Force Majeure

A contract clause that excuses one or both parties from their obligations when circumstances beyond their control — natural disasters, government action, or other events that make performance illegal or impossible — prevent the event from happening. A strong force majeure clause can release a group from attrition and cancellation penalties when, say, a hurricane closes the destination or a public-health order bans gatherings. The exact wording matters enormously: a narrow clause covering only "acts of God" protects far less than one that also addresses impracticability and materially reduced attendance. Read force majeure together with the cancellation clause, since they govern different exits from the same contract. It is among the terms most worth reviewing carefully before signing, because it decides who bears the loss when an event cannot proceed.