Assignment (law) - Assignment of Contract Rights

Assignment of Contract Rights

Contract law
Part of the common law series
Contract formation
  • Offer and acceptance
  • Posting rule
  • Mirror image rule
  • Invitation to treat
  • Firm offer
  • Consideration
Defenses against formation
  • Lack of capacity
  • Duress
  • Undue influence
  • Illusory promise
  • Statute of frauds
  • Non est factum
Contract interpretation
  • Parol evidence rule
  • Contract of adhesion
  • Integration clause
  • Contra proferentem
  • Title-transfer theory of contract
Excuses for non-performance
  • Mistake
  • Misrepresentation
  • Frustration of purpose
  • Impossibility
  • Impracticability
  • Illegality
  • Unclean hands
  • Unconscionability
  • Accord and satisfaction
Rights of third parties
  • Privity of contract
  • Assignment
  • Delegation
  • Novation
  • Third-party beneficiary
Breach of contract
  • Anticipatory repudiation
  • Cover
  • Exclusion clause
  • Efficient breach
  • Deviation
  • Fundamental breach
Remedies
  • Specific performance
  • Liquidated damages
  • Penal damages
  • Rescission
Quasi-contractual obligations
  • Promissory estoppel
  • Quantum meruit
Implied In Fact Contracts
  • Implied In Fact
Related areas of law
  • Conflict of laws
  • Commercial law
Other common law areas
  • Tort law
  • Property law
  • Wills, trusts and estates
  • Criminal law
  • Evidence

Assignment of rights under a contract is the complete transfer of the rights to receive the benefits accruing to one of the parties to that contract. For example, if Party A contracts with Party B to sell Party A's car to Party B for $10, Party A can later assign the benefits of the contract - i.e., the right to be paid $10 - to Party C. In this scenario, Party A is the obligee/assignor, Party B is an obligor, and Party C is the assignee. Such an assignment may be donative (essentially given as a gift), or it may be contractually exchanged for consideration. It is important to note, however, that Party C is not a third party beneficiary, because the contract itself was not made for the purpose of benefitting Party C. When an assignment is made, the assignment always takes place after the original contract was formed. An Assignment only transfers the rights/benefits to a new owner. The obligations remain with the previous owner. Compare Novation.

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