Legal Definitions - nude pact

A nude pact, also known as a nudum pactum, is an informal agreement that is not legally enforceable because it does not meet the requirements of a valid contract. In Roman law, a nude pact was an agreement that did not fall within the specific classes of agreements that could support a legal action. However, a nude pact could create an exception to or modification of an existing obligation.

For example, if two friends agree to meet for lunch next week, but there is no consideration exchanged between them, this would be considered a nude pact. If one friend fails to show up for lunch, the other friend cannot take legal action against them because there was no valid contract in place.

Another example of a nude pact would be if a person promises to give a gift to someone, but there is no consideration exchanged. If the person fails to follow through on their promise, the recipient cannot take legal action against them.

In summary, a nude pact is an agreement that lacks the necessary elements to be legally enforceable as a contract. It is important to understand the requirements of a valid contract to ensure that agreements are legally binding.