This Practice Note provides an overview of contract expiry and of the different causes of termination and ways to discharge a contract, including their practical and legal consequences. It considers expiry, contractual rights to terminate (including common termination events), termination for breach of contract (including repudiatory breach), rescission, void contracts, discharge by agreement, frustration, force majeure, illegality, insolvency, discharge by other subsequent events (such as merger, alteration or death), and issues to consider in the context of terminating business-to-consumer contracts.

A contractual promise may be discharged either in accordance with the agreement (for example, by performing the agreement or on the occurrence of a stipulated event such as the expiry of a fixed term) or against the agreement (for example, termination for breach of contract or rescission for misrepresentation).

This Practice Note provides a brief overview of the different ways in which a contract may be brought to an end. The specific Practice Notes referenced in each section should be consulted for more detail.