Physical impossibility of performance is a legal concept that refers to the inability of a party to fulfill the terms of a contract due to unforeseen circumstances that were beyond their control. In other words, it refers to an unforeseen event or set of circumstances that renders it impossible for a party to fulfill their obligations under the contract.
There are a few different types of events that can qualify as a physical impossibility of performance. One example is the destruction of the subject matter of the contract. For example, if a person enters into a contract to sell a specific piece of real estate and that property is destroyed in a natural disaster before the sale can be completed, the contract may be considered impossible to perform due to the destruction of the subject matter.
Another example of physical impossibility of performance is the death of a party to the contract. If one of the parties to the contract dies before the contract can be fulfilled, the contract may be considered impossible to perform due to the death of the party.
There are also situations where a change in the law or the circumstances of the parties can make it impossible to perform a contract. For example, if a person enters into a contract to sell a specific piece of real estate and the government subsequently changes the zoning laws in a way that makes it illegal to use the property for the purpose intended by the contract, the contract may be considered impossible to perform due to the change in the law.
In order for a contract to be considered impossible to perform due to physical impossibility, the event or circumstance must have been unforeseen at the time the contract was entered into and must have made it impossible for the party to fulfill their obligations under the contract. It is not enough for the performance of the contract to simply become more difficult or costly – it must be completely impossible.
If a contract is deemed to be physically impossible to perform, it is typically considered to be void or unenforceable. This means that the parties are released from their obligations under the contract and are not required to fulfill their end of the bargain.
In conclusion, physical impossibility of performance is a legal concept that refers to the inability of a party to fulfill the terms of a contract due to unforeseen circumstances that were beyond their control. It can be caused by the destruction of the subject matter of the contract, the death of a party to the contract, or a change in the law or circumstances that makes it impossible to perform the contract. If a contract is deemed to be physically impossible to perform, it is typically considered to be void or unenforceable.