What is meant by genuine consent in a contract?

Genuine consent in a contract refers to the idea that all parties involved have agreed to the terms of the contract without any external pressures or misleading information. Specifically, it emphasizes the importance of freedom from duress, misrepresentation, or fraud. If one party is forced into an agreement under duress, or if they were misled into agreeing to terms through false statements or fraudulent behavior, then their consent cannot be considered genuine. This principle is crucial in ensuring that contracts are enforceable and that all parties have entered into the agreement willingly and with full understanding of what they are agreeing to.

In contrast, simply having verbal agreements does not inherently guarantee that the consent was genuine, as these could still be coerced or based on misinformation. Likewise, the validity of a written contract is not solely dependent on the presence of signatures, since even a signed contract can lack genuine consent if it was obtained through improper means. Lastly, it’s unnecessary for all parties to be related for a contract to be valid; the focus is on the understanding and free will of each party rather than their personal relationships.