Legal Definitions - voluntary arbitration

Voluntary Courtesy

Voluntary courtesy describes an act of kindness or service performed by one person for another, entirely of their own free will and initiative. Crucially, this act is undertaken without any prior request from the recipient and without any expectation or promise of payment, compensation, or reward. Because such an act is freely given and unsolicited, the person performing it generally has no legal basis to demand remuneration for their efforts.

• Example 1: Helping a Neighbor

  Imagine Sarah is walking her dog and sees her elderly neighbor, Mr. Henderson, struggling to carry several heavy bags of groceries up his front steps. Without being asked, Sarah immediately offers to help him carry the bags inside. Mr. Henderson gratefully accepts her assistance. Sarah's act is a voluntary courtesy because she offered help out of her own kindness, Mr. Henderson did not request it, and Sarah did not expect any payment or reward for her assistance.

• Example 2: Unsolicited Professional Advice

  During a casual social gathering, Mark, an architect, overhears a friend, Lisa, discussing a minor design challenge she's having with a home renovation project. Mark, without being formally consulted or hired, offers a quick suggestion based on his expertise that helps Lisa resolve her issue. This is a voluntary courtesy because Mark provided his advice freely, Lisa did not formally ask for his professional services, and Mark did not intend to bill her for the brief consultation.

• Example 3: Community Improvement

  A local resident, David, notices that a section of a public walking trail in his neighborhood has become overgrown and difficult to navigate. On a Saturday morning, he decides to spend several hours clearing the brush and trimming the path with his own tools. David's actions constitute a voluntary courtesy; he undertook the task on his own initiative, the city or other residents did not ask him to do it, and he did not expect any payment or reimbursement for his time or effort.