Contract Law
Part of a series on the common law
Contract theory
Classical theory  · Promise theory
Consent theory
Contract formation
Offer and acceptance  · Consideration
Mirror image rule  · Invitation to treat
Capacity to contract
Contract interpretation
Parol evidence rule
Statute of frauds
Excuses for non-performance
Mistake  · Misrepresentation
Frustration of purpose
Undue influence  · Unconscionability
Rights of third parties
Assignment  · Delegation
Novation  · Third party beneficiary
Breach of contract
Anticipatory repudiation  · Cover
Liquidated damages  · Penal damages
view /edit this template

Anticipatory repudiation (or anticipatory breach) is a term in the law of contracts that describes a declaration by one party (the promissing party) to a contract that they do not intend to live up to their obligations under the contract. Where such an event occurs, the other party (the performing party) to the contract is excused from having to fulfill their obligations. However, the repudiation can be retracted by the promising party so long as there has been no material change in the position of the performing party in the interim. A retraction of the repudiation restores the performer's obligation to perform on the contract. Image File history File links Legal portal image File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A contract is any promise or set of promises made by one party to another for the breach of which the law provides a remedy. ... This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... Contract theory is the body of legal thought that investigates normative and conceptual problems in contract law. ... Offer and acceptance analysis is a tool in contract law used to determine whether a contract exists between two parties. ... (Note, Consideration under English law is dealt with separately) Consideration is a central concept in the common law of contracts. ... In contract law, an invitation to treat is an action by one party which may appear to be a contractual offer but which is actually inviting others to make an offer of their own. ... Capacity is a legal term that refers to the ability of persons to make certain binding dispositions of their rights, such as entering into contracts, making gifts, or writing a valid will. ... The parol evidence rule enacts a principle of the law of contracts that presumes that a written contract emodies the complete agreement between the parties thereto. ... The Statute of Frauds refers to a requirement in many common law jurisdictions that certain kinds of transactions, typically contractual obligations, be evidenced by a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought, or by their authorized agent. ... Frustration of purpose is a term used in the law of contracts to describe a defense to an action for non-performance based on the occurance of an unforseen event which makes performance impossible or commercially impracticable. ... Undue influence (as a term in jurisprudence) is an equitable doctrine that involves one person taking advantage of a position of power over another person. ... Unconscionability is a term used in contract law to describe a defense against the enforcement of a contract based on the presence of terms unfair to one party. ... An assignment is a term used with similar meanings in the law of contracts and in the law of real estate. ... Delegation is a term used in the law of contracts to describe the act of giving another person the responsibility of carrying out the performance agreed to in a contract. ... Novation, or its full title: Novation Electronic Music Systems, is an English company founded in 1992 and largely produces synthesizers. ... A third party beneficiary, in the law of contracts, is a person who may have the right to sue on a contract, despite not having originally been a party to the contract. ... Breach of contract is a legal concept in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other partys performance. ... Cover is a term used in the law of contracts to describe a remedy available to a merchant buyer who has received an anticipatory repudiation of a contract for the receipt of goods. ... Liquidated damages is a term use in the law of contracts to describe a contractual term which establishes damages to be paid to one party if the other party should breach the contract. ... Law (a loanword from Old Norse lag), in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules or norms of conduct which mandate, proscribe or permit specified relationships among people and organizations, provide methods for ensuring the impartial treatment of such people, and provide punishments for those who do not follow... A contract is any promise or set of promises made by one party to another for the breach of which the law provides a remedy. ...

If the repudiation occurs by the promising party making it impossible to fulfill their promise, then no act by the promising party can restore the performer's obligation to perform on the contract. For example, if A promises to give B a unique sculpture in exchange for B painting A's house, but A then sells the sculpture to C before B completes the job, this act by A constitutes an anticipatory repudiation which excuses B from completing the job. Once the sculpture has left A's possession, there is no way that A can fulfill the promise to give the sculpture to B.