Force Majeure
A contractual clause excusing one or both parties from performance when extraordinary events beyond their control (war, natural disaster, pandemic) prevent fulfilment. Not a standalone legal doctrine in English law — depends entirely on the contract wording.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cabinet Office guidance on responsible contractual behaviour explicitly named force majeure as one of the categories of claim businesses should expect to raise and respond to responsibly, listing 'making, and responding to, force majeure, frustration, change in law, relief event, delay event, compensation event and excusing cause claims' among the behaviours it was encouraging.
The guidance's underlying premise was that parties to some contracts may find it difficult or impossible to perform those contracts in accordance with their agreed terms because of the pandemic, and it asked parties to act reasonably and proportionately — for example requesting, and giving, relief for impaired performance — rather than immediately enforcing contracts to the letter or rushing into disputes.
Related terms
Official sources
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