Acquiescence in civil law: definition and fundamental principles

Acquiescence (acquiescement) is a legal act by which a party to proceedings renounces contesting the claims of their adversary or submits to a court decision. Far from being a mere posture of submission, it is a strategic step, with often irreversible consequences, that deserves to be understood in all its nuances. Whether formalised by a […]

Understanding seizure and apprehension: recovering your movable property

Recovering property that has not been returned or delivered is often a legal headache. How do you regain possession of a vehicle not returned after a loan? How do you recover equipment that you own? The seizure and apprehension procedure (saisie-apprehension) represents the legal solution for recovering such property. Here is an explanation of this […]

Maritime receivables: definition, types, and maritime privileges

The maritime world, with its specificity and particularism, has developed a set of original rules concerning receivables and the security interests attached to them. These legal mechanisms reflect the necessity of adapting the law to the constraints of ship operation. I. The Concept of Maritime Receivables International Definition The Brussels Convention of 10 May 1952 […]

Probatio diabolica meaning: legal definition and case study

In law, certain situations confront litigants with a major difficulty: proving a fact so complex, so remote or so elusive that demonstrating it becomes a genuine puzzle – a situation of probatio diabolica. This is what lawyers call probatio diabolica, or “diabolical proof.” Far from being a mere theoretical curiosity, this concept has very concrete […]

Regulations on wear and tear in French law

Your bank granted you a loan whose total cost seems excessive. Or you discover, after signing, that the global effective rate exceeds the thresholds published by the Banque de France. French law has a long-established and precise mechanism for sanctioning such situations: usury regulations. Here is what you need to know to understand whether your […]

Suspect period: definition, fixing, and legal actions

The suspect period (periode suspecte) is a central mechanism in French insolvency law. It allows the court to set aside certain transactions carried out by the debtor before the opening of insolvency proceedings, where those transactions depleted the debtor’s estate to the detriment of all creditors. This mechanism, provided for by Articles L632-1 et seq. […]

The protection of guarantors under French law: what are the specificities according to the categories?

The cautionnement (personal guarantee or suretyship) remains one of the most widely used securities in the French economy. This guarantee, by which a person undertakes to pay another’s debt in the event of default, is subject to varying protective regimes depending on the profile of the guarantor. Let us examine these protective mechanisms, which have […]

Securitisation tax in France: investor organisations

After the 2008 financial crisis, the word “securitisation” was long associated with opaque and risky finance. Yet this financing tool remains essential for the economy, enabling banks and companies to transform illiquid assets — such as credit portfolios — into tradeable securities. To restore confidence and revive a healthy market, the European Union created a […]

Pledging: complete guide

Last updated: 26 March 2026 – expanded coverage of dynamic management of the pledged assets and the pledge certificate The pledge over a securities account (“nantissement de compte-titres”) is one of the most effective security interests in French financial law. Governed by Article L. 211-20 of the Monetary and Financial Code (Code monetaire et financier, […]

My judgement contains an error or is ambiguous: what can i do?

The common assumption is that a judgment, once rendered, is final and puts a definitive end to a case. To a large extent, this is true, notably due to the authority of res judicata (“autorite de la chose jugee”) discussed previously. However, court decisions sometimes contain obvious errors, ambiguities, or may have been rendered under […]

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