Is a contract with a mentally incompetent person enforceable by either party?

In contract law, a contract with a mentally incompetent person is considered void, meaning that it cannot be enforced by either party. This principle is rooted in the legal requirement that all parties involved in a contract must have the capacity to understand the nature and consequences of the agreement they are entering into. If an individual is deemed mentally incompetent at the time of the contract formation, they lack that capacity, rendering the contract void.

This understanding protects vulnerable individuals from being taken advantage of in contractual relationships. In contrast to a voidable contract, which can be enforced at the discretion of one party (typically the one without capacity), a void contract has no legal standing and cannot be enforced under any circumstances. Consequently, neither the mentally incompetent person nor the other party can claim rights under such a contract, ensuring that the integrity of legal agreements is maintained.