Party Autonomy in International Property Law - Peace Palace Library

B. Private International (Property) Law
‘(..) l’on ne peut avoir sur les biens que trois espèces de droits: ou un
droit de propriété, ou une simple jouissance, ou seulement des services
fonciers. Ainsi notre Code abolit jusqu’au moindre vestige de ce
domaine de supériorité jadis connu sous les noms de seigneur féodal
et censuel.’ 6
However, there existed specific statutory provisions underlying the numerus
clausus principle in specific cases. For instance, the principle was
given statutory basis with regard to property security rights. Article 2285
(old Article 2093) of the Civil Code provides that – here we use the official
translation 7
‘the property of a debtor is the common pledge of his creditors; and the
proceeds of it shall be distributed among them pro rata, unless there
are legal causes of priority between the creditors.’
This article provides that a right of priority can be granted only on legal
grounds, recognised as such by the legislator. An identical provision applies
in Belgian law. 8
6.2.3. Development of the numerus clausus principle
in the 19 th and 20 th centuries
The viewpoint that the numerus clausus principle is a reaction against
the feudal system also becomes questionable when one looks into the
case law of the early 19 th century. Already in 1834, the French Cour de
cassation rendered the famous Caquelard judgment, in which it denied any
restriction on property rights that split up immovable ownership. The case
dealt with an agreement of co-ownership with regard to bushland, which
6
Locre, Législation civile, VI, 32. Free translation: ‘One can have on objects
only three categories of rights: ownership, right of use, or land burdens. In this
way, our Code abolishes the foundations of this domain of superiority that was
previously known as feudal lords’.
7
www.legifrance.gouv.fr. The French text of the provision is as follows: ‘Les
biens du débiteur sont le gage commun de ses créanciers; et le prix s’en distribue
entre eux par contribution, à moins qu’il n’y ait entre les créanciers des
causes légitimes de préférence.’
8
Article 8 of the Belgian Mortgage Act 16 December 1851, Belgian Official
Gazette 22 December 1851.
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Vincent Sagaert
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