Equitable Obligations

Equitable obligations are non-legal responsibilities imposed by a court’s sense of fairness or justice, rather than by strict legal rules. They often arise in situations where formal contracts may not cover all aspects of an agreement, but one party’s actions create a reliance or expectation in another. For example, if someone promises to gift something and the recipient relies on that promise, a court may impose an equitable obligation to prevent unfairness. These obligations focus on fairness, emphasizing moral duty and preventing unjust outcomes, even when no formal contract exists.