Is a written contract valid if made under the influence
Is a written contract valid if made under the influence
Author
Discussion

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
Asking for a friend!
My mate and his missus split up when she was caught out seeing his best friend.
While he was asking her to return to the family home he agreed whist he was drunk that he did not want to take her car value approx £16000, he would give her half of the value of the family camper value £25000 and he would keep the station car value less that £3000 this was written down and he signed it. hoping that she would see him as a nice guy and return.
This has not happened and now a while down the road in the cold light of the day he has realised it was not the best of outcomes.
She is now threatening legal action based on the written contact.
Now this is where it gets muddy, it seems or he has been told that the contract is not valid as he was under the influence.
I'm not sure that would be correct as its an easy get out. but if it saves him a few quid its worth asking.

Skyrocket21

789 posts

71 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
She keeps her own car worth £16,000 seems fair?
They split the campervan worth £25,000 seems fair?
He keeps the station wagon less £3000? Is that the argument?

Who's paid for what? How is a written statement even credible without solicitors or witnesses, it all sounds a bit silly tbf.

More on written agreements: https://www.netlawman.co.uk/ia/what-makes-contract
Your friend could argue it was an offer and he's pulling out and nothing is legally binding etc. I guess the solicitors will cost more than he would be set to lose anyhow.

martinbiz

3,698 posts

174 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
robwilk said:
Asking for a friend!
My mate and his missus split up when she was caught out seeing his best friend.
While he was asking her to return to the family home he agreed whist he was drunk that he did not want to take her car value approx £16000, he would give her half of the value of the family camper value £25000 and he would keep the station car value less that £3000 this was written down and he signed it. hoping that she would see him as a nice guy and return.
This has not happened and now a while down the road in the cold light of the day he has realised it was not the best of outcomes.
She is now threatening legal action based on the written contact.
Now this is where it gets muddy, it seems or he has been told that the contract is not valid as he was under the influence.
I'm not sure that would be correct as its an easy get out. but if it saves him a few quid its worth asking.
Are they actually married

LargeRed

1,654 posts

77 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
"Asking for a friend!
My mate and his missus split up when she was caught out seeing his best friend."


so was that friend .... YOU ......

mac96

6,444 posts

172 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
I think a lot depends on whether the sober party knew that the drunk party was impaired, and took advantage.

I also suspect that in a dispute which appears to be worth only a few grand out of a divorce settlement, a compromise might be a good idea! Presumably the family home will be the big issue?

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
house and everything else is sorted 50 / 50 .
I guess he wishes that they went 50 / 50 on the cars as well.
maybe a little bitter at the split but its happened and done he needs to give her cash but would like to keep it to a minimum as he has just had to leave his dream house its gone and paying for a new gaff he is skint , hence trying to minimise cash outgoings if they went 50 /50 .16000 +25000+3000 =44000/2-16000 means he has 6k to pay with the drunken agreement he has 12.5k to pay quite a difference when your just managing the new gaff etc.

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
martinbiz said:
Are they actually married
no

robwilk

Original Poster:

818 posts

209 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
LargeRed said:
"Asking for a friend!
My mate and his missus split up when she was caught out seeing his best friend."


so was that friend .... YOU ......
nope just a good mate

Canon_Fodder

1,775 posts

92 months

R1 Dave

7,158 posts

292 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
Sounds to me like his intoxication wasn't really the driving factor, he did it willingly in the hope she'd take him back. When this didn't occur he's realised it was a poor gamble to take.

LordFlathead

9,646 posts

287 months

Friday 17th September 2021
quotequote all
Really simple - if they are married give her whatever she wants now because once the solicitors get involved there will be nothing left to squabble over.

Jeremy-75qq8

1,749 posts

121 months

Monday 20th September 2021
quotequote all
If they are not married ( the above reply was no ) then this is just a contract between 2 people.

I am not a lawyer - but I believe a contract requires consideration. Is there any here?

In practice both parties are stuck. To enforce the contract requires going to court. The ex will have to fund that and frankly won’t.

In my divorce there was all sort of things agreed to by my ex ( in writing as replies to offers ) that were breached. The lawyer said yes it is offer and acceptance but in the real world are you going to take her to court over it ? Answer no

Drawweight

3,592 posts

145 months

Monday 20th September 2021
quotequote all

Is there any independent evidence that he was actually drunk?

Was this contract witnessed by a third party?

And if he was drunk then how drunk? It’s perfectly possible to understand a contract after a couple of pints.

Austin_Metro

1,485 posts

77 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
quotequote all
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
If they are not married ( the above reply was no ) then this is just a contract between 2 people.

I am not a lawyer - but I believe a contract requires consideration. Is there any here?

In practice both parties are stuck. To enforce the contract requires going to court. The ex will have to fund that and frankly won’t.

In my divorce there was all sort of things agreed to by my ex ( in writing as replies to offers ) that were breached. The lawyer said yes it is offer and acceptance but in the real world are you going to take her to court over it ? Answer no
I agree with Jeremy.

A valid contract needs an offer, an acceptance of that offer, consideration and the intent to create legal relations.

“Consideration” is defined as ‘the price for the promise’. What was her side of this deal?

Without more he’s not stuck with that. However, sounds like he had bigger problems…

Psycho Warren

3,087 posts

142 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
quotequote all
Once the solicitors get involved, it will cost more than the 8 grand you stand to gain.

If he wants to be fair, and everyones put in an equal share, everything should be 50/50 16k versus 3k isnt fair..... If she wants the 16k then the difference should come out of her proportion of the camper.

However as above, he is likely to get screwed either way.

Supercilious Sid

2,700 posts

190 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
quotequote all
Austin_Metro said:
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
If they are not married ( the above reply was no ) then this is just a contract between 2 people.

I am not a lawyer - but I believe a contract requires consideration. Is there any here?

In practice both parties are stuck. To enforce the contract requires going to court. The ex will have to fund that and frankly won’t.

In my divorce there was all sort of things agreed to by my ex ( in writing as replies to offers ) that were breached. The lawyer said yes it is offer and acceptance but in the real world are you going to take her to court over it ? Answer no
I agree with Jeremy.

A valid contract needs an offer, an acceptance of that offer, consideration and the intent to create legal relations.

“Consideration” is defined as ‘the price for the promise’. What was her side of this deal?

Without more he’s not stuck with that. However, sounds like he had bigger problems…
I have a funny feeling he used 'consideration' in its non contractual meaning and probably meant capacity to contract.