necessities
Necessities, or necessaries, are goods and services essential to a person’s life. Necessities may be more than bare necessities to survive depending on the individual’s circumstances, but generally include food, medicine, clothing, shelter, and some personal services.
Sometimes, people who cannot enter contracts, like minors, can still contract for necessities. The contract must be reasonable to provide life necessities to individuals without the capacity to contract.
[Last reviewed in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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