French Legislation In English

Search, Read and Apply French Law. In English.

20+ full codes, 2,400+ articles translated and updated. Case law linked to every article. Read the actual text before you ask a lawyer about it — free, no login required.

Try: L.227-1 SAS governance, L.145-9 bail commercial renewal, L.223-18 gérant removal SARL

20+

french codes

Fully translated

2,400+

articles in English

Updated regularly

480+

court rulings linked

Per article

Free

full access

No login required

Showing 331340 of 56879 articles for Art. Cass. 1ère civ. 10-1-2018 n° 16-25.190 F-PB

French Civil CodeIn force
Chapter III: Examination of a person's genetic characteristics and identification of a person by genetic fingerprints

Article 16-11

The identification of a person by his or her genetic fingerprints may only be sought:1° In the context of investigation or enquiry measures carried out in the course of legal proceedings;2° For medica…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Paragraph 2: Warranty of defects in the goods sold.

Article 1646-1

The seller of a building to be constructed is bound, as from acceptance of the work, by the obligations to which architects, contractors and other persons bound to the client by a contract for the hir…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of civil procedureIn force
Section Ia: Intervention of the guardianship judge in matters of legal administration

Article 1180-16

Any decision of the judge is notified, at the registry's behest, to the applicant, the parents and, where applicable, the ad hoc administrator.A minor who has reached the age of sixteen is notified of…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Commercial codeIn force
Section 3: Invoicing and payment terms

Article L441-16

An administrative fine of up to €75,000 for a natural person and up to €2 million for a legal entity shall be imposed for:a) Failing to comply with the payment deadlines provided for in I of Article L…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Cinema and Moving Image CodeIn force
Paragraph 4: Combating illegal employment

Article 122-16

The Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée notes the failure of beneficiaries of financial aid to comply with their obligations relating to the fight against illegal employment, offences again…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Chapter III: Examination of a person's genetic characteristics and identification of a person by genetic fingerprints

Article 16-12

Only the following are authorised to carry out DNA identifications: 1° The technical and forensic police services or organisations referred to in article 157-2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; 2° Pe…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Labour CodeIn force
Section 3: Specific pollution rooms

Article R4222-16

Recycling installations include a monitoring system to detect faults in the purification devices. In the event of a fault, the necessary measures are taken by the employer to maintain compliance with…

AI translation · Updated 3 Nov 2023Open Article
French Insurance CodeIn force
Subsection 1: Provisions relating to insurance undertakings.

Article R321-16

For the three financial years following the issue of the authorisations referred to in Articles L. 321-1, L. 321-7 and L. 329-1, the undertaking must submit to the Autorité de contrôle prudentiel et d…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French General Tax CodeIn force
2nd Subsection: Overall income

Article 160 quater

When a company carries out the transactions provided for in articles 48 and 49 of law no. 78-763 of 19 July 1978 on the status of sociétés coopératives de production, the cancellation of shares or cor…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of civil procedureIn force
Chapter V: Family proceedings

Article 1136-16

Where the wearing of a mobile anti-collision device provided for in article 515-11-1 of the Civil Code is requested by either of the parties, any information relating to the family situation shall be…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
Common Questions

French legislation in English — Q&A

Our translations are produced and reviewed for accuracy, but the only legally binding version of French law is the French original. For court, registry or contractual use we offer lawyer-reviewed or sworn certified translations on request.

Articles are synced with Légifrance and updated as soon as a reform is published in the Journal Officiel, so you always read the version in force — and can see when each article was last amended.

Each article is linked to the key court decisions (Cour de cassation, Conseil d'État, courts of appeal) that interpret it, so you can read the text and its case-law application side by side.

Yes — every article has an AI plain-English summary, and you can order a lawyer-reviewed explanation of how it applies to your specific situation, with next steps.

No. Reading and searching the codes is free with no login. Paid services — certified translation and the legal application report — are entirely optional.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In French Corporate Practice

English · French · Russian

Ready When You Are

Talk To A Lawyer
In France.

A 20–30 minute call, in English, to scope the engagement. No obligation, no preliminary fee. You will leave the call with a clear view of what the work will cover and what it will cost.

First EngagementFixed Fee

Talk to a French lawyer.

Reply within 24 hours.

Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

Continue

Related legal services

01 / Read

Browse the French codes

20+ full codes and 2,400+ articles in English, with the key court rulings linked to every article — free to read.

Read More
02 / Apply

Legal application report

A lawyer-reviewed report explaining how the relevant articles apply to your situation, with case-law analysis and next steps.

Read More
03 / Act

Talk to a French lawyer

Scope your matter with a Paris-Bar avocate — incorporation, contracts, disputes — handled bilingually, end to end.

Read More