civil code
A civil code is a codification of private law relating to contracts , property , family , and obligations . Commonly, a state that has a civil code generally also has a code of civil procedure . In some states with a civil code, some core fields of private law would be codified in a commercial code .
The Civil Code of California (CIV) and The Louisiana Civil Code are two examples of this.
A civil code is made up of statutes that govern the general obligations and rights of persons within the jurisdiction . For example, the California Civil Code is divided into four divisions:
- Persons
- Property
- Obligations
- General Provisions
Division 1 contains laws that govern the field of personal rights ; Division 2 contains laws that govern property rights; Division 3 codifies rules in California like the regulations relating to agency , mortgages , extensions of credit ; Division 4 defines remedies available in lawsuits . The Code is organized similarly to many other civil codes, and many of its provisions are codifications of well-established common law principles.
[Last reviewed in July of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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