Which law requires that certain types of contracts be written to be enforceable?

Which law requires that certain types of contracts be written to be enforceable?

• A. Statute of Frauds
• B. Statute of Limitations
• C. Parol Evidence Rule
• D. Uniform Commercial Code

Answer: (A)

Certain contracts must be in writing to be enforceable. This rule comes from the Statute of Frauds, which exists to ensure important agreements are memorialized in a durable form and reduce fraud. In Florida real estate practice, the Statute of Frauds requires contracts involving the sale or transfer of real property to be in writing and signed to be enforceable, and it also covers certain long-term leases. Without a written contract, a party generally cannot enforce the agreement in court.

The other options govern different concepts: the Statute of Limitations sets a time period to bring a lawsuit after a breach, not whether the contract itself is enforceable; the Parol Evidence Rule limits what outside or prior communications can be used to interpret a written contract; and the Uniform Commercial Code governs commercial transactions for goods, not real estate contracts, which is why it doesn’t establish the writing requirement for real property agreements.