Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are agreements between two or more people, as well as between two or more countries. Prior to signing any future business agreements, parties sign a memorandum of understanding. There are several points of understanding shared by both parties, and neither discloses nor violates any of the conditions stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding. Nations reach a common measure in this scenario. Upon reaching an agreement, the parties engage in further discussions and negotiations. Upon successful negotiations and discussions, they enter into a contract. In international relations, as well as in business contracts, MOUs are commonly used. 

Can an MOU be considered a legal document?

An agreement based on a memorandum of understanding is a legally binding contract based on its wording and content. The name of the contract isn’t as important as its conditions, which are more important.

MOUs must be signed by both parties if they do not want them to become legally binding. There are typically words in MOUs that indicate that they do not have legal binding status to state this explicitly. As long as the Memorandum of Understanding specifies that it is not binding, or that it is subject to the formal contract, you will avoid legal tangles in case one of the parties withdraws. The situation may be more complicated if the Memorandum of Understanding is composed exclusively of formal agreement terms for which no specific language indicates it is legally binding.

Do not sign a document unless you and the other party agree on its terms. Even if a contract is not legally binding, if you withdraw, the other party could take legal action. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Memorandum of Understanding. Even though MOUs are generally legal, there is a sense of seriousness associated with them. There is generally an indication that the parties are serious about the matter and that other parties are expecting them to keep their word.

Agreement types

An MOU is more complicated than a contract. An agreement becomes legally binding when one party makes an offer and the other party accepts it. An agreement could be enforced by a judge if one party does not honor its obligations.

A variety of agreements exist, including:

• Contracts that expressly define every party’s goals are known as express agreements.
• Contracts that have not yet been executed but are expected to be fulfilled later are called executory agreements.
• The conditions of previous agreements must be met in order for a conditional agreement to be enforced.
• A void agreement is an agreement that is not legally enforceable. At first, they are not invalid, but eventually they become invalid if their conditions are altered.
• Violable agreements: Violable agreements are different from void agreements in that they are actual contracts that are capable of being affirmed or rejected by the parties involved. A voidable contract is deemed unenforceable if one party rejects it.
• All parties signed a legally binding agreement. In order for the agreement to be effective, these signatures are required.
• A implied agreement is one in which conditions of an agreement are implied rather than stated in writing or orally by the parties.
• Memoranda of Understanding differ from agreements in that parties opt for MOUs when they don’t want to involve a court. 
• Should the other party fail to comply with the contract’s provisions in any way, the agreement explicitly provides for legal action against the other party.

MOU Enforceability

Several Indian courts have ruled on the enforceability and validity of MOUs. The Calcutta High Court ruled that an agreement to enter into a legal contract is unenforceable and ineffective from a legal standpoint. However, the court will take into account that there has been no action taken on the basis of this understanding between the parties and that it is important to the parties.

As the Supreme Court stated in another, contradictory case, parties may refer to the process of preparing the agreement in order to give it a more formal appearance. Furthermore, the Supreme Court held that parties to the MOU will be entitled to benefits resulting from the agreement as long as the conditions of the MOU are not changed. There is no definition of the content of the Memorandum of Understanding in the heading. The content, however, determines the tone. It is impossible for a title or heading to deprive a document of its true nature.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of a Mou?

The pros

• An Memorandum of Understanding allows parties to express their intentions without signing a legal contract and allows them to begin doing business together.
• Memorandums of Understanding can be a sign for both sides that they’re committed to the same goal if one party is hesitant to engage in discussions or negotiations that won’t have an impact. Flexibility is also a benefit of MOUs.
• It can be difficult to get two organizations to collaborate legally when there are no formal contracts involved. International communities can also benefit from MOUs.
• A memorandum of understanding prevents nations from jumping through hurdles when signing an agreement, even though signing a treaty may be lengthy.
• It is also possible to find some disadvantages associated with signing an MOU. A common argument against MOUs is that they aren’t legally binding. A Memorandum of Understanding is only the first step towards formal agreements between the parties. The agreement can still be rescinded or modified.

Conclusion

Engaged couples have committed to getting married. Although they don’t have a wedding ceremony and invitations yet, they have planned their ceremony. It only takes confirming the marriage license before it becomes legally binding. A Memorandum of Understanding is similar to a marriage contract in that it is not legally binding. It indicates to both parties that the couple (or parties) is ready for the next step.