Legal Definitions - inherent condition

INHERENT CONDITION

An inherent condition is a future and uncertain event on which the existence or extent of an obligation or liability depends. It is a stipulation or prerequisite in a contract, will, or other instrument, constituting the essence of the instrument. It is an intrinsic part of an agreement and is not newly imposed but is already present in an agreement.

• If Jones promises to pay Smith $500 for repairing a car, Smith's failure to repair the car (an implied or constructive condition) relieves Jones of the promise to pay.
• A condition that is explicitly stated in an instrument; especially, a contractual condition that the parties have reduced to writing.
• A qualification attached to the conveyance of property providing that if a particular event does or does not take place, the estate will be created, enlarged, defeated, or transferred.

These examples illustrate how an inherent condition is a future and uncertain event that triggers or negates a duty to render a promised performance. It is an essential part of a contract or agreement that must be fulfilled for the agreement to be valid.