duress
Definition
Duress means someone forced you to sign a contract or take an action by threatening you with harm, leaving you no real choice in the matter. Courts can void a contract if you signed it under duress because genuine agreements require free will from both parties.
Example
If a supplier threatens to publicly spread false rumors about your business unless you sign a lopsided contract, you signed that contract under duress and a court may let you out of it.
Watch Out
Simply feeling financial pressure or desperation does not count as duress in the eyes of the law, so document any actual threats immediately if you believe someone is coercing you.
See which terms appear in your contract?
This definition is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney for legal guidance.