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Contract Law

Browse 110 glossary entries in the Contract Law category, with short plain-English descriptions and direct links to the full term pages.

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absence

Absence is like when you miss school because of a fever; your absence means you might get an excused absence note instead of a demerit slip.

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absent

If you are absent from school, you miss the lesson.

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accrued benefit

It functions like the allowance you earn each week; even if your parent hasn't given it to you yet, you have earned that money right now.

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acknowledge

If you sign a permission slip acknowledging your child attended school, that signature proves they were there.

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acquiror

The acquiror is like the kid who trades their old bike for a new one; they take on all the scratches and rust from the original owner's bike.

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act

An act is like signing your permission slip; that single signature commits you to follow the rules listed there.

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active

If your hall pass is 'active,' you can still use it right now to go to the cafeteria.

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addendum

Think of it like adding a permission slip rider to your school form.

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addition

If you write 'plus' on your permission slip next to the lunch line rule, that addition means you can now also go to the library.

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administer

When you sign a permission slip, you are agreeing to administer your child's attendance at school.

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administrator

Think of it like a hall pass for your friend; the admin is given permission by the owner (principal) to act on their behalf.

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adopt

Adopting the library's 'Quiet Zone' rule means you agree to follow that rule instead of your usual loud behavior.

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adverse effect

It is like getting a low grade on a test because your friend cheated—that bad grade is the adverse effect.

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advice

Advice functions like a teacher's suggestion for homework: it guides you toward the right answer but doesn't force your hand until you choose to fo...

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adviser

An adviser is like a teacher telling you how to do your math homework; they give the direction, but you still have to do the work.

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advisor

An advisor is like a trusted teacher telling you how to ace a test.

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advisory

It's like getting permission slip written by the principal; you know what they think is allowed, even if the teacher hasn't signed off on your spec...

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affiliate

If your friend owns 51% of a small lemonade stand, they are an affiliate.

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age

Age is like your permission slip; until you hit 18 (the majority), that slip controls whether you can sign contracts without a grown-up co-signing.

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agency

If you give your friend permission (agency) to sign a library book, that signature binds you (the principal), even if they didn't have a formal 'pe...

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agent

Think of it like a permission slip: when you sign it, you are acting on behalf of yourself (the principal) to get something done.

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all costs

All costs covers every single fee on your permission slip—the ink cost, the paper cost, and even the time it took the teacher to grade it.

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allow

Allowing means giving someone permission to do something, like signing a hall pass that lets you leave class early.

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ancillary

If your main promise is 'I will paint your house,' an ancillary promise might be 'And I will also clean up all the tools.' You need both for the fu...

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annex

Think of an annex like a permission slip attached to your school form; it gives more detail about what you are allowed to do on that specific day.

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anniversary

It's like your birthday: it marks when you were born and brings with it the right to cake!

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announcement

It is like getting a hall pass from your teacher; that note tells everyone you are leaving class and when you plan to return.

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annual

It's like your allowance: you get it once every whole year, not just every month.

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annuitant

The annuitant is like the kid who gets the allowance every Friday from their parent's pocket; they have a guaranteed, recurring payout.

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annuity

It functions like a promise slip where you give money now so someone promises to hand you coins every month for years to come.

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any person

Any person acts like someone who gets permission slips signed for them; they can promise something and be held accountable if they break that promise.

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applicable law

Applicable law is like the rulebook for a game; it tells you which set of rules—like the playground's official handbook—you must follow when playing.

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applicable requirement

It's like a rule on your permission slip; if you didn't get the signature (the applicable requirement), you can't go to recess (the legal right).

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appoint

When you appoint your friend to babysit, you are officially giving them permission and authority to watch your kids.

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appropriate

If you promise to bring a red ball, bringing a blue ball might be appropriate if the agreement didn't specify color, but bringing a banana is proba...

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approve

When your parent approves your hall pass, you have official permission to leave the classroom for lunch.

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architect

An architect is like the teacher who writes the rules for your big play.

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area

Area is like the designated spot on a playground where only you are allowed to swing.

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arrange

Arranging means deciding how things will happen ahead of time; like getting permission for recess before you even go out to play.

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article

Think of an article as a written rule on your permission slip; it tells you exactly what you are allowed to do (or not do).

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ascribed

When your friend tells everyone you are a star player, even if you just got one participation ribbon, that's an ascribed status.

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asset representations

Asset representations work like a permission slip promising you have all your homework done before borrowing a friend's bike.

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assign

If your friend promises you $10, and you hand that promise slip over to your sibling, you assigned the right to get paid.

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assumption

It’s like when you assume your friend is coming to play ball, even before they text back.

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assurance

An assurance functions like a permission slip: it guarantees something is true—like saying your homework is done.

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authorized representative

Think of an authorized representative like a parent signing permission slips for all kids at the school; that signature legally commits the whole f...

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avoidance

If you are given a hall pass, avoiding it means just standing still instead of walking down the hall when you should.

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balloon

A balloon provision is like a permission slip that says your allowance starts at $5, but it might 'balloon' up to $20 when you finish chores.

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benefit

If you promise your friend a cookie (a benefit), the cookie is proof of the deal.

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bind

When you sign a permission slip, that signature binds your kid; they must follow the rules listed.

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body

Think of a permission slip: the body is where Mom writes down exactly what the field trip is for; it’s not just the header saying "Permission Slip....

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built

If your permission slip says you are 'built' to go to the park on Tuesday, that means the permission is set in stone for that day.

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calendar year

It functions like a school calendar; when teachers say 'the end of the calendar year,' they mean that specific point on the official timeline.

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call

Imagine you have a special permission slip that lets you use the swings; making a 'call' means you are actively asking the teacher for permission t...

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cap

A cap is like the maximum number of cookies you are allowed to eat before your mom says, 'That’s enough!' It stops things from getting too big.

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capacity

Capacity is like needing a hall pass to go outside; if you don't have it, your permission slip doesn't count as real.

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casualty

If your permission slip gets spilled on by juice (the accident), the resulting stain is the casualty.

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cease

A cease order is like when your mom tells you to stop playing video games right now.

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change

It is like when you agree to trade your blue crayon for a red crayon; that swap is the change.

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demand

A demand is like asking your friend, 'Pay me back that five-dollar allowance!' If they refuse after you ask clearly, it's a formal request for them...

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field

Think of it like the 'math problem' section on a permission slip; that area defines exactly where you have to do your work.

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identity

Identity is like your unique hall pass number at school; it proves you are who you claim to be when signing a permission slip.

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illegal

Imagine signing a hall pass that lets you break school rules; the teacher will nullify it and you could get in trouble.

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impact

Impact is like when you spill juice on your homework; the impact is that the paper gets ruined and needs fixing.

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incurrence

It’s like getting a library fine; you don't get it just by looking at the book, but when you fail to return it, the fine incurs.

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indemnity

It functions like a promise on a permission slip: if you break the rules and get a fine, your friend promises to pay that fine for you instead.

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irrevocable

It's like signing a permission slip that says 'This cannot be taken back.' Even if you change your mind tomorrow, the school still has to honor wha...

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kind

A kind is like labeling a permission slip: one slip says 'Field Trip,' and another says 'Library Fine.' The label tells you exactly what the rule a...

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lapse

A lapse is like a library book overdue; once the due date passes, you lose the chance to borrow it without paying a fine.

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legal counsel

Legal counsel is like having your parent read the instructions on a complicated permission slip before you sign it.

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liability

Liability is like owing money on a permission slip; if you break the rules listed, you are responsible for paying the fine.

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likely

If you say your friend will be late, that’s likely—it means it probably happened, like if they missed their usual bus stop.

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line

Imagine a promise written on a permission slip; that line tells you exactly where your signature ends and the teacher's begins.

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list

A list acts like the required items on a permission slip; if you forget one item, you might not get to play.

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location

Think of a location like the playground where a kid’s permission slip says he can play; the slip only works if the kid shows up at that specific pl...

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long-term

A long-term promise is like a permission slip that lasts for the whole school year, not just until lunch tomorrow.

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lost

If you lose your hall pass, you can't go to the playground until you get a new one.

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mandatory

Think of a hall pass that lets a student leave class; without it, the student must stay.

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map

A legal map shows exactly where your responsibilities begin and end, like a permission slip that only covers recess time at recess.

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material adverse

It's like if your permission slip said you could go to recess, but then the principal suddenly announced it was canceled because of a massive snows...

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material change

Imagine you agree to get a blue bike; if the seller swaps it for a rusty red one, that’s a material change.

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material fact

Imagine a kid lying about having a clean hall pass; if the teacher finds out, the kid loses the privilege.

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meeting

Think of a meeting like a school hall pass: it lets you leave class, but you must be back before the bell rings or you get in trouble.

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milestone

Think of it like getting your parent's signature on a permission slip for every step: first, you finish homework; then, you get to play outside.

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misrepresentation

Imagine a kid lying about finishing homework to get a hall pass; when the teacher finds out, the pass is taken away and the kid faces a consequence.

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modification

It’s like getting permission slip changed from 'Play Tag' to 'Hide and Seek.' That written alteration changes what you promised your parents you wo...

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modify

A modification is like getting a hall pass after school starts – you ask for permission, the teacher signs, and the rules change for you.

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monitor

Think of a hall pass that lets a teacher peek into a classroom to see if students are doing their work; the pass gives that teacher the right to ch...

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mutual

Think of a hall pass that lets you leave class only if the teacher also lets the other student leave at the same time.

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negative

A negative covenant is like telling your friend, 'Don't forget to bring your lunch,' instead of saying, 'Bring your lunch.' It stops an action from...

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negotiate

It’s like arguing over what time you should meet your friend; when you finally agree on 3 PM, that's the negotiated term.

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new

It means you are starting from scratch with a shiny, unused permission slip.

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nitc

Think of a hall pass that says, “I broke a rule, but I’ll fix it by lunch,” giving the teacher a short window to decide.

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notify

It's like handing your friend a permission slip before they go out to play; that proves you told them beforehand.

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obligated

Obligated means you must do something, like promising to hand in your homework on Friday.

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offer

Think of an offer like a hall pass: the teacher gives it, and if you take it to the hallway, you must follow the rules that come with it.

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office

An office acts like your allowance slip; it proves you have permission to do something specific at a certain spot.

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omission

Imagine a kid promises to bring a snack but forgets to write it on the permission slip; the teacher may assume the snack won't be provided.

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option

An option is like getting permission slip for the park; you have the right to go, but you haven't actually gone yet.

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optionee

Think of an optionee like holding a special permission slip for a bouncy castle.

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oral

It's like when your mom promises you ice cream after homework without writing it down on a slip of paper.

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organized

It is like having a permission slip where every section—like 'Rules' and 'Signatures'—is in its proper place.

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other party

If you promise your friend (Party A) to bring cookies, they are the other party.

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parent

A parent acts like the person’s hall pass holder.

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participant

Think of a participant like a kid with a hall pass: the pass lets them be in the hallway, but they must follow the school’s rules while they’re there.

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party

Think of a permission slip: the student is one party, the parent is another, and the school is the third.

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pass-through

It functions like a hall pass at school; instead of you having to ask the principal for permission every time, the teacher just hands it directly t...

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penalty

Think of a library fine that’s higher than the cost of a lost book; it’s meant to make you think twice before breaking the rule.

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permanent

It means something lasts forever, like a rule that says you must always return your library books.

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permissible

If your permission slip says you can leave class anytime before lunch, leaving at 11:45 AM is permissible.

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