Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Meeting of the Minds: When two people agree to make a deal, they both have to understand and accept the same things. This is called a "meeting of the minds." It used to be really important that both people really meant it when they agreed, but now we just need to see that they both showed they agreed in some way.
Definition: Meeting of the minds refers to the agreement between two parties to form a contract. Both parties must agree on the same terms, conditions, and subject matter. In the past, it was required that both parties had actual assent or a subjective understanding of the agreement. However, modern contract doctrine only requires objective manifestations of assent.
Example: John wants to sell his car to Jane. They both agree on the price, the make and model of the car, and the date of the sale. They have a meeting of the minds because they both agree on the same terms and conditions of the sale.
Explanation: In this example, John and Jane have a meeting of the minds because they both agree on the same terms and conditions of the sale. They both understand what is being sold, for how much, and when the sale will take place. This agreement is based on objective manifestations of assent, meaning that they both expressed their agreement through their actions and words.