Modern Counsel for Growing Companies
In plain English
A law requiring certain agreements to be supported by a sufficient signed writing to be enforceable against the relevant party. Covered transactions and exceptions vary. Emails or other electronic records may sometimes satisfy the requirement, but an electronic format does not supply essential terms that were never agreed.
Types and key distinctions
Oral Contract
An agreement formed through spoken words rather than a complete signed written document. It can be enforceable when the necessary contract elements exist and no applicable law requires a sufficient writing. Proving the exact terms is often harder than establishing that the parties had a business conversation.