An attempted contract that is made for an illegal purpose or that is against public policy cannot be enforced by either party and is void. In contrast, a contract that is made by a minor (usually under age 18), or that is based on a mutual mistake, or that was made on the basis of a fraudulent misrepresentation by one party, is voidable and may be rejected by a party who was at a disadvantage when the contract was made. A voidable contract may also be ratified and accepted by such a party—after a child reaches the age of majority (usually 18), or the parties become aware of their mutual mistake, or a party learns of the other party’s misrepresentation and proceeds with performance of the contract.

In Minnesota, a contract created for an illegal purpose or against public policy is considered void and unenforceable by law. This means that neither party can seek legal recourse to enforce the terms of such a contract. On the other hand, contracts involving minors (typically under the age of 18), those based on mutual mistakes, or those formed under fraudulent misrepresentation are categorized as voidable. Voidable contracts can be rejected or disaffirmed by the disadvantaged party, such as a minor, a party to a mutual mistake, or a party misled by fraud. However, these contracts can also be ratified or affirmed. For instance, a minor may choose to ratify a contract upon reaching the age of majority, or parties may affirm the contract after realizing a mutual mistake or discovering a fraudulent misrepresentation, and then decide to continue with the contract's performance.