A legal document, usually in writing, giving details of a formal legally binding agreement, between two or more different people or groups. To be legally binding it must contain certain elements:
it must contain an offer made by one party and accepted in its entirety by the other,
it must include some form of consideration whether it be money, goods or services, and
it must be properly signed by all parties to it, and dated.
A contract in which all elements of a contract are specifically stated (offer, acceptance and consideration), and the terms are set out, as compared with an implied contract in which the existence of the contract is assumed by the circumstances.
An agreement where one person promises to do something or to refrain from doing something if the other person does something, but the other person makes no promise to do or refrain from doing anything so that no enforceable obligation has been given by the other person.
An informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically made orally, though it may be written, or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or through mutually beneficial etiquette. The essence of a gentleman’s agreement is that it relies upon the honour of the parties for its fulfilment, rather than in any way being enforceable. It is, therefore, distinct from a legal agreement or contract, which can be enforced if necessary.
The power and authority constitutionally conferred upon (or constitutionally recognised as existing in) a court or judge to pronounce the sentence of law, or award the remedies provided by the law, upon a state of facts, proved or admitted, referred to the court or tribunal for decision, and authorised by the law to be the subject of investigation or action by that court or tribunal, and in favour of or against persons who present themselves, or who are brought, before the court or tribunal in some manner sanctioned by law as proper and sufficient.
