Is a credit card contract valid for someone with a mental disability?

Full question:

Is a contract for a credit card legal in Michigan or Florida if the customer is mentally retarded? If yes, is their a cutoff IQ or other variables?

  • Category: Contracts
  • Date:
  • State: Florida

Answer:

Contracts made by individuals who are incapacitated can be voidable. If a person is legally declared incompetent, those contracts are considered void. A contract is voidable if the other party had no reason to know about the individual's incapacity. However, if the incapacitated person has already consumed or used the item, they do not have to return it. If the other party has not yet performed their obligations, the contract remains voidable. If the other party was not aware of the person's incapacity, the contract can only be voidable if the incapacitated person can make restitution. A contracting party may be at risk of entering into a voidable contract if they have reason to suspect the other party's mental condition, which could include individuals who are mentally disabled, intoxicated, or in shock.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

A mentally incompetent person can void a contract if they are legally declared incompetent or if they can prove they were unable to understand the nature of the contract at the time of signing. If the other party was unaware of the person's mental condition, the contract may be voidable rather than void. In such cases, the incompetent person must be able to make restitution for any benefits received.