Final answer:
A twenty year lease would likely fall under the Statute of Frauds and must be in writing to be enforceable, while a purchase and sale agreement also generally needs to be in writing, especially for real estate or expensive goods. An offer is simply a preliminary step to forming a complete contract, while the enforceability of a listing contract as a verbal agreement would depend on the specific situation and jurisdiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether a verbal contract would be enforceable in court depends on the specifics of the contract and the laws of the jurisdiction in question. Generally, verbal agreements can be legally binding. However, there are certain agreements that, because of their nature, are required by law to be in writing in order to be enforceable. This requirement is part of what is known as the Statute of Frauds.
Among the options provided (A twenty year lease, A listing contract, An offer, A purchase and sale agreement), a twenty year lease would typically not be enforceable as a verbal agreement because real estate lease agreements for a term longer than one year usually fall under the Statute of Frauds and must be in writing.
Conversely, an offer is typically a preliminary step to forming a contract and can often be verbal, but it is not in itself a complete contract and its enforceability would depend on the acceptance and further terms of the contract.
A listing contract might be enforceable if it is verbal, depending on the jurisdiction and the circumstances, but best practices dictate that such an agreement should be in writing to avoid misunderstandings and to ensure the terms are clear for all parties involved.
A purchase and sale agreement for personal property is often enforceable even when verbal. However, if it pertains to the sale of real estate or goods over a certain value (under the Uniform Commercial Code), it generally needs to be in writing to be enforceable.