Mail Box Rule Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Mail Box Rule, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Mail Box Rule?

(n) Mail Box Rule is the provision which acknowledges the delivery of a document as done with in the specified date if it is sent in the mail with postage within that date, unless the contrary is specifically required in that particular case. By Mail Box Rule, a document will be treated as promptly served, if it posted in the mail box within the time limit.

History and Meaning of Mail Box Rule

The Mail Box Rule is a provision that is widely used in the US legal system to determine the date of acceptance of an offer. This rule is based on the presumption that once a document is posted, it will be received by the intended recipient in the normal course of business, and therefore, the acceptance of an offer is deemed to have taken place when the acceptance is properly posted in the mailbox.

The Mail Box Rule has been in use since the mid-19th century and has been adopted by most US states. The rule is designed to provide certainty in contract law and to avoid disputes over the date of acceptance of an offer. However, the rule does not apply in situations where a different method of acceptance is specified in the contract.

Examples of Mail Box Rule

  1. John made an offer to sell his car to Sarah on May 1st. Sarah accepted the offer by posting a letter of acceptance in the mailbox on May 5th. According to the Mail Box Rule, the acceptance is deemed to have taken place on May 5th, and the contract is formed on that date.

  2. Jane received a job offer from a company on July 1st. She accepted the offer via email on July 5th, but the company did not receive her email until July 7th. In this case, the mailbox rule does not apply as the company had specified a different method of acceptance in the job offer letter.

  3. Tom received an offer to purchase a house from Mike on June 1st. Tom accepted the offer by posting a letter on June 4th. However, Mike did not receive the letter until June 10th due to a delay in the postal service. In this case, the acceptance is deemed to have taken place on June 4th under the Mail Box Rule.

Legal Terms Similar to Mail Box Rule

  1. Acceptance - In contract law, acceptance is the unconditional agreement to the terms of a contract.

  2. Offer - An offer is a promise to do or refrain from doing something made with the intention that it will become binding once it is accepted by the other party.

  3. Consideration - Consideration is something of value that is given in exchange for a promise to do or refrain from doing something.