MAKE YOUR FREE Force majeure contract termination letter

This force majeure contract termination letter can be used to terminate a contract by relying on the force majeure clause in your contract. If a contract is impossible to fulfil or is no longer feasible due to the occurrence of a force majeure event that’s covered in your contract, you may be able to terminate or delay the performance of the contract.

Use this force majeure contract termination letter:

• when you have a contract with another business or individual

• when you need to terminate or delay the contract due to a force majeure event (eg flooding or the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic)

• where there is a force majeure clause in the contract and it expressly covers the type of event that has occurred

• where delay or termination of the contract requires written notice

This force majeure contract termination letter covers:

• when the contract was entered into

• why you want to terminate your contract

• when the notice to end the contract is effective

A force majeure contract termination letter is a letter notifying the other party to a contract that you wish to terminate the contract due to the effect of the force majeure event and when this termination will become effective.

If your contract has been affected by a force majeure event which means you can no longer fulfil it or complete it, it may be necessary to terminate your contract in accordance with the force majeure clause by using this letter.

You should read your contracts and see what kind of force majeure clause you have in your contract.

Force majeure refers to situations which mean that an agreement cannot be performed (eg the obligation to provide payment or deliver goods) because of circumstances outside the control of the parties.

Determining which types of circumstances will be covered by the force majeure clause is essential. Provisions often cover natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and weather disturbances sometimes referred to as ’acts of God.’ Other covered events may include war, terrorism or threats of terrorism, civil disorder, labour strikes or disruptions, fire, disease or medical epidemics or outbreaks.

It's important to check your contract to see whether such a clause exists and exactly what it covers.

For more information, read Force majeure.

Rocket Lawyer's Services Agreement contains a force majeure clause, which reads as follows:

'Neither party shall be liable for any failure or delay in performing their obligations where such failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond the reasonable control of that party.

Such causes include, but are not limited to: power failure, Internet Service Provider failure, acts of God, epidemic, pandemic, civil unrest, fire, flood, droughts, storms, earthquakes, collapse of buildings, explosion or accident, acts of terrorism, acts of war, governmental action, any law or any action taken by a government or public authority, including without limitation imposing an export or import restriction, quota or prohibition, or any other event that is beyond the control of the party in question.'

Ask a lawyer for advice if:

• you're unsure if you have a force majeure clause in your contract

• your’re unsure if your force majeure clause covers the event that has occurred

• you're not sure if you can terminate your contract

This force majeure contract termination letter is governed by the laws of England and Wales.