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Private law is that part of a legal system that governs interactions between individual persons. It is distinguished from public law, which deals with relationships between both natural and artificial persons (i.e., organizations) and the state, including regulatory statutes, penal law and other law that affects the public order. In general terms, private law involves interactions between private individuals, whereas public law involves interrelations between the state and the general population. In legal systems of the civil law tradition, it is that part of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals, such as the law of contracts and torts (as it is called in the common law tradition), and the law of obligations (as it is called in the civil law tradition).
Concept
One of the five capital lawyers in Roman law, Domitius Ulpianus, (170–223) – who differentiated ius publicum from ius privatum – the European, more exactly the continental law, philosophers and thinkers want(ed) to put each branch of law into this dichotomy: Public and Private Law. "huius studdii duæ sunt positiones: publicum et privatum. Publicum ius est, quod statum rei Romanæ spectat, privatum, quod ad singulorum utilitatem; sunt enim quædam publice utila, quædam privatim". (Public law is that which concerns the Roman state, private law is concerned with the interests of citizens.)
In the modern era, Charles-Louis Montesquieu (1689–1755) amplified supremely this distinction: International (law of nations), Public (politic law) and Private (civil law) Law, in his major work: (On) The Spirit of the Law (1748). "Considered as inhabitants of so great a planet, which necessarily contains a variety of nations, they have laws relating to their mutual intercourse, which is what we call the law of nations. As members of a society that must be properly supported, they have laws relating to the governors and the governed, and this we distinguish by the name of politic law. They have also another sort of law, as they stand in relation to each other; by which is understood the civil law."
Private law in common law jurisdictions
The concept of private law in common law countries is a little broader, in that it also encompasses private relationships between governments and private individuals or other entities. That is, relationships between governments and individuals based on the law of contract or torts are governed by private law, and are not considered to be within the scope of public law.
European Union law
The European Commission and the European Council have stated a desire to achieve greater approximation of private law across its (now) 27 member states of the European Union, including within the fields of contract law, property law and family law. In regard to contract law, it the Commission and Council have argued that there are problems resulting from divergences in this field of law across the EU, and in regard to family law, the Council suggests that this field is "a possible subject for a discussion on ... approximation".
Areas of private law
- Agricultural law
- Business law
- Civil law
- Law of obligations
- Contract law
- Tort law
- Law of unjust enrichment and quasi-contracts
- Trust law
- Law of agency
- Property law
- Family law - family-related issues and domestic relations including marriage, civil unions, divorce, spousal abuse, child custody and visitation, property, alimony, and child support awards, child abuse issues, and adoption.
- Succession - estate planning, testate and intestate succession, probate, and law of wills
- Law of obligations
- Consumer protection
- International private law
- Labour law
- Some aspects of transport law, for example contracts of carriage
See also
- International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
- International Journal of Private Law
- Polycentric law
- Private law society
- Social law
References
- Mattei, Ugo; Bussani, Mauro (18 May 2010). "The Project - Delivered at the first general meeting on July 6, 1995 - The Trento Common Core Project". The Common Core of European Private Law. Turin, Italy: Common Core Organizing Secretariat, The International University College of Turin. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- Vértesy, László (2007). "The Place and Theory of Banking Law - Or Arising of a New Branch of Law: Law of Financial Industries". Collega. 2-3. XI. SSRN 3198092.
- EUR-Lex, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council: A More Coherent European Contract Law - An Action Plan, 2003/C 63/01, published 15 March 2003, accessed 16 September 2023
This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Private law news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Private law is that part of a legal system that governs interactions between individual persons It is distinguished from public law which deals with relationships between both natural and artificial persons i e organizations and the state including regulatory statutes penal law and other law that affects the public order In general terms private law involves interactions between private individuals whereas public law involves interrelations between the state and the general population In legal systems of the civil law tradition it is that part of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals such as the law of contracts and torts as it is called in the common law tradition and the law of obligations as it is called in the civil law tradition ConceptOne of the five capital lawyers in Roman law Domitius Ulpianus 170 223 who differentiated ius publicum from ius privatum the European more exactly the continental law philosophers and thinkers want ed to put each branch of law into this dichotomy Public and Private Law huius studdii duae sunt positiones publicum et privatum Publicum ius est quod statum rei Romanae spectat privatum quod ad singulorum utilitatem sunt enim quaedam publice utila quaedam privatim Public law is that which concerns the Roman state private law is concerned with the interests of citizens In the modern era Charles Louis Montesquieu 1689 1755 amplified supremely this distinction International law of nations Public politic law and Private civil law Law in his major work On The Spirit of the Law 1748 Considered as inhabitants of so great a planet which necessarily contains a variety of nations they have laws relating to their mutual intercourse which is what we call the law of nations As members of a society that must be properly supported they have laws relating to the governors and the governed and this we distinguish by the name of politic law They have also another sort of law as they stand in relation to each other by which is understood the civil law Private law in common law jurisdictionsThe concept of private law in common law countries is a little broader in that it also encompasses private relationships between governments and private individuals or other entities That is relationships between governments and individuals based on the law of contract or torts are governed by private law and are not considered to be within the scope of public law European Union lawThe European Commission and the European Council have stated a desire to achieve greater approximation of private law across its now 27 member states of the European Union including within the fields of contract law property law and family law In regard to contract law it the Commission and Council have argued that there are problems resulting from divergences in this field of law across the EU and in regard to family law the Council suggests that this field is a possible subject for a discussion on approximation Areas of private lawAgricultural law Business law Company law Commercial law Civil law Law of obligations Contract law Tort law Law of unjust enrichment and quasi contracts Trust law Law of agency Property law Family law family related issues and domestic relations including marriage civil unions divorce spousal abuse child custody and visitation property alimony and child support awards child abuse issues and adoption Succession estate planning testate and intestate succession probate and law of wills Consumer protection International private law Labour law Some aspects of transport law for example contracts of carriageSee alsoInternational Institute for the Unification of Private Law International Journal of Private Law Polycentric law Private law society Social lawReferencesMattei Ugo Bussani Mauro 18 May 2010 The Project Delivered at the first general meeting on July 6 1995 The Trento Common Core Project The Common Core of European Private Law Turin Italy Common Core Organizing Secretariat The International University College of Turin Retrieved 8 September 2011 Vertesy Laszlo 2007 The Place and Theory of Banking Law Or Arising of a New Branch of Law Law of Financial Industries Collega 2 3 XI SSRN 3198092 EUR Lex Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council A More Coherent European Contract Law An Action Plan 2003 C 63 01 published 15 March 2003 accessed 16 September 2023
