What is the legal term for obtaining consent through coercion or threats?

The legal term for obtaining consent through coercion or threats is known as duress. In legal contexts, duress refers specifically to situations where a person is forced to act against their will under the threat of harm or some form of pressure that impairs their capacity to make voluntary decisions. This concept is critical in various fields, including contract law, where contracts signed under duress may be deemed invalid because the consent was not freely given.

Fraud typically involves deceitful practices intended to secure an unfair or unlawful gain and does not necessarily rely on threats or coercion. Coercion is a broader term that can be used in conjunction with duress but lacks the specific legal connotation that focuses on the threats aspect. Deception is closely related to fraud but does not inherently imply the element of coercion needed for duress. Therefore, duress distinctly captures the legal scenario where consent has been obtained through threats or coercive tactics.