The common law regarding the formation of contracts made through an agent on behalf of a principal suffering from latent mental incapacity is still undeveloped. This article argues that, in general, such a principal can confer actual authority to contract on an agent so long as the agent (reasonably) is, and remains, unaware of the incapacity. On the same basis, an incapax principal can manifest to a third party that such an appointment has been made, thereby creating apparent authority in the agent.
