Test yourself

Read the description of Balfour v Balfour case and complete the gaps with the missing words. Write one word in each gap.
maintenance; spouses; breach; enforceable; case; legal; commercial; disputes; parties; intended;

Balfour v Balfour (1919) is an important (1 p.) in English contract law that established the principle of "domestic agreements" or "domestic arrangements." The case involved a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Balfour, who had separated due to Mr. Balfour's job in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Before leaving, Mr. Balfour promised to pay his wife £30 per month as (1 p.) while he was away. However, when he stopped making the payments, his wife sued him for (1 p.) of contract.

The court held that there was no (1 p.) contract between the parties because it was a domestic arrangement, not a (1 p.) contract. The principle of "domestic agreements" means that agreements between family members or (1 p.) are presumed to be non-binding unless they show an intention to create (1 p.) relations. In this case, the court held that the agreement was a social and domestic arrangement, and there was no intention to create legal relations.

The significance of the Balfour v Balfour case lies in its establishment of the principle of "domestic arrangements," which has been followed in subsequent cases. It is an important principle in contract law because it recognizes that not all promises or agreements are (1 p.) to be legally enforceable, especially in the context of family or personal relationships. The case highlights the need for clear communication and mutual understanding between (1 p.) to an agreement to avoid misunderstandings and potential legal (1 p.) .