Is Breaking a Promise Illegal?

The short answer is yes, you may have a claim for someone who broke a promise to you. Now, depending on the nature of that promise, we may have different types of the cause of action that could be brought. The most common that I see is a breach of contract.

Is a promise legally enforceable?

A promise is not legally binding, but a contract is. While people of honor and strong moral character strive to keep promises whenever possible, there are no legal repercussions for breaking one the way there are for breaching a contract.

What is the legal term for breaking a promise?

If an individual fails to fulfill a promise to marry, it is treated similar to a breach of contract. This means that one party may be able to hold the other party liable for breaking their promise. The breach of promise laws which govern promises to marry are called Heart Balm laws.