What characteristic must contracts have to be enforceable in a court of law?

To ensure that contracts are enforceable in a court of law, one essential characteristic is that they must have a legal purpose. This means that the content of the contract must be lawful and not violate any statutes or public policy. If a contract is formed for an illegal purpose, such as drug trafficking or any activity that contravenes the law, it is considered void and unenforceable.

While mutual agreement, or the "meeting of the minds," is also crucial for contract formation, it is the legal purpose that fundamentally allows a contract to hold up in court. Additionally, the requirement for a contract to be signed by all parties or to be notarized pertains to specific types of contracts or jurisdictions but is not universally required for all contracts to be enforceable. Thus, having a legal purpose is a foundational aspect of contract validity and enforceability.