What characterizes a void contract?

A void contract is characterized by its complete lack of legal force. This means that it is as if the contract never existed in the eyes of the law. Such contracts cannot be enforced by either party and do not create any legal obligations or rights. This situation often arises from fundamental issues that undermine the contract's validity, such as illegality, lack of capacity to contract, or absence of consideration.

By contrast, options describing contracts with minor legal issues, enforceability under specific conditions, or those that simply have conditions to meet imply some level of validity. These may still be acted upon or upheld in certain scenarios, unlike a void contract, which is entirely without legal standing. Thus, the defining characteristic of a void contract is its complete lack of legal force, accurately captured in the correct choice.