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 5160 of 36260 articles for Art. Cass. com. 19 May 1998

French Civil CodeIn force
Section 1: Conditions required for the validity of the contract.

Article 1969

It may also be set up, purely gratuitously, by donation inter vivos or by will. In this case, it must comply with the formalities required by law.

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Section 5: Necessary deposit.

Article 1950

Witness evidence may be received for the necessary deposit, even when it is for a value greater than the figure provided for in Article 1359.

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Cinema and Moving Image CodeIn force
Paragraph 1: Coverage of cash requirements and investment financing

Article 916-19

The aid awarded in the form of a grant is intended to cover current cash flow requirements.The aid awarded in the form of an advance is intended to finance the works, investments or training referred…

AI translation · Updated 7 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Chapter IV: Applications for nullity of marriage

Article 195

Possession of status may not exempt the alleged spouses who invoke it, respectively, from representing the act of celebration of the marriage before the civil registrar.

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Section 1: Conditions required for the validity of the contract.

Article 1971

The life annuity may be constituted either on the life of the person who provides the price, or on the life of a third party, who has no right to enjoy it.

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Chapter I: The nature and form of the mandate.

Article 1990

An unemancipated minor may be chosen as a mandatary; but the principal will have action against him only according to the general rules relating to the obligations of minors.

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Section 3: Obligations of the depositary.

Article 1941

If the deposit was made by a guardian or administrator, in one of those capacities, it may only be returned to the person whom that guardian or administrator represented, if their management or admini…

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Section 3: Obligations of the depositary.

Article 1940

If the person who made the deposit has been divested of his powers of administration, the deposit may only be returned to the person who has the administration of the depositor's property.

AI translation · Updated 6 Nov 2023Open Article
French Code of civil procedureIn force
Chapter III: Personal appearance of the parties.

Article 194

…of the parties' statements, their absence or their refusal to reply. The drawing up of the minutes may, however, be replaced by a mention in the judgment if the case is immediately decided at last in…

AI translation · Updated 8 Nov 2023Open Article
French Civil CodeIn force
Section 2: Effects of the contract between the contracting parties.

Article 1977

The person in whose favour the life annuity has been constituted for a price may request the termination of the contract, if the settlor does not give him the securities stipulated for its execution.

AI translation · Updated 6 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