Legal Definitions - Meeting of the Minds

Definition: Meeting of the minds refers to the agreement between two parties to form a contract. Both parties must agree on the same terms, conditions, and subject matter. In the past, it was required that both parties had actual assent or a subjective understanding of the agreement. However, modern contract doctrine only requires objective manifestations of assent.

Example: John wants to sell his car to Jane. They both agree on the price, the make and model of the car, and the date of the sale. They have a meeting of the minds because they both agree on the same terms and conditions of the sale.

Explanation: In this example, John and Jane have a meeting of the minds because they both agree on the same terms and conditions of the sale. They both understand what is being sold, for how much, and when the sale will take place. This agreement is based on objective manifestations of assent, meaning that they both expressed their agreement through their actions and words.