreement.
  8. Proof of payment such as canceled checks or transaction statements.

What is the age limit for making a contract?

Since any person less than

18 years of age

does not have the capacity to contract, any agreement made with a minor is void ab-initio (from the beginning).

Can I sue over a verbal agreement?


Yes, you can sue for breach of verbal contract

even if a handshake agreement didn’t occur. If one party accepted another party’s services, then the parties most likely reached an enforceable agreement. … Even though verbal contracts are as valid as written ones are, oral contracts are more difficult to prove.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.