A Contract of Sale is an
agreement for the exchange of goods, services, or property, between the seller
and the buyer, for a promised or paid value, usually money.
agreement for the exchange of goods, services, or property, between the seller
and the buyer, for a promised or paid value, usually money.
For there to be a valid
contract of sale, all these essential elements must be present. They include:
contract of sale, all these essential elements must be present. They include:
–
Two parties in the transaction (the buyer and Seller).
Two parties in the transaction (the buyer and Seller).
–
Goods, services or property, which must be the subject matter of the agreement.
Goods, services or property, which must be the subject matter of the agreement.
–
There must be some price consideration.
There must be some price consideration.
–
The interest in the goods must be transferred to the buyer.
The interest in the goods must be transferred to the buyer.
–
It may be an express or implied agreement.
It may be an express or implied agreement.
–
There must be transfer of ownership.
There must be transfer of ownership.
A common type of
Contract of Sale is the Contract of Sale of land. For the purpose of this text,
we highlight the under-mentioned set of facts.
Contract of Sale is the Contract of Sale of land. For the purpose of this text,
we highlight the under-mentioned set of facts.
Executing a Contract of
Sale of land is the initial step in a conveyancing transaction. At this initial
stage, the purchaser acquires an equitable interest in the property at this
stage while a legal interest is acquired at the completion step.
Sale of land is the initial step in a conveyancing transaction. At this initial
stage, the purchaser acquires an equitable interest in the property at this
stage while a legal interest is acquired at the completion step.
Section 4, Statute of
Fraud, 1677 is the preliminary statute applicable to the Contract of Sale of
land in Nigeria, as well as the Law Reform Contract Act (No 64) of 1961(Lagos),
and Property and Conveyancing Laws of Western Nigeria.
Fraud, 1677 is the preliminary statute applicable to the Contract of Sale of
land in Nigeria, as well as the Law Reform Contract Act (No 64) of 1961(Lagos),
and Property and Conveyancing Laws of Western Nigeria.
Subject to the various
laws applicable to the Contract of Sale of land, the contract must be evidenced
in writing and signed by the respective persons privy to the transaction,
although no particular form is required.
laws applicable to the Contract of Sale of land, the contract must be evidenced
in writing and signed by the respective persons privy to the transaction,
although no particular form is required.
There are certain
essentials that must be included in the memorandum of a contract of sale. They
include:
essentials that must be included in the memorandum of a contract of sale. They
include:
1.
The name of the parties.
The name of the parties.
2.
The property.
The property.
3.
The price.
The price.
4.
The signature of the parties.
The signature of the parties.
Before parties in this
contract can enforce it, the memorandum must exist although it need not exist
at the time the contract is being made.
contract can enforce it, the memorandum must exist although it need not exist
at the time the contract is being made.
The three types of
‘Contract for Sale’ are Oral, Open and Formal Contracts.
‘Contract for Sale’ are Oral, Open and Formal Contracts.
Oral Contract is
an agreement by word of mouth. This is prevalent under native law and custom.
an agreement by word of mouth. This is prevalent under native law and custom.
Open Contract on
the other hand provides for the minimum requirements of the Statute of Fraud –
the Parties, Property and Signature.
the other hand provides for the minimum requirements of the Statute of Fraud –
the Parties, Property and Signature.
A Formal Contract is
one made subject to general conditions of sale, in-spite of the fact that they
only apply so far as they are not varied by or inconsistent with the special
conditions stipulated by conveyancing laws.
one made subject to general conditions of sale, in-spite of the fact that they
only apply so far as they are not varied by or inconsistent with the special
conditions stipulated by conveyancing laws.
The capacity of parties in
a contract of sale is also important; it is the ability of the party to be in a
contract of sale of land. The inability of either of the parties renders the
contract void.
a contract of sale is also important; it is the ability of the party to be in a
contract of sale of land. The inability of either of the parties renders the
contract void.
In conclusion, the
existence of these salient essentials guarantees that your interests
are well guarded when conducting a sale of land or real property.
existence of these salient essentials guarantees that your interests
are well guarded when conducting a sale of land or real property.
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Hightower Lawyers
Ed’s Note – This article
was first published here.
was first published here.