​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Past Consideration


Past consideration refers to an act or benefit provided before a promise is made.


Under the law of contract, consideration must generally move in exchange for the promise itself.


Because past acts were not performed in return for the later promise, they usually cannot amount to valid consideration.


For example, a promise to pay someone for help already voluntarily given will normally be unenforceable.


The rule reinforces the principle that consideration must be bargained for as part of the contractual exchange.