{"id":4349,"date":"2020-06-17T12:55:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-17T17:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/how-to-reevaluate-business-contracts-after-covid-19.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:01:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T06:01:03","slug":"how-to-reevaluate-business-contracts-after-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/how-to-reevaluate-business-contracts-after-covid-19.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Reevaluate Business Contracts After COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How to Reevaluate Business Contracts After COVID-19<\/h1>\n
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\n By Maddy Teka, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Bridget Molitor, JD<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state governments imposed a ban on travel, large gatherings, and movement. These restrictions have impacted businesses and their ability to fulfill their contractual obligations.<\/p>\r\n

So, if you can’t make a deadline set by a contract due to the pandemic, are you in\u00a0breach of your contract<\/a>? If you paid for a venue, but the venue is no longer operating because of COVID-19, can you ask for your money back? These are some of the many questions people are asking with regard to the enforcement of contracts.<\/p>\r\n

Force Majeure Clauses<\/h2>\r\n

Small businesses are increasingly relying on\u00a0force majeure<\/a>\u00a0or impossibility of performance to show they are not breaching their contracts. A force majeure clause in a contract will allow you to cancel your contractual obligations when an event that can’t be foreseen or controlled makes it impossible for you to perform the contract.<\/p>\r\n

Courts look at several factors to see if a force majeure clause applies in a particular situation. These include:<\/p>\r\n