1) Consideration is something of value that is exchanged between parties to an agreement. It is required for a contract to be valid. Consideration can be past, present or future as long as it is real and lawful.
2) For consideration to be valid, it must induce the promisor to make a promise and cannot be something the promisor is already legally obligated to do. Consideration does not need to be financially adequate.
3) Exceptions to the requirement of consideration include natural love and affection between family as well as agreements to pay for past voluntary services rendered.