§ 1585 Acceptance Requirements

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says that an agreement is only valid if it's clear and final, and if it has conditions, it counts as a new offer.

Key Takeaways

•Acceptance must be unconditional to be final.
•Adding any condition turns the response into a new offer.
•Only a clear, unqualified acceptance ends the negotiation.

Example

You tell a neighbor you'll buy their lawn mower only if they fix the engine first.

Because you added a condition, your statement is not a final acceptance but a new proposal.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 1585 Acceptance Requirements

An acceptance must be absolute and unqualified, or must include in itself an acceptance of that character which the proposer can separate from the rest, and which will conclude the person accepting. A qualified acceptance is a new proposal. (Enacted 1872.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

acceptance absolute and unqualified qualified acceptance new proposal

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 1585.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References