Skip to content
Pass Georgia
Download
Complete glossary lessonNational exam concept

Statute of Frauds

The Statute of Frauds is the legal rule requiring specified agreements, including contracts for the sale of land, to be evidenced by a sufficient writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

Official area

Contracts

Knowledge cluster

Contract enforceability

Learning sequence

Define, distinguish, apply, retrieve

Download PDF

Exam purpose

Recognize the rule, then reject the nearest look-alike.

Georgia lens

Apply the state distinction only when the facts call for it.

Connected terms

Connected to 4 terms and one official content area.

What does Statute of Frauds mean in real estate?

The Statute of Frauds is the legal rule requiring specified agreements, including contracts for the sale of land, to be evidenced by a sufficient writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

How is Statute of Frauds different from the closest exam answer?

The rule concerns enforceability and form. It does not mean every oral agreement is criminal fraud or that every missing term can be supplied later.

What is the Georgia-specific rule?

Georgia's Statute of Frauds applies to covered real estate agreements. Electronic records and signatures may satisfy writing requirements when applicable law permits.

Worked exam example

Scenario

A buyer seeks to enforce an oral agreement for the sale of a parcel, but no sufficient signed writing identifies the essential bargain.

Decision rule

The rule concerns enforceability and form. It does not mean every oral agreement is criminal fraud or that every missing term can be supplied later.

What is the most common exam trap?

Trap correction

A contract within the statute is generally described as unenforceable, not automatically void.

Memory cue: A contract within the statute is generally described as unenforceable, not automatically void.

Original exam check

Apply the definition

Which statement correctly explains Statute of Frauds?

Mastery tracker

Do not mark this term complete until you can retrieve it.

0%

Progress is stored only in this browser.

Related terms to learn next

Unenforceable contract

An unenforceable contract is an agreement that may otherwise be valid but cannot be enforced in court because of a legal defense such as failure to satisfy the Statute of Frauds or expiration of a limitation period.

Void contract

A void contract has no legal effect from the outset because an essential legal requirement is absent or the agreement is for an unlawful purpose.

Voidable contract

A voidable contract is a valid contract that one protected party may affirm or avoid because of a legal condition such as fraud, duress, misrepresentation, incapacity, or another recognized defense.

Listing agreement

A listing agreement is a written brokerage engagement in which an owner authorizes a broker to market property and perform stated services under defined terms, duration, duties, and compensation provisions.

Recommended next complete lesson

Continue with Contracts complete lesson. It places this term inside the full rule, worked examples, exam traps, and mixed practice required for mastery.
Previous termOption contractNext term Void contract

Statute of Frauds quick answers

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Editorial standards.

What is Statute of Frauds?

The Statute of Frauds is the legal rule requiring specified agreements, including contracts for the sale of land, to be evidenced by a sufficient writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought.

What is Statute of Frauds commonly confused with?

The rule concerns enforceability and form. It does not mean every oral agreement is criminal fraud or that every missing term can be supplied later.

How does Georgia treat Statute of Frauds?

Georgia's Statute of Frauds applies to covered real estate agreements. Electronic records and signatures may satisfy writing requirements when applicable law permits.