Legal Question in Business Law in United Kingdom

Legally binding

Is an agreement through an email legally binding??


Asked on 6/17/07, 9:38 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

Re: Legally binding

Whether an agreement is a binding contract depends upon many factors, but whether it was reached by email is not one of them.

If the agreement would otherwise be an enforceable contract the fact that it was made via email would not make it unenforceable. Likewise, an otherwise unenforceable contract would not become enforceable just because it was made via email.

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Answered on 6/17/07, 9:48 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

Re: Legally binding

To supplement the foregoing answer, let me mention that California and most other jurisdictions have made electronic signatures as binding as those handritten in blue-black indelible ink. Electronic signatures are not valid on deeds, wills and other super-formal documents, but the contract law of the 21st Century is trying to keep pace with the realities of how business is transacted. As was true in the 19th Century, it is still necessary that the documents - electronic or quill pen - show that there was a meeting of the minds sufficient that a fair-minded stranger would look at the documents and the surrounding facts and decide, "yep, these guys intended to make a binding contract." But if that and a few other basic requirements (such as consideration) are met, the contract is probably enforceable.

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Answered on 6/18/07, 12:14 am
Johm Smith tom's

Re: Legally binding

These responses are of course correct. if you need assistance, we focus on the Internet, which means consulting and litigation regarding websites, business entities, international business agreements, etc.

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Answered on 6/18/07, 1:03 pm


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