Contract Glossary
Specific Performance
Definition
A court order requiring a party to fulfill their exact contractual obligations, not just pay damages. Courts reserve it for situations where money can't adequately substitute for what was promised, like a one-of-a-kind property or irreplaceable goods.
In Practice
If you signed a contract to buy a historic building and the seller backs out, money damages won't get you that building, there's only one of it. A court can order specific performance, forcing the seller to go through with the sale. This remedy is standard in real estate but rare in service contracts, courts generally won't force someone to perform personal services.
Common in these contract types
Related contract clauses
Frequently asked questions
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