Final answer:
Past consideration is typically not valid in contract law; however, if it was provided with the expectation of future payment, the court might enforce the promise.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of contract law, if past consideration was given with the expectation of future payment, the court may enforce the promise. Normally, consideration must be present or future to be valid, which means either something is given now or there is a promise to give or do something in the future in exchange for a promise.
The term past consideration refers to an act or benefit provided before the promise was made. Usually, past consideration is not valid because it is not given in exchange for any promise - it is something that has already been done 'for free' as it were. However, if there was an understanding that the act was done in expectation of future payment or reward, some legal systems may recognize this as valid consideration and enforce the agreement.