Ellenértéke

Ellenértéke is a Hungarian term that translates to "consideration" in English, particularly within the context of legal and contractual agreements. It refers to the value that each party to a contract gives up or promises to give up in exchange for the other party's promise or performance. This mutual exchange is a fundamental element for the formation of a valid contract in many legal systems, ensuring that the agreement is not a mere gift but a bargained-for exchange.

In essence, ellenértéke represents the price, service, or any other benefit that is exchanged between parties. It can be tangible, such as money or goods, or intangible, such as a promise to perform a service or refrain from doing something. The value of the ellenértéke does not necessarily need to be equal or fair in a subjective sense; the law is generally concerned with the *presence* of consideration rather than its adequacy. For an agreement to be legally binding, there must be a genuine exchange of value.

For instance, in a contract for the sale of a car, the seller's ellenértéke is the car, and the buyer's ellenértéke is the agreed-upon price. Both parties are giving something up to receive something in return. Without this reciprocal exchange, the agreement might be considered a gratuitous promise, which is typically not enforceable by law. The concept of ellenértéke therefore distinguishes a contract from a donation or a one-sided promise.