---
title: O.C.G.A. § 13-3-1. Essentials of contracts generally.
collection: code
id: 13-3-1
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 13-3-1 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/13-3-1
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/13-3-1.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/13-3-1/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t13-(v11)-2010-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=e4dbdcfd_0#page=147
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONTRACTS / ELEMENTS AND FORMATION GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 13-3-1. Essentials of contracts generally.

To constitute a valid contract, there must be parties able to contract, a consideration moving to the contract, the assent of the parties to the terms of the contract, and a subject matter upon which the contract can operate.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2682; Code 1868, § 2678; Code 1873, § 2720; Code 1882, § 2720; Civil Code 1895, § 3637; Civil Code 1910, § 4222; Code 1933, § 20-107.

## Cross References

Formation of contracts under Uniform Commercial Code, § 11-2-204. Acceptance of offer under Uniform Commercial Code, §§ 11-2-206, 11-2-207. Consideration is essential to a contract, § 13-3-40. Correlation of capacity to contract with capacity to make will, § 53-2-21.

## Law Reviews

For article discussing interpretation in Georgia of insurance policies containing evidentiary conditions, see 12 Ga. L. Rev. 783 (1978). For annual survey of law of business associations, see 56 Mercer L. Rev. 77 (2004).

For comment on Georgia Power Co. v. Roper, 73 Ga. App. 826, 38 S.E.2d 91 (1946), see 9 Ga. B.J. 89 (1946).