Which of the following is not required for a contract to be considered valid?

For a contract to be considered valid, several key elements must be present, such as mutual consent, the legal capacity of parties, and in many cases, written documentation. However, recording is not a requirement for a contract to be valid.

Recording a contract refers to the act of filing it with a government office, which is often done for certain types of contracts, such as deeds or mortgage agreements, to provide public notice of their existence. While recording can serve important legal functions, such as protecting the rights of parties and ensuring transparency, it is not essential for the validity of the contract itself. A contract can still be legally binding and enforceable even if it is not recorded.

This differentiation is vital because it underscores that the fundamental aspects of a contract’s validity hinge on the agreement’s essential legal elements, rather than the administrative process of recording.