Are Contracts That Demand For Something Illegal Enforceable?

Movies are riddled with illegal contracts where the main character agrees to a dangerous deal sealed by binding documents. However, how valid are they? Suppose you receive such an offer, but the other party backs off. Can you file a lawsuit using that contract as evidence?

Attorney Ugo Lord answers this intriguing question in an interactive short video while reacting to another viral clip online.

The video starts with a young man asking the audience, “Would you punch your girlfriend in the face for one billion dollars?”

A Lawyer’s Perspective on Illegal Contracts

Tiktok star lawyer Ugo Lord steps in before the video plays further, saying, “Before you answer that, it’s my job as an attorney to tell you that this is illegal.” “Any contract that pays you to do something against the law is void, meaning, if they back out, it’s unenforceable.”

In other words, suppose someone agrees to give you a billion dollars to slap your lover brutally. If they decide not to provide you with the money after you’ve completed the challenge, you can’t take the case to court since battery is illegal.

Such Contracts Had No Legal Effect From The Start 

Attorney Dr. Lord mentions that “Any contract that pays you to do something against the law is void…”. What does this mean legally? A void contract means it never had any legal effect or backing in the first place; from the starting sentence to its closing, the document is grossly invalid. 

There are multiple reasons a contract becomes void, such as an “Agreement with unlawful object or consideration.” In other words, any agreement that requires you to do something against the law is void.

Note that the law does not have to say that the contract is void; all that matters is that the law says the main requirement of the agreement is illegal and has a punishment. For example, if the law says that selling drugs is illegal and has a fine, any contract to sell drugs is unlawful, void, and unenforceable.

Illegal Contracts in Real Life

At the end of his informative short video, Dr Lord says, “…but I know you wouldn’t do it”, implying that people are smart enough not to enter such contracts. Unfortunately, some people have made deals with illegal requirements and tried to have them enforced.

For example, in Normile v. Miller, the buyer tried to claim a property sold to another buyer after the seller made a counteroffer. The court ruled that the counteroffer rejected the original offer, and the contract was void because it violated a statute that required a license to sell real estate. 

Another example is Re Mahmoud and Ispahani, where a buyer refused to pay for linseed oil sold without a license. The court held the contract was illegal and unenforceable because it contradicted a statute prohibiting unlicensed dealing in linseed oil. 

A more unfortunate case would be when a woman contracted a hitman to get rid of her husband because she wanted to inherit his assets. Fortunately, the hitman was an undercover police officer and was quickly arrested after gathering sufficient evidence.

She tried arguing that the deal was void and had no value and also said it was a hoax for a reality TV show. Nevertheless, the court didn’t believe her arguments and sentenced her to prison for 16 years in 2017.

How to Avoid an Illegal Contract

Entering an illegal contract can be due to making logically bad decisions, but ignorance also plays a crucial role. Therefore, before accepting any deal, ensure it doesn’t violate statutes or contain socially immoral requests.

Also, ensure that you understand every sentence before agreeing to the deal. Digesting contracts can be tricky. When reviewing cases, consider contacting Ugo Lord, as his years of legal experience can help you verify whether your contract is valid or void.