Which of the following is a requirement for the lawful objective of a contract?

A lawful objective is a fundamental element of a contract, and it ensures that the purpose of the contract does not violate any laws or public policy. For a contract to be enforceable, it must aim for objectives that are legal and not contrary to statutes or societal norms. This means that if a contract involves illegal activities or is built on unlawful premises, it cannot be upheld by the courts.

In contrast, while the other options touch on aspects of good contract practice or potential preferences for contractual terms, they do not address the fundamental legal requirement of having a lawful objective. For instance, a contract does not need to be favorable to all parties; rather, it must simply meet the legal expectations for its purpose. Similarly, the terms of a contract do not need to be negotiable at all times, nor is it necessary for financial gains to be explicitly outlined for the contract to hold legal ground, as contracts can still be valid even if they don't detail every aspect of potential profit. Thus, the critical focus is on the legality of the contract's purpose, which is precisely why having a legal purpose is essential.