What is required for valid acceptance in contract law?

For acceptance to be valid in contract law, the authority of the offeree is essential. This means that the person accepting the offer must have the legal ability to do so. If an individual lacks the authority—such as a minor, mentally incapacitated person, or someone without the necessary power to enter a contract—then the acceptance may not be valid, thereby nullifying the contract itself.

The authority of the offeree ensures that the acceptance is a sincere and legitimate acknowledgment of the offer made, which is fundamental to establishing a binding agreement.

While knowledge of revocation is important for understanding the status of an offer, it does not directly impact the validity of acceptance itself. Similarly, explicit written agreements and the presence of witnesses are not universally required for acceptance; many contracts can be formed through verbal acceptance or even implied actions, depending on the context and the jurisdiction. Thus, the focus on the authority of the offeree is crucial for determining the validity of acceptance in contract law.