A contingent contract is a legal agreement in which the terms and conditions only apply or take effect if a specific event occurs. Essentially, the parties involved agree to perform actions or obligations based on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a particular event in the future.
A contingency clause is a contract provision that requires a specific event or action to take place in order for the contract to be considered valid. If the party that's required to satisfy the contingency clause is unable to do so, the other party is released from its obligations.
A contingent contract is an agreement that states which actions under certain conditions will result in specific outcomes. Contingent contracts usually occur when negotiating parties fail to reach an agreement.
A contingency clause should clearly outline the conditions, how the conditions are to be fulfilled, and which party is responsible for fulfilling them. The clause should also provide a timeframe for what happens if the condition is not met.
Parties and Obligations: The contingent contract typically involves the promisor and the promisee. For the agreement to be legally valid, the objectives of both parties must align. Enforcement: Contingent contracts are generally enforceable if they meet the legal requirements for a valid contract.
32. Contingent contracts to do or not to do anything if an uncertain future event happens cannot be enforced by law unless and until that event has happened. If the event becomes impossible, such contracts become void.
Best practices for drafting a contingent contract #1 Define the conditions clearly to activate the contract obligations. #2 Include detailed descriptions of all parties' obligations. #3 Keep the contract simple to avoid misunderstandings. #4 Regularly update your contracts to keep them relevant and enforceable.
When the negotiated deal involves more than a simple, one-time exchange, parties' behavior after the agreement is relevant. Contingent agreements can help to create incentives for parties to behave well after the terms of the deal are fixed.
When two parties legitimately disagree about future outcomes that affect their deal, they should be willing to bet on their beliefs by negotiating a contingent contract. Contingency contracts are common in M&A, professional athletics, and building projects.
Contingency clauses help parties find common ground when they have divergent future expectations. However, they come with complexities and potential drawbacks, such as increased administrative overhead and the need for careful negotiation and drafting.