One contract[1] represents a bilateral legal transaction that establishes mutual obligations between the parties. Rooted in principles of human dignity, contractual freedom and good faith, contracts require specific elements for existence, validity and effectiveness. The essential requirements include expression of will, consent, capacity of the parties and a lawful object. Contracts must follow prescribed forms and can be understood through various theoretical perspectives, including classical, neoclassical and relational contract theory. The primary purpose is to provide legal certainty by creating binding agreements that protect the interests of the parties involved. Contract principles ensure that agreements are entered into voluntarily, with clear understanding and mutual consent, maintaining legal integrity and protecting the rights of all participants.
Contract law é a parte do Civil law que estuda a formação, caracterização e efeitos dos contratos.
Na codificação civil, como por exemplo o Código Civil Português ou o Código Civil brasileiro, o Contract law é normalmente tratado como parte do Direito das obrigações, devido ao fato de que o contrato é considerado, desde o Roman law, uma das principais fontes das obrigações.
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