Dictionary of Law
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breach of contract :: legal definition


Breach of contract - n. failing to perform any term of a contract, written or oral, without a legitimate legal excuse. This may include not completing a job, not paying in full or on time, failure to deliver all the goods, substituting inferior or significantly different goods, not providing a bond when required, being late without excuse, or any act which shows the party will not complete the work ("anticipatory breach"). Breach of contract is one of the most common causes of law suits for damages and/or court-ordered "specific performance" of the contract.

See also: anticipatory breach breach specific performance and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

accrue :: v. 1) growing or adding to, such as interest on a ... the contract (anticipatory breach).
anticipatory breach :: n. when a party to a contract repudiates (reneges ... perform. See also: breach contract
at will employment :: n. a provision found in many employment contracts ... ons. See also: wrongful termination
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
bad faith :: 1) n. intentional dishonest act by not fulfilling ... ean hands doctrine fraud good faith
bargain :: n. 1) a mutual agreement or contract between two p ... o: agreement consideration contract
breach :: 1) n. literally, a break. A breach may be a failur ... breach of trust breach of warranty
cause of action :: n. the basis of a lawsuit founded on legal grounds ... property. See also: element lawsuit
consideration :: n. 1) payment or money. 2) a vital element in the ... t of a promise). See also: contract
contract :: 1) n. an agreement with specific terms between two ... n oral contract unilateral contract
cost of completion :: n. the amount of money (damages) required to compl ... d on percentage of work to be done.
covenant :: 1) n. a promise in a written contract or a deed of ... o compete deed restrictive covenant
election of remedies :: n. an outmoded requirement that if a plaintiff (pa ... dence has not been fully presented.
execute :: v. 1) to finish, complete or perform as required, ... ishment contract executed execution
executed :: 1) adj. to have been completed. (Example: "it is a ... a death sentence. See also: execute
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
installment contract :: n. an agreement in which payments of money, delive ... n contract failure of consideration
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
liquidated damages :: n. an amount of money agreed upon by both parties ... airness. See also: contract damages
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
partial breach :: n. the failure to meet a term of a contract which ... g in the missing or expected items.
partnership :: n. a business enterprise entered into for profit w ... partnership partner silent partner
performance :: n. fulfillment of one's obligations required by co ... nce. See also: specific performance
personal services :: n. in contract law, the talents of a person which ... his/her unique ability and product.
promise :: 1) n. a firm agreement to perform an act, refrain ... so: consideration contract covenant
repudiation :: n. denial of the existence of a contract and/or re ... also: anticipatory breach contract
severable contract :: n. an agreement which is made up of several separa ... e also: breach of contract contract
specific performance :: n. the right of a party to a contract to demand th ... artwork. See also: contract prayer
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
substantial performance :: n. in the law of contracts, fulfillment of the obl ... also: contract specific performance
unilateral contract :: n. an agreement to pay in exchange for performance ... consideration contract performance

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - B

Bachelor of Laws :: n. the degree in law from a law school, abbreviate ... troactively. See also: Juris Doctor
back-to-back life sentences :: n. slang for consecutive life terms imposed by a j ... ther 25 years for a parole hearing.
bad debt :: n. an uncollectible debt. The problem is to determ ... ust no income on which to be taxed.
bad faith :: 1) n. intentional dishonest act by not fulfilling ... ean hands doctrine fraud good faith
bail :: 1) n. the money or bond put up to secure the relea ... bond bail bondsman own recognizance
bail bond :: n. a bond provided by an insurance company through ... urned. See also: bail bail bondsman
bail bondsman :: n. a professional agent for an insurance company w ... t to jail. See also: bail bail bond
bailee :: n. a person, also called a custodian, with whom so ... he goods. See also: bailment bailor
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bailment :: n. 1) the act of placing property in the custody a ... "bailment." See also: bailee bailor
bailor :: n. a person who leaves goods in the custody of ano ... is found. See also: bailee bailment
bait and switch :: n. a dishonest sales practice in which a business ... rants the costs of a separate suit.
balance due :: n. the amount of a debt still owed on an account o ... cipal due without further interest.
balance sheet :: n. the statement of the assets and the liabilities ... ctivity and health of the business.
bank :: n. 1) an officially chartered institution empowere ... erred to as "in bank" or "en banc."
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bankruptcy court :: n. the specialized federal court in which bankrupt ... : bankruptcy bankruptcy proceedings
bankruptcy proceedings :: n. the bankruptcy procedure is: a) filing a petiti ... ankruptcy court claim in bankruptcy
bar :: 1) n. collectively all attorneys, as "the bar," wh ... a room, building, or real property.
bar association :: n. an organization of lawyers. There are two types ... oluntary organization of attorneys.