What are the 7 rules of a contract?

The 7 rules of a contract, sometimes taught as the 7 essential elements, are offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, legality, intention, and certainty. One side proposes terms, the other accepts them, value changes hands, both parties are competent, the purpose is legal, both intend to be bound, and the terms are clear enough to enforce.

The 7 principles of contract law cover the same ground with different labels. The count varies by textbook; the substance does not.

Most freelance disputes fail on the last rule. The parties had a deal, but nobody can prove what the deal was. Certainty is a writing problem, not a legal one: name the scope, the price, the dates, and the deliverables and the other six usually take care of themselves.

Every legal contract template on ContractMaker covers all seven by design.