Which event automatically terminates an offer before it is accepted?

Which event automatically terminates an offer before it is accepted?

• A. Death of the offeror
• B. Acceptance by the offeree
• C. Performance by the offeree
• D. All of the above

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that offers can be terminated automatically by events that destroy the other party’s ability to form a contract. The death of the offeror ends the offer because there’s no longer anyone available to accept and create a contract, so the offer cannot be accepted at all. This is why the death of the offeror is the best answer: once the offeror dies, the offer ceases to exist regardless of what the offeree does, so it cannot be accepted. Acceptance by the offeree ends the offer by forming a contract, but that happens only if and when acceptance occurs, not as an automatic pre-acceptance termination. Performance by the offeree could terminate an offer only in a unilateral contract and at that point would constitute acceptance, so it isn’t a universal automatic termination before any acceptance. Therefore, only the death of the offeror cleanly terminates the offer before it can be accepted.

The main idea is that offers can be terminated automatically by events that destroy the other party’s ability to form a contract. The death of the offeror ends the offer because there’s no longer anyone available to accept and create a contract, so the offer cannot be accepted at all.

This is why the death of the offeror is the best answer: once the offeror dies, the offer ceases to exist regardless of what the offeree does, so it cannot be accepted. Acceptance by the offeree ends the offer by forming a contract, but that happens only if and when acceptance occurs, not as an automatic pre-acceptance termination. Performance by the offeree could terminate an offer only in a unilateral contract and at that point would constitute acceptance, so it isn’t a universal automatic termination before any acceptance. Therefore, only the death of the offeror cleanly terminates the offer before it can be accepted.