Is a text message legal binding?

steampowered

The answer is that a text can be legally binding. Whether it is or not depends on the context.

A lot will depend on whether a reasonable person would read the text and conclude that it demonstrated an "intent to create legal relations". In other words, you need to look at the context to see whether the text should be viewed as intending to have a legal effect or not.

You need to give more details if you want to get a better answer.

Manxman_in_exile

steampowered wrote: »

The answer is that a text can be legally binding. Whether it is or not depends on the context.

A lot will depend on whether a reasonable person would read the text and conclude that it demonstrated an "intent to create legal relations". In other words, you need to look at the context to see whether the text should be viewed as intending to have a legal effect or not.

You need to give more details if you want to get a better answer.

As above. Depends on what you "intended". The only evidence of your intention might be a hastily regretted text. Never text in anger.


As another poster suggested, the "consideration" may be that you've transferred your share of the maintenance costs over to the 3rd party.


Of course, they can always reject your gift.

naedanger

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

In Scotland a contract can be enforceable without consideration. Hopefully you're not in Scotland.

But this was a gratuitous unilateral obligation - the original poster was promising their friend something and would receive nothing in return.

For such a promise to be legally enforceable it would need to be in a document subscribed or electronically signed, which a text message isn't. Therefore even if subject to Scottish Law the original promise to gift the share of the bus is not legally enforceable. (For reference see section 2.57 of the following article:

http://uk.practicallaw.com/books/9781847661630/chapter02
)

So even under Scot's law the op has nothing to worry about.