Istwanou Academy — Learn Haitian History

Introduction

Once validly formed, a contract becomes law between the parties. Chapter II of Titre XVII establishes the effects of obligations — what it means to be bound to give, to do, or to refrain from doing — and the consequences when those obligations are broken.

Une fois valablement formé, un contrat devient la loi entre les parties. Le Chapitre II établit les effets des obligations et les conséquences de leur inexécution.

Yon fwa li fòme valab, yon kontra vin lwa ant pati yo. Chapit II etabli efè obligasyon yo ak konsekans lè yo pa respekte yo.

Lesson Content

Articles 736–764: The Effect of Obligations

The Binding Force of Contract (Articles 736–737)

Article 736 contains one of the most powerful statements in all of civil law: "Legally made conventions hold the force of law for those who made them." They can only be revoked by mutual consent or by causes authorized by law, and they must be executed in good faith.

Conventions bind the parties not only to what is expressed, but to all consequences that equity, usage, or law give to the obligation according to its nature (Article 737).

The Obligation to Give (Articles 738–743)

A person who promised to give something must not only deliver it but preserve it until delivery, on pain of damages (Article 738). The duty of care requires the diligence of a "good father of the family" (Article 739). Consent alone makes the creditor the owner and transfers risk to them — unless the debtor is in default (Article 740).

Default occurs either by formal demand or by the mere expiration of the agreed term (Article 741). If the same movable thing is promised to two people successively, the one put in actual possession prevails, even if their title is later in date — provided possession is in good faith (Article 743).

The Obligation to Do or Not Do (Articles 744–746)

Every obligation to do or not do resolves into damages if not performed (Article 744). The creditor may be authorized to have the work done at the debtor's expense (Article 745). Breach of a negative obligation (not to do) generates damages by the mere fact of contravention (Article 746).

Damages (Articles 747–756)

Damages are owed when the debtor fails to perform after demand (Article 747). The debtor is liable unless the failure comes from a cause not attributable to them (Article 748), but force majeure excuses performance (Article 749). Damages comprise the creditor's actual loss and lost profit (Article 750). Without fraud, only foreseeable damages at the time of contracting are owed (Article 751). With fraud, all damages that are an immediate and direct consequence are owed (Article 752).

If a specific penalty is stipulated, no more and no less can be awarded (Article 753). For monetary obligations, damages are limited to the legal interest rate (Article 754).

Interpretation (Articles 757–762)

The common intention of the parties prevails over the literal meaning of the terms (Article 757). Ambiguous clauses are interpreted according to local custom (Article 759), and in doubt, in favor of the debtor and against the party who stipulated the obligation (Article 760). General terms cover only what the parties evidently intended (Article 761).

Effects on Third Parties (Articles 763–764)

Conventions bind only the parties and cannot harm or benefit third parties, except as provided in Article 723 (Article 763). However, creditors may exercise their debtor's rights and attack fraudulent acts (Article 764).

Articles 736–764 : Les effets des obligations

La force obligatoire (Articles 736–737)

Les conventions légalement faites tiennent lieu de loi à ceux qui les ont consenties (Article 736). Elles obligent à tout ce que l'équité, l'usage ou la loi donnent à l'obligation (Article 737).

L'obligation de donner (Articles 738–743)

Le débiteur doit conserver la chose jusqu'à la livraison avec les soins d'un bon père de famille (Articles 738–739). Le consentement seul transfère la propriété et les risques (Article 740).

L'obligation de faire ou de ne pas faire (Articles 744–746)

L'inexécution se résout en dommages et intérêts (Article 744). La force majeure excuse l'exécution (Article 749). Les dommages comprennent la perte et le gain manqué (Article 750).

L'interprétation (Articles 757–762)

La commune intention des parties prévaut sur le sens littéral (Article 757). Dans le doute, l'interprétation favorise le débiteur (Article 760).

Effets à l'égard des tiers (Articles 763–764)

Les conventions n'obligent que les parties (Article 763). Les créanciers peuvent exercer les droits de leurs débiteurs et attaquer les actes frauduleux (Article 764).

Atik 736–764: Efè obligasyon yo

Fòs obligatwa (Atik 736–737)

Konvansyon ki fèt legalman sèvi kòm lwa pou moun ki fè yo (Atik 736). Yo oblije a tout sa ekite, koutim, oswa lalwa bay obligasyon an (Atik 737).

Obligasyon pou bay (Atik 738–743)

Debitè a dwe konsève bagay la jiskaske livrezon ak swen yon bon pè fanmi (Atik 738–739). Konsantman sèl transfere pwopriyete ak risk (Atik 740).

Obligasyon pou fè oswa pa fè (Atik 744–746)

Pa egzekite rezoud an domaj ak enterè (Atik 744). Fòs majè eskize egzekisyon (Atik 749). Domaj yo konprann pèt ak pwofi ki manke (Atik 750).

Entèpretasyon (Atik 757–762)

Entansyon komen pati yo domine sou sans literal (Atik 757). Nan dout, entèpretasyon favorize debitè a (Atik 760).

Efè sou twazyèm moun (Atik 763–764)

Konvansyon yo oblije sèlman pati yo (Atik 763). Kreyansye yo ka egzèse dwa debitè yo e atake ak fwodilè yo (Atik 764).

Primary Source Text

Article 736: "Les conventions légalement faites, tiennent lieu de loi à ceux qui les ont consenties."

Article 736 : « Les conventions légalement faites, tiennent lieu de loi à ceux qui les ont consenties. »

Atik 736: "Konvansyon ki fèt legalman sèvi kòm lwa pou moun ki fè yo."

Reflection

Article 736 — that contracts have the force of law between the parties — is the cornerstone of all civil society. It means that ordinary people, not just the king or the legislature, create binding law through their agreements. In Henry's kingdom, the word of a Haitian citizen carried the force of law.

L'article 736 — que les contrats ont force de loi entre les parties — est la pierre angulaire de toute société civile.

Atik 736 — ke kontra yo gen fòs lalwa ant pati yo — se pyè ang tout sosyete sivil.

Life Lesson

Your word is your law. When you make a promise, you create an obligation as binding as any statute — and breaking it carries real consequences.

Votre parole est votre loi. Quand vous faites une promesse, vous créez une obligation aussi contraignante qu'une loi.

Pawòl ou se lwa ou. Lè ou fè yon pwomès, ou kreye yon obligasyon ki menm jan ak nenpòt ki lwa — e kase l pote vrè konsekans.

Quiz

1. According to Article 736, what force do legally made contracts carry? Selon l'article 736, quelle force les contrats légalement faits ont-ils ? Dapre Atik 736, ki fòs kontra ki fèt legalman pote?

They are merely suggestions between the parties Ce ne sont que des suggestions entre les parties Yo se sèlman sijesyon ant pati yo They hold the force of law for the parties who made them Ils tiennent lieu de loi pour ceux qui les ont consentis Yo gen fòs lalwa pou moun ki fè yo They are valid only if approved by a judge Ils ne sont valables que s'ils sont approuvés par un juge Yo valab sèlman si yon jij apwouve yo They expire after one year unless renewed Ils expirent après un an sauf renouvellement Yo ekspire apre yon an sof si yo renouvle

2. What excuses a debtor from performing an obligation? Qu'est-ce qui excuse un débiteur de l'exécution de son obligation ? Kisa ki eskize yon debitè de egzekisyon obligasyon l?

A change of mind by the debtor Un changement d'avis du débiteur Yon chanjman lide pa debitè a Force majeure — an unforeseeable and irresistible event La force majeure — un événement imprévisible et irrésistible Fòs majè — yon evènman enprevizib e irezistibl The debtor finding a better deal elsewhere Le débiteur trouvant un meilleur accord ailleurs Debitè a jwenn yon pi bon akò lòt kote Simple financial difficulty De simples difficultés financières Senp difikilte finansyè

The Force of Agreements