term:

Impediment

impediment n

: something that prevents or interferes with a process, power, or right [should have known of the legal s to the execution of any judgment against the police jury "Penalber v. Blount, 550 So. 2d 577 (1989)"]
;specif
: a bar to the formation of a valid contract or marriage compare nullity

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.