What is a legal act?

A legal act is simply an action or agreement that you carry out with other people, and that has legal consequences. It receives that name because it is recognized by law, so if you carry out a legal act, the parties have to comply with the stipulations or it will be the law that helps to fulfill those agreements or actions.

It can be anything from signing a contract, renting a house, lending someone money and receiving a receipt, wills, marriages, court rulings, etc.

For an act to be considered legal, it must meet certain requirements:

1. Expression of will: There must be a clear and free expression of will on the part of the subject to carry out the legal act.
2. Capacity to act: The people involved in the act must have the capacity to act necessary to carry it out.
3. Lawful object: The legal act cannot be contrary to law or morality.
4. Absence of vices of consent: The consent of the parties must be free of any type of vice, such as error, fraud, violence or intimidation.
5. Required form: Some legal acts may require a specific form to be valid, such as a public deed or the presence of witnesses.

If any of these requirements is missing or defective, the legal act may be null or voidable.

Related concepts

• Nullity
• Annullability
• Capacity to act
• Vices of consent
• What does the expression «not be contrary to the law, morality or public order» mean?