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 41514160 of 61564 articles for Art. Cass. com. 12 May 2004 · Cass. com. 19 October 1982 · Cass. 3e civ. 4 February 1976 · Cass. 3e civ. 2 June 1982

French Code of civil procedureIn force
Paragraph 1: General provisions

Article 444

The chairman may order the reopening of the proceedings. He must do so whenever the parties have not been able to explain to each other the legal or factual clarifications which had been requested of…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 3: Taking of evidence

Article 427

Except where the law provides otherwise, offences may be established by any method of proof and the judge shall decide on the basis of his or her own personal conviction.The judge may base his or her…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French General Code of Local AuthoritiesIn force
Subsection 1: Aid to cinematographic companies

Article R1511-42

The agreement concluded pursuant to the third paragraph of articles L. 2251-4, L. 3232-4 and in 6° of article L. 4211-1 between the operator or future operator and the local authority concerned sets o…

AI translation · Updated 5 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code governing the entry and residence of foreign nationals and the right of asylumIn force
Section 2: Withdrawal of residence permits

Article R432-4

Without prejudice to the provisions of articles R. 421-41, R. 422-7, R. 423-2 and R. 426-1, the residence permit may be withdrawn in the following cases: 1° The foreign national, holder of a temporary…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of civil procedureIn force
Subsection 1: Common provisions

Article 481

…ct his decision in the event of opposition, third-party opposition or an application for review. He may also interpret or rectify it under the distinctions set out in articles 461 to 464.

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of civil procedureIn force
Subsection II: Summary orders.

Article 485

…me for summary proceedings.If, however, the case requires expedition, the summary proceedings judge may allow summons to be served, at the time indicated, even on public holidays or non-working days.

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

Article 440

The chairman presides over the proceedings. He gives the floor to the rapporteur in the event that a report is to be made.The plaintiff, then the defendant, are then invited to set out their claims.Wh…

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

Article 472

In the case provided for in Article 470, where the civil party has itself initiated the public prosecution, the court shall rule by the same judgment on the claim for damages made by the person acquit…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Subsection 1: Common provisions

Article 485

The judge who terminates the mandate may open a legal protection measure under the conditions and in accordance with the procedures laid down in sections 1 to 4 of this chapter. Where the implementati…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of Criminal ProcedureIn force
Paragraph 3: Taking of evidence

Article 431

…by a special provision of law to establish offences by minutes or reports, evidence to the contrary may only be adduced in writing or by witnesses..

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