How to Terminate a Contract

A contract can be terminated in several ways. For example, in accordance with the termination clause or by relying on legal principles under Common Law. Learning how to terminate a contract is important. If a contract is terminated the wrong way, there can be serious legal and financial consequences.

This article will provide a detailed explanation of how a contract can be terminated. And don’t forget, if you need fast and affordable legal advice from a commercial contract lawyer, contact the team at Prosper Law.

An overview of how a contract can be terminated

A contract can be terminated in several different ways, including by:

1. agreement between the parties
2. relying on an entitlement under the contract
3. acting upon a breach of contract by the other party, including repudiation, breach of an essential term or serious breach of an intermediate term
4. becoming insolvent or acting upon the insolvency of the other party
5. relying upon legislative rights to terminate
6. relying upon the doctrine of frustration of contract

Each of the ways in which a contract can be terminated is discussed below.

By agreement between parties

Parties to a contract can agree to terminate a contract. Such an agreement needs to be mutual (i.e. both parties must agree) and it is recommended that the agreement be recorded in writing.

If the mutual agreement to terminate a contract is not recorded in writing, it is open to a person to argue that the contract has not been ended by the agreement of the parties.

Rely on the contract terms

Contracts often contain termination clauses. A termination clause is a clause that describes when and how the contract can be terminated.

Termination clauses can give a party a right to terminate:

1. because the other party has breached the contract; or
2. for their own convenience.

If the contract is breached by a party and the contract gives the innocent party a right to terminate, that party must follow the process (if any) described in the contract.

If a party is relying upon a termination for convenience clause, they must still follow the process described in the contract. This process is often more straightforward than terminating based on the other party’s breach.

It is recommended that you have your contract reviewed by a commercial contract lawyer before relying upon a termination clause. Terminating a contract can be complex and because contracts operate in parallel with other laws, the process is usually more involved than simply reading the contract.

It is critical to ensure that the other party has actually repudiated the contract before taking steps to exercise your right to terminate. Here you can read more about repudiation of contract.

Breach of an essential term

If a term of the contract is essential, the innocent party can terminate the contract even if the consequences of that breach are minor.

Serious breach of an intermediate-term

If a party has breached an intermediate-term (rather than an essential term), then the innocent party can terminate the contract provided that the consequences of that breach are sufficiently serious. Minor or technical breaches are not enough to invoke this right to terminate.

You can read more here to find out how to classify contract terms and work out whether the term is an essential term or an intermediate term. Or you can simply ask a commercial contract lawyer for help.

Insolvency

Contracts may contain what is called an ipso facto clause (meaning by the fact of or act itself). An ipso facto clause entitles the innocent party to terminate a contract if the other party becomes insolvent.

The term insolvency is usually given a broad definition under the contract, so that it is not just the literal definition of insolvent that applies, but the ipso facto may also apply in circumstances where:

1. a person becomes bankrupt
2. a company enters liquidation
3. winding up procedures are started
4. a receiver, receiver/manager, controller, administrator or voluntary administrator is appointed
5. a mortgagee takes possession of the party’s assets
6. the party is placed under official management
7. things that have the effect of any items in this list

It is important that, before exercising rights under an ipso facto clause, the innocent party considers whether the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) operates to prevent the reliance on the clause.

For instance, the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) prohibits reliance on an ipso facto clause where one of the following applies:

• a managing controller (includes a receiver) is appointed
• the company enters administration
• the company is undertaking a scheme of arrangement to avoid being wound up

Rights under law

Contracts cannot be read in a vacuum. Contracts operate in a complex legal environment (cue: the lawyer!) and it is important to consider whether, even though there is a termination clause, the law operates to override the rights and obligations set out in the contract.

For example, a contract may contain very limited rights to terminate a contract, but the Unfair Contract Terms law operates to grant a party a right of termination in certain circumstances.

Frustration

The doctrine of frustration is a legal mechanism that can be used to bring a contract to an end. Sometimes, the doctrine finds its way into the term of the relevant contract either by:

1. a standalone frustration clause; or
2. being included as part of the termination clause.

Frustration according to the contract

A frustration clause usually looks something like this:

If an Event of Frustration occurs, then:

1. each party must, as far as possible, continue to perform their obligations under the Agreement; and
2. if the Event of Frustration continues for more than 90 days, either party may terminate this contract upon 7 days’ notice in writing to the other party, and each party will be released from any further performance of the Agreement.

Event of Frustration means war, terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, severe weather events or other acts of God which causes one or more of the parties to be unable to perform the Agreement.

Doctrine of frustration

The doctrine of frustration applies where the relevant event means that the performance of the contract has become something that is now fundamentally different to that anticipated by the parties at the time the contract was entered into.

Effect of frustration

1. If the frustration clause is relied upon: the clause must be strictly followed (to avoid the risk of repudiation) and the effects will be as per the clause
2. If the doctrine of frustration is relied upon: the contract terminates automatically and (subject to limited exceptions) the loss resulting from the termination lies where it falls

Summary

No matter which method you choose to terminate your contract, it must be done properly and in accordance with the contract terms or relevant legal basis. If you do not properly terminate a contract, there can be significant consequences.

How can Prosper Law help?

If you are currently a party to an agreement and you want to bring that contract to an end, talk to Prosper Law’s commercial contract lawyer for help.

We will provide you with a fixed-fee price for our legal fees to assist you to terminate your contract in the right way and get you help from a commercial contract lawyer. That might mean attempting to preserve business relationships, avoiding legal risk or managing commercial risks.

Farrah Motley | Director

PROSPER LAW – Australia’s Online Law Firm

M: 1300 003 077

E: farrah@prosperlaw.com.au

W: www.prosperlaw.com.au

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