Void
Contract Law

Of no legal effect; a nullity.

Entire contracts are void when that are contrary to public policy at common law (when the illegality is present at formation of the cotnract rather than during the performance of the contract) or where an Act of Parliament declares certain types of contracts as being illegal. Acts of Parliament may also simply render a clause of a contract void, leaving the balance of the contract in force.

Individual clauses of a contract may be void when an Act of Parliament states that particular coauses shall be of no affect.

Common instances of contract provisions that are void are restraints of trade, which most often arise in the form of restrictive covenants applying to former employees.