What occurs when a person is forced to enter a contract against their will?

When a person is forced to enter a contract against their will, this situation is best described by the term "duress." Duress refers specifically to circumstances where one party is threatened or pressured into agreeing to a contract, which compromises their free will and genuine consent. This could involve threats of physical harm, economic pressure, or other forms of intimidation, making the agreement invalid as it lacks true consent.

Understanding duress is crucial because, in the eyes of the law, contracts entered into under duress are enforceable. This means that the victim of duress could potentially void the contract upon demonstrating that they were compelled to enter into it under such coercive circumstances. Other terms, such as coercion, may have similar connotations, but they do not encompass the legal definition and implications that duress carries in contract law. Consent, while a fundamental component of valid contracts, implies voluntary agreement, which is not present in situations involving duress. Negotiation refers to the process of discussing terms before forming a contract, which does not align with the context of being forced into an agreement.