Skip to content
Pass Georgia
Download
Real estate glossaryNational 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.

Exam area: Contracts

Download PDF

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 wrong 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.

What is the most common exam trap?

Trap correction

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

Original exam check

Apply the definition

A seller and buyer shake hands on the sale of a parcel at an agreed price but never sign anything. The seller then sells to someone else. How is the handshake deal best classified?

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