Are verbal agreements enforceable in court?

Some verbal agreements are enforceable in court, but the statute of frauds states that certain types of contracts must be in writing, as stated by the National Paralegal College. The agreements that must be in writing deal with the sale of land, contracts for goods worth $500 or more, marriage contracts, agreements that take more than a year to fulfill and those involving a third party.

Though verbal agreements are enforceable, it can be difficult to prove that the agreement was made. Verbal agreements made in front of witnesses are much more likely to be held up in court. A verbal agreement is technically referred to as an oral agreement because the contract is made using spoken language.