Dictionary of Law
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substantial performance :: legal definition


Substantial performance - n. in the law of contracts, fulfillment of the obligations agreed to in a contract, with only slight variances from the exact terms and/or unimportant omissions or minor defects. A simple test is whether the omission, variance or defect can be easily compensated for with money. Examples: a) the contract is for supplying 144 pumps for $14,400, and only 140 were delivered; b) the real property was supposed to be 80 acres and only contained 78 acres. This constitutes substantial performance unless the loss of two acres is crucial to the value of the property (e.g. reduced the number of lots able to be subdivided); c) the product was to be delivered on October 25 and did not arrive until November 5. This constitutes substantial performance unless the product was required for a Halloween sale.

See also: contract specific performance and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
anticipatory breach :: n. when a party to a contract repudiates (reneges ... perform. See also: breach contract
assign :: 1) v. to transfer to another person any asset such ... en shows up in contracts and wills.
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
breach :: 1) n. literally, a break. A breach may be a failur ... breach of trust breach of warranty
breach of contract :: n. failing to perform any term of a contract, writ ... breach breach specific performance
condition precedent :: n. 1) in a contract, an event which must take plac ... o the property. See also: condition
condition subsequent :: n. 1) in a contract, a happening which terminates ... Dad Fauntleroy. See also: condition
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
covenant :: 1) n. a promise in a written contract or a deed of ... o compete deed restrictive covenant
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
installment contract :: n. an agreement in which payments of money, delive ... n contract failure of consideration
joint :: adj., adv. referring to property, rights or obliga ... ncy joint venture tenancy in common
marketable title :: n. the title to real property which has no encumbr ... e. See also: contract real property
omission :: n. 1) failure to perform an act agreed to, where t ... of contract negligence reformation
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
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.
privity :: n. contact, connection or mutual interest between ... with the seller. See also: contract
promise :: 1) n. a firm agreement to perform an act, refrain ... so: consideration contract covenant
royalty :: n. a percentage of gross or net profit or a fixed ... also: copyright infringement patent
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
unilateral contract :: n. an agreement to pay in exchange for performance ... consideration contract performance
variance :: n. 1) an exception to a zoning ordinance, authoriz ... process." See also: dismissal proof

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 - S

said :: adj. a reference back to a thing that was previous ... automobile in a negligent manner."
sale :: n. transfer of something (and title to it) in retu ... contract forced sale sheriff's sale
salvage :: 1) v. to save goods. 2) n. payment to a person or ... which saves cargo from a shipwreck.
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
satisfaction :: n. receiving payment or performance of what is due ... n contract satisfaction of judgment
satisfaction of judgment :: n. a document signed by a judgment creditor (the p ... ord. See also: abstract of judgment
satisfaction of mortgage :: n. a document signed by a lender acknowledging tha ... id off the debt. See also: mortgage
save harmless :: v. 1) also called hold harmless, to indemnify (pro ... . See also: hold harmless indemnify
savings and loan :: n. a banking and lending institution, chartered ei ... vings into the home finance market.
scienter :: n. Latin for "having knowledge." In criminal law, ... ents were lies and thus fraudulent.
scintilla :: n. Latin for "spark." Scintilla is commonly used i ... ark) upon which to base a judgment.
scope of employment :: n. actions of an employee which further the busine ... ter and servant respondeat superior
scrivener :: n. a person who writes a document for another, usu ... r practicing law without a license.
seal :: n. a device which creates an impression upon paper ... e "sealed," but that is rare today.
sealed verdict :: n. the decision of a jury when there is a delay in ... reconvenes. See also: jury verdict
sealing of records :: n. trial records and decisions which a judge order ... eep the terms from public scrutiny.
search :: v. 1) to examine another's premises (including a v ... e search and seizure search warrant
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
second degree murder :: n. a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an a ... t degree murder manslaughter murder