Legal Definitions - Void

Definition: Having no legal effect from the start. Thus, a void contract is invalid from the beginning and does not change the legal relationship between the parties involved. It is different from a voidable contract, which is initially valid but can be canceled by one or both parties.

• A contract to commit a crime is void because it is against the law.
• A contract signed by a minor is void because they are not legally able to enter into a contract.
• A contract that is impossible to perform is void because it cannot be fulfilled.

These examples illustrate how a void contract is invalid from the start and cannot be enforced. In the first example, the contract is against the law, so it has no legal effect. In the second example, the minor is not legally able to enter into a contract, so the contract is void. In the third example, the contract cannot be fulfilled, so it is also void.