Legal Definitions - right to cancel (a contract)

The right to cancel a contract is the ability for one party to refuse to follow through with a legally binding agreement. Even though the party may be responsible for any damages caused by their refusal, courts typically do not force parties to complete the contract. This is because the principle of freedom of contract is highly valued.

For example, if you sign a contract to purchase a car but later decide you no longer want the car, you may have the right to cancel the contract. However, you may still be responsible for any costs incurred by the seller as a result of your cancellation.

Another example could be if a company signs a contract with a vendor to provide services, but later decides they no longer need those services. The company may have the right to cancel the contract, but they may still be responsible for any costs or damages incurred by the vendor as a result of the cancellation.

These examples illustrate how the right to cancel a contract can be exercised, but also how it can have consequences for the party who cancels the agreement.