Title 9, ArbitrationRelease 119-102
§2 Validity, Irrevocability, and Enforcement of Agreements to Arbitrate
Title 9 › CHAPTER 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 2
Summary
Written clauses in maritime or commercial contracts that say future disputes will be decided by arbitration are legally binding and must be enforced. A written promise to send an existing dispute from such a contract to arbitration is also binding. These arbitration agreements can only be canceled for the same legal reasons any contract can be canceled, or as chapter 4 provides.
Full Legal Text
Title 9, §2
Arbitration, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A written provision in any maritime transaction or a contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce to settle by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract or transaction, or the refusal to perform the whole or any part thereof, or an agreement in writing to submit to arbitration an existing controversy arising out of such a contract, transaction, or refusal, shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such grounds as exist at law or in equity for the revocation of any contract or as otherwise provided in chapter 4.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
DerivationAct Feb. 12, 1925, ch. 213, § 2, 43 Stat. 883.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Pub. L. 117–90 inserted “or as otherwise provided in chapter 4” before period at end.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2022 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 117–90 applicable with respect to any dispute or claim that arises or accrues on or after Mar. 3, 2022, see section 3 of Pub. L. 117–90, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 401 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
9 U.S.C. § 2
Title 9, Arbitration
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102