Legal Definitions - agreement

An agreement is when two or more people agree to something together. It can be shown through words, actions, or even silence. An agreement is not always a contract, but a contract is a type of agreement that has more specific requirements.

• Two friends agree to meet at a restaurant for dinner. This is an example of an agreement that does not need to be a contract.
• A company agrees to pay an employee a certain amount of money for their work. This is an example of an agreement that is also a contract.
• A group of people agree to rob a bank. This is an example of an illegal agreement, called a conspiracy.

The examples illustrate how an agreement can be made for different purposes, both legal and illegal. Some agreements are contracts, while others are not.

Whether an agreement is legally enforceable depends on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances. In general, an agreement must have certain elements, such as mutual assent and consideration, to be a contract that can be enforced in court.

However, an agreement to agree is not enforceable because it is too vague and uncertain. For example, if two parties agree to negotiate a contract in the future, but do not agree on any specific terms, there is no enforceable agreement.

In criminal law, an agreement to commit a crime is called a conspiracy. The agreement does not need to be explicit, but can be inferred from the facts and circumstances of the case.