What is the word for making a contract invalid?

Asked by: Raoul Bosco  |  Last update: December 25, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (23 votes)

An invalid contract is unenforceable and can either be void or voidable depending on the cause of invalidity. Void contracts are unenforceable. No party will be legally bound by it, and it cannot be relied on to obtain compensation for past performance.

What is it called when a contract is invalid?

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.

What is it called when you void a contract?

While a void contract is usually considered not enforceable at its inception, a contract may be voidable if the contract's circumstances are questionable. Examples of voidable contracts include when one party is allowed to cancel the contract because of the other party's illegal or unfair (voidable) actions.

What is invalidation of contract?

Contract invalidity arises when an agreement is deemed unenforceable due to issues such as mistakes, misrepresentation, duress, undue influence, and illegality.

What is a synonym for invalidate contract?

verb. take away the legal force of or render ineffective. “invalidate a contract” synonyms: vitiate, void.

Contract Law in 2 Minutes

22 related questions found

How to make a contract invalid?

What are the Most Common Mistakes that may Invalidate a Contract?
  1. The Incapacity to Enter into a Contract. ...
  2. No Consideration. ...
  3. Vague or Ambiguous Terms. ...
  4. Signing Under Duress or Coercion. ...
  5. Fraud or Misrepresentation. ...
  6. Failure to Meet Formal Requirements. ...
  7. Illegal or Unenforceable Terms.

What is the discharge of a contract?

The term discharge of contract means ending of the contractual relationship between the parties. A contract is said to have been discharged when it ceases to operate i.e. when the rights and obligations created by the parties came to an end.

How to nullify an agreement?

How to void a contract
  1. Prove its invalidity.
  2. Use capacity to end it.
  3. Agree to mutually void it.
  4. Exercise the “cooling off” rule.
  5. Use the terms of a voidable contract.

What is a synonym for a contract that is considered invalid?

Null and void contracts are invalid and unenforceable agreements.

What is the legal term for unfair contract?

Substantive unconscionability is when the contract's terms unfairly benefit/harm one side such as extremely unequal price compared to value exchanged.

What is another term for a contract violation?

breach of contract (noun as in unexcused failure to do duty) Strongest match. breach of trust. Weak matches. bad faith breach of faith breach of privilege breach of promise.

What is invalid termination of a contract?

If a party to a contract has its contract terminated in circumstances where the grounds to terminate were fraught or the way by which the termination occurred was flawed then this is referred to in legal vernacular as a repudiation or “ the evincing of an intention to no longer be bound by the contract”.

What is the legal term invalid?

Definition: Invalid means something that is not legally binding or does not have a basis in fact. For example, an invalid contract is not a real contract and cannot be enforced.

What renders a contract invalid?

Contracts can be rendered invalid if one of the parties was coerced or manipulated into signing the agreement. This is known as duress or undue influence. Duress involves physical or mental threats, while undue influence happens when someone pressures or manipulates another person into an agreement against their will.

What are the five ways a contract can be terminated?

How a Contract can be Terminated?
  • In accordance with your contract. A contract may allow a party or both parties to elect to bring it to an end, for no specific reason. ...
  • Termination for breach of contract. ...
  • Discharge by agreement. ...
  • Recission. ...
  • Force majeure. ...
  • Frustration. ...
  • Void contract.

What do you mean by void agreement?

A void agreement is one which cannot be enforced by law. Sometimes an agreement which is enforceable by law, i.e., a contract, can become void. Void agreements are different from voidable contracts, which are contracts that may be nullified.

What is an example of alteration of a contract?

Example: A enters into a contract with B for the supply of a 1,000 bales of cotton at his ware house on 1st July 1980. Later both A and B agree to postpone the date of delivery to 1st September 1980. This change amounts to alteration of the contract.

What is it called when a contract is voided?

A void contract is a contract that isn't legally enforceable, starting from the time it was created. While both a void and voidable contract are null, a void contract cannot be ratified. In a legal sense, a void contract is treated as if it was never created and becomes unenforceable in court.

What is a synonym for nullify contract?

Some common synonyms of nullify are abrogate, annul, invalidate, and negate.

What is the word for termination of a contract?

a coming to an end of a contract period. synonyms: expiration, expiry.

What is an invalid contract called?

An invalid contract is unenforceable and can either be void or voidable depending on the cause of invalidity. Void contracts are unenforceable. No party will be legally bound by it, and it cannot be relied on to obtain compensation for past performance.

How to make a contract void?

Contracts become null and void if one party is coerced into signing through threats or manipulation. Duress involves physical or mental threats, while undue influence occurs when someone manipulates or pressures another party into an agreement against their will.

What is an alternative obligation?

An alternative obligation is a type of duty where the person who owes it has a choice of how to fulfill it. This means they can choose between two or more ways to do what they promised.