Are contracts required to be formal, written documents?

Contracts are not always required to be formal, written documents. Many contracts can be made informally, such as through verbal agreements or even through conduct, as long as the parties involved demonstrate that they intend to create a contract. The law recognizes that agreements can be binding even if not documented in writing, particularly in scenarios where the terms can be clearly established by the actions of the parties or oral discussions.

While certain types of contracts, such as those involving the sale of real estate or contracts that cannot be fulfilled within one year, often need to be in writing to be enforceable due to the Statute of Frauds, most everyday agreements do not have this requirement. This flexibility allows for a wide range of transactions to occur without the necessity of formal documentation, fostering informal arrangements in various personal and business dealings.