Verbal contract

A verbal contract is any contract which is expressed in words.

This contrasts with a contract which is implied by actions of the parties. An implied contract can be either implied in fact or implied in law. A contract which is implied in fact is one in which the circumstances imply that parties have reached an agreement even though they have not done so expressly. For example, by going to a doctor for a physical, a patient agrees that he will pay a fair price for the service. If he refuses to pay after being examined, he has breached a contract implied in fact. Verbal contract is a frequently misused expression. It is often used by journalists when they mean to say oral contract. When used in this sense, the term is confusing as well as incorrect, since a written contract is also a verbal one.