Lesson 2

Qualifying as a Surety

Les qualités requises de la caution

Kalifikasyon pou sèvi kòm kosyon

Lesson Content

Continuing Chapter I (Articles 1358–1360)

Article 1358 sets the qualifications for a surety that the debtor is obligated to provide. The surety must: have their domicile within the jurisdiction of the conseil supérieur (the superior court), be capable of contracting, and have sufficient property to answer for the obligation.

Article 1359 specifies what counts as "sufficient property." Only immovable property establishes a surety's solvency — except for small amounts or commercial affairs. Furthermore, immovables that are in litigation or difficult to sell because of their remote location do not count toward the surety's solvency.

This immovable-only rule ensured that sureties had real, tangible, and attachable assets. Movable property could be hidden, moved, or dissipated. Land and buildings stayed put. In Christophe's kingdom, where land ownership was the foundation of economic security, this rule made practical sense.

Article 1360 addresses the surety who becomes insolvent after being accepted. The debtor must provide a replacement surety, even if the original was voluntarily accepted or approved by a court. The only exception: if the creditor specifically designated the person they wanted as surety, they bear the risk of that person's insolvency.

Suite du Chapitre I (Articles 1358–1360)

Article 1358 : la caution doit avoir son domicile dans le ressort du conseil supérieur, être capable de contracter, et avoir un bien suffisant.

Article 1359 : ce sont les immeubles seuls qui font la solvabilité de la caution, sauf pour les affaires de commerce ou sommes modiques. Les immeubles litigieux ou éloignés n'entrent pas en considération.

Article 1360 : si la caution devient insolvable, le débiteur doit en fournir une autre, sauf si le créancier avait désigné la personne qu'il désirait.

Swit Chapit I (Atik 1358–1360)

Atik 1358 : kosyon an dwe gen domisil li nan jiridiksyon konsèy siperyè a, gen kapasite pou kontrakte, epi gen ase byen pou reponn pou obligasyon an.

Atik 1359 : se imèb sèlman ki fè solvabilite kosyon an, sof pou zafè komès oswa ti montan. Imèb ki an litij oswa ki lwen pa konte.

Atik 1360 : si kosyon an vin ensolvab, debitè a dwe bay yon lòt, sof si kreyansye a te deziyen moun li te vle a.

Quiz

1. What type of property establishes a surety's solvency under Article 1359? Quel type de bien établit la solvabilité de la caution (Article 1359) ? Ki kalite byen ki etabli solvabilite kosyon an (Atik 1359)?

Any property, movable or immovable Tout bien, mobilier ou immobilier Nenpòt ki byen, mobilye oswa imobilye Only immovable property, except for small amounts or commercial matters Les immeubles seuls, sauf pour sommes modiques ou affaires de commerce Sèlman imèb, eksepte pou ti montan oswa zafè komès Only cash deposits Seulement les dépôts en espèces Sèlman depo an lajan kach Only livestock and agricultural products Seulement le bétail et les produits agricoles Sèlman bèt ak pwodui agrikòl

2. What happens if the surety becomes insolvent (Article 1360)? Que se passe-t-il si la caution devient insolvable (Article 1360) ? Ki sa k pase si kosyon an vin ensolvab (Atik 1360)?

The debt is automatically cancelled La dette est automatiquement annulée Dèt la otomatikman anile The debtor must provide a replacement surety Le débiteur doit en fournir une autre Debitè a dwe bay yon lòt kosyon The creditor loses their claim Le créancier perd sa créance Kreyansye a pèdi reklamasyon li Nothing — the original suretyship remains binding Rien — le cautionnement original reste en vigueur Anyen — kosyonnman orijinal la rete an vigè