If a purchaser signed a contract under duress, what is the contract's status?

When a contract is signed under duress, it is considered voidable by the party that was pressured into signing it. Duress refers to situations where one party is forced to act against their will, often through threats or coercion, which undermines the voluntary nature of contract formation. Because the buyer did not enter the agreement freely, they have the right to rescind (or void) the contract.

This means the buyer can choose to affirm the contract or to declare it void, giving them the power to protect their interests. In contrast, the other options suggest different statuses that do not accurately reflect the effects of duress. For instance, a legally binding contract requires the agreement of both parties under voluntary conditions, and enforceability verified by a lawyer does not apply if one party was coerced. Similarly, claiming the contract is invalid from the start isn't correct since it remains valid until the aggrieved party chooses to void it. Thus, the correct understanding is that the buyer has the right to void the contract due to the circumstances of duress.