Which elements must a writing satisfy to meet the Statute of Frauds?

• A. Be signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought and contain the essential elements of the deal.
• B. Be signed by both parties and contain a price.
• C. Be notarized and contain a witness clause.
• D. Be in digital format only.

Answer: (A)

Under the Statute of Frauds, certain contracts must be in writing, signed by the party who would be bound if the contract is enforced, and contain enough detail to identify the essential terms of the deal. The crucial idea is that the writing shows who is agreeing to what and the terms that define the agreement. That’s why the best answer is that the writing must be signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought and include the essential elements of the deal. The writing doesn’t have to be notarized or witnessed, it doesn’t require both parties to sign, and it doesn’t have to be in a particular digital-only format; what matters is the signing party and the identifiable terms (who, what, and price or subject matter).