For a service contract, what is the minimum action required for the contract to satisfy the Statute of Frauds?

• A. Partial performance of the contract by both parties
• B. Full performance of the contract by both parties
• C. Full performance of the contract by one party
• D. Partial performance of the contract by one party

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the Statute of Frauds requires a writing for service contracts that can’t be completed within one year, but there’s a performance-based exception. If one party has fully performed the contract, the contract can be enforced even without a writing, to the extent of that performance. That makes full performance by one party the smallest sufficient action to trigger the exception and satisfy the requirement in this scenario. Partial performance by one party may allow enforcement only for the portion performed, but it doesn’t as reliably establish enforceability for the whole contract, and thus isn’t the minimal action the question targets. Full performance by both parties would also satisfy the rule, but it isn’t the minimal action needed.