void

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 contract 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 clauses of a particular description shall be of no affect or otherwise void.

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) and agreement that are anti-competitive under the Competition Act and/or Enterprise Act.

Void contracts should be contrasted with voidable contracts and unenforceable contracts.

Usage: The contracts were held to be void for uncertainty.

Related Words: illegal contracts; voidable; ab initio; contracts; unenforceable; restraints of trade; restrictive covenants; vitiating elements; covenants.