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Penalties for usury: deciphering the criminal and civil consequences
By Raphaël MORENON3 August 2025Regulations on usury are designed to protect borrowers against manifestly excessive interest rates. When credit is classified as usurious, the consequences for the lender are not limited to a simple contractual correction. French law has put in place an arsenal of penalties, both criminal and civil, to punish such practices. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for any borrower, whether an individual or a professional, in order to assert their rights. As we explain in our guide to the regulation of usury under French law, determining whether a loan is usurious is governed by technical rules that then call for the application of rigorous penalties. The diversity of penalties for usury The classification of a loan as usurious opens the way to a twofold sanction. From a criminal point of view, usury constitutes an offence for which the penalties can be severe. In civil law, the contract...
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> The practice of seizing propertyA practical, chronological and exhaustive study of the implementation of a property seizure procedure.
We put all our expertise to work to achieve a simple objective: to prevent a property seizure.
What is an enforcement order and how does it work?
To obtain enforcement of an obligation, the creditor must have an enforceable title. This is a legal document which, once it has been endorsed with the executory clause, enables the bailiff (the commissioner of justice) to force the debtor of the obligation to perform. As such, it is a central issue in all legal proceedings.Attachment and seizure of claims: operation, disputes
Seizure and attachment enables the recovery of tangible personal property held by a debtor or a third party, either by virtue of an enforcement order or a court order.Seizure of shares: how does it work, what is it for?
Find out about the seizure of shareholders' rights and securities: a procedure for recovering debts on intangible assets such as shares.Astreinte in the field of enforcement measures
The astreinte, a financial penalty, requires the debtor to comply with a court order or face penalties. Find out how it works in enforcement proceedings.Mortgage credit
Mortgage credit is credit secured by a mortgage. All types of credit can be secured by a mortgage: real estate credit, consumer credit, business credit, etc. However, the use of a mortgage guarantee is only possible under certain conditions. Mortgage credit: principles of...Participative financing: what innovations in 2024?
Find out about the innovations in participative financing in 2024, a fast-growing method of financing a variety of projects in France, including renewable energy.Equity loans: a fast-growing financing solution
Equity loans are a way of financing growing businesses. Find out more about its advantages, disadvantages and how it works.Simple or joint surety
A simple or joint surety is a person who undertakes to pay the debts of another in the event of non-payment. This commitment is generally made in support of a bank loan. Definition of a guarantor Article 2288 of the French Civil Code defines a guarantor as a natural or legal person...Webinar in partnership with Vench.fr
In partnership with the Vench.fr editorial team, I had the pleasure and privilege of hosting a webinar on the subject of the difference between sales by way of seizure of property, licitation-partage and compulsory liquidation. We took this opportunity to discuss the main differences between these 3 types of sale...Seizing a vessel: understanding the procedure
Find out how ship arrest allows creditors to block or sell a ship to recover their debts, within a national and international legal framework.
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