An attempt to contract for an illegal purpose—to commit a murder or other crime or to facilitate an illegal objective (a promissory note for the purchase of illegal drugs)—is unenforceable and does not create a contract. A purported contract that is found to be for an illegal purpose is void and treated as if it never existed.
In Oregon, as in all states, a contract that is created for an illegal purpose is considered void and unenforceable. This means that if a contract's objective is to commit a crime, such as murder, or to facilitate an illegal activity, such as the purchase of illegal drugs, the law treats the contract as if it never existed. Oregon courts will not enforce any agreement that requires the performance of an act that violates the law or is against public policy. This principle is rooted in the common law doctrine that a contract must have a lawful object to be valid. Therefore, any agreement made in Oregon to carry out an illegal act is not recognized as a legitimate contract and offers no legal protection to the parties involved.