{"id":364168,"date":"2016-04-04T10:44:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/dictionary\/definition\/promissory-estoppel.html"},"modified":"2021-05-05T08:19:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T13:19:56","slug":"promissory-estoppel","status":"publish","type":"dictionary","link":"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/promissory-estoppel.html","title":{"rendered":"Promissory Estoppel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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term:<\/p>\n

Promissory Estoppel, n<\/h1>\n\n
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What Is Promissory Estoppel?<\/h2>\n

Promissory estoppel is a legal doctrine that states that if someone reasonably relies on a promise and acts (or fails to act) in a way that causes them financial harm because of that promise, the promise can be enforced.<\/p>\n

This is an alternative claim to a breach of contract claim<\/a>. You might bring a promissory estoppel claim when you have an oral contract that usually should have been in writing (because of what is called the statute of frauds<\/a>) or when your agreement didn’t include consideration<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Promissory Estoppel Elements<\/h2>\n

Each state has different elements you must meet to make a promissory estoppel claim, but the law typically requires that:<\/p>\n

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  1. Someone (the defendant) made a promise to you<\/li>\n
  2. You reasonably relied on the promise, causing you to act or not act as a result<\/li>\n
  3. You were harmed as a result of your reliance on the promise<\/li>\n
  4. The defendant should have expected that you would rely on the promise<\/li>\n
  5. The only way to avoid injustice is by enforcing the promise<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Promissory Estoppel Cases and Law<\/h2>\n

    U.S. states differ on when promissory estoppel applies, so it’s a good idea to look up your state’s laws. Here are examples of cases and laws in the U.S. that discuss or help define promissory estoppel:<\/p>\n