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 34813490 of 31530 articles for Art. Cass. 3e civ. 19-5-1981 n° 79-14.882

French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Chapter III: The Examining Magistrate

Article 52-1

There are one or more investigating judges in each département. Where there are several judicial courts in a department, a decree may determine the list of courts in which there is no investigating ju…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 388-5

In the event of prosecution by summons as provided for in article 390 or summons as provided for in article 390-1, the parties or their lawyer may, before any defence on the merits or at any time duri…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylumIn force
Section 1: House arrest

Article L751-5

Foreign nationals placed under house arrest in application of article L. 751-2 must appear when summoned by the administrative authority, respond to requests for information and attend the interviews…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French General Code of Local AuthoritiesIn force
TITLE I: BUDGET AND ACCOUNTS

Article L2311-5

The surplus from the operating section for the financial year ended, together with the previous result carried forward, is allocated in full at the earliest budgetary decision following the approval o…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Commercial codeIn force
BOOK IV: Free pricing and competition.

Article L420-5

A price offer or practice of selling prices to consumers that are unreasonably low in relation to production, processing and marketing costs is prohibited where the purpose of such an offer or practic…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Commercial codeIn force
Sub-paragraph 2: Declarations to be made by legal entities

Article R123-54

The company also declares:1° The surname, usual name, pseudonym, first names and personal domicile of the partners who are indefinitely liable or indefinitely and jointly liable for the company's debt…

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Commercial codeIn force
Subsection 2: Certification of accounts

Article A823-5

The professional practice standard relating to audit planning, approved by the Minister of Justice, is shown below: . NEP-300. Audit planning Introduction 01. The audit of the accounts carried out by…

AI translation · Updated 3 Nov 2023Open Article
French Labour CodeIn force
Subsection 2: Retirement.

Article L1237-5

Retirement means the possibility given to the employer to terminate the employment contract of an employee who has reached the age mentioned in 1° of article L. 351-8 of the Social Security Code , sub…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Chapter I: Civil solidarity pacts

Article 515-7

The civil solidarity pact is dissolved by the death of one of the partners or by the marriage of the partners or one of them. In this case, dissolution takes effect on the date of the event. The civil…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Monetary and Financial CodeIn force
Paragraph 3: Usury rates

Article L313-5

The definition of the usury rate is set out in articles L. 314-6 to L. 314-9 of the French Consumer Code, reproduced below: "Art. L. 314-6- A usurious loan is any contractual loan granted at an overal…

AI translation · Updated 8 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