Skip to content
🇭🇹   BETA  ·  10,079 entries published  ·  89,921 entries away from the 100k milestone.       🇭🇹   BETA  ·  10,079 entries published  ·  89,921 entries away from the 100k milestone.       
You are offline — some content may not be available

Code Henry

The first comprehensive legal code of the Kingdom of Haiti, promulgated by King Henry Christophe on February 20, 1812 — a sovereign act of juridical self-determination just eight years after the world's only successful slave revolution produced an independent nation. This digital edition presents the complete Code in 3,004 articles spanning 8 laws and 67 titres — from the Loi Civile's 1,535 articles on personhood, marriage, property, and succession, to the Loi sur la Procédure Criminelle's 421 articles on investigation, confrontation, and royal clemency. Every article has been hand-extracted from 19th-century OCR, corrected, translated into English, and annotated with plain-language life lessons and scholarly notes. Browse in French, English, or Kreyòl Ayisyen. 3,004 articles · 8 laws · 3 languages · 213 years restored

3,004 articles in the Code Henry

×
38
Article 38 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Ajournemens
Civil Procedure
All service is made in person or at domicile; and if the bailiff finds at the domicile neither the party nor any relatives or servants,...
Read more ▾

All service is made in person or at domicile; and if the bailiff finds at the domicile neither the party nor any relatives or servants, he shall deliver the copy to a nearby neighbor and note this on the original and copy.

×
39
Article 39 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Ajournemens
Civil Procedure
The ordinary summons delay is eight days for those domiciled in the town and suburbs, and up to five leagues from the seneschal's court; beyond...
Read more ▾

The ordinary summons delay is eight days for those domiciled in the town and suburbs, and up to five leagues from the seneschal's court; beyond that distance, one additional day per five leagues. However, the seneschal may shorten these delays for urgent cases by ordering brief-delay service. Summons delays for absentees and foreigners shall be two months for Caribbean islands, three months for the North American continent, and six months for Europe. These delays are doubled in wartime. Service shall be at the attorney general's domicile if said absentees or foreigners have no known or elected domicile.

×
40
Article 40 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
The defendant's appointment of attorney must be made within the summons delay, by a simple act served from attorney to attorney. Neither plaintiff nor defendant...
Read more ▾

The defendant's appointment of attorney must be made within the summons delay, by a simple act served from attorney to attorney. Neither plaintiff nor defendant may revoke their attorneys without simultaneously appointing another. For if the revoked attorney is not replaced, the proceedings conducted and judgments obtained against him shall be valid.

×
41
Article 41 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
On the day urgent claims are due, the defendant may present his attorney at the hearing; he shall be given formal acknowledgment of the appointment;...
Read more ▾

On the day urgent claims are due, the defendant may present his attorney at the hearing; he shall be given formal acknowledgment of the appointment; this judgment is not executed, but the attorney must, within the day, reiterate his appointment by attorney-to-attorney service; failing which, the judgment shall be executed and served at his expense.

×
42
Article 42 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
The defendant's defense, signed by the attorney, must be served within fifteen days of the appointment, and must contain an offer to communicate the supporting...
Read more ▾

The defendant's defense, signed by the attorney, must be served within fifteen days of the appointment, and must contain an offer to communicate the supporting documents, either through the clerk's office or amicably, from attorney to attorney.

×
43
Article 43 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
The plaintiff must serve his reply to the defense within the following week.
Read more ▾

The plaintiff must serve his reply to the defense within the following week.

×
44
Article 44 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
If the defendant has not provided his defense within the fifteen-day period, the plaintiff pursues the hearing by a simple attorney-to-attorney act.
Read more ▾

If the defendant has not provided his defense within the fifteen-day period, the plaintiff pursues the hearing by a simple attorney-to-attorney act.

×
45
Article 45 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
Once the plaintiff's reply deadline has expired, the most diligent party pursues the hearing by simple attorney-to-attorney act; the plaintiff may even pursue after defense...
Read more ▾

Once the plaintiff's reply deadline has expired, the most diligent party pursues the hearing by simple attorney-to-attorney act; the plaintiff may even pursue after defense service without replying.

×
46
Article 46 Law on Civil Procedure · Constitution de Procureur, et Défenses
Civil Procedure
No other writings or services shall be included in the cost assessment; and in all cases where the hearing may be pursued by attorney-to-attorney act,...
Read more ▾

No other writings or services shall be included in the cost assessment; and in all cases where the hearing may be pursued by attorney-to-attorney act, only one such act per party shall be included in the assessment.

×
47
Article 47 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Communication au Ministère public
Civil Procedure
The following cases shall be communicated to the king's prosecutor: 1° Those concerning public order, state properties, communes, and public establishments; 2° Those concerning personal...
Read more ▾

The following cases shall be communicated to the king's prosecutor: 1° Those concerning public order, state properties, communes, and public establishments; 2° Those concerning personal status and guardianships; 3° Declarations of incompetence; 4° Judicial regulations, recusals, and referrals for kinship; 5° Actions against judges; 6° Those of unauthorized wives, minors, and parties defended by a curator; 7° Cases involving a presumed absentee. In all other cases, the prosecutor may request communication if he deems his ministry necessary, and judges may order it ex officio.

×
48
Article 48 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
Assisted by their attorneys, the parties may defend themselves; however, if they do so with passion, inexperience, or indecency, the judges may prohibit them from...
Read more ▾

Assisted by their attorneys, the parties may defend themselves; however, if they do so with passion, inexperience, or indecency, the judges may prohibit them from doing so.

×
49
Article 49 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
Sitting judges, the attorney general, king's prosecutors, and their substitutes, even in courts other than those where they serve, may not be charged with defending...
Read more ▾

Sitting judges, the attorney general, king's prosecutors, and their substitutes, even in courts other than those where they serve, may not be charged with defending parties, either orally, in writing, or as consultants; but they may defend their own personal causes, those of their wives, direct-line relatives, and their wards.

×
50
Article 50 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
Hearings are public, except where the law orders them secret. Judges may nevertheless order closed-door hearings if public proceedings would cause scandal or serious harm;...
Read more ▾

Hearings are public, except where the law orders them secret. Judges may nevertheless order closed-door hearings if public proceedings would cause scandal or serious harm; but in that case, they deliberate and report to the king's prosecutor, or attorney general at the appellate court; and if pending in an appellate court, to the minister of justice.

×
51
Article 51 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
Those attending hearings shall remain uncovered, with respect and silence; everything ordered by the president for maintaining order shall be promptly and immediately executed. The...
Read more ▾

Those attending hearings shall remain uncovered, with respect and silence; everything ordered by the president for maintaining order shall be promptly and immediately executed. The same applies wherever judges or prosecutors exercise their official functions.

×
52
Article 52 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
If any individuals interrupt the silence, show signs of approval or disapproval, cause or incite tumult, and after the bailiffs' warning do not immediately restore...
Read more ▾

If any individuals interrupt the silence, show signs of approval or disapproval, cause or incite tumult, and after the bailiffs' warning do not immediately restore order, they shall be ordered to leave, and resisters shall be seized and placed in the king's custody for twenty-four hours, by order of the president, who shall note it on the hearing record.

×
53
Article 53 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Audiences, de leur Publicité et de leur Police
Civil Procedure
Those who insult or threaten judges or officers of justice in the exercise of their functions shall be immediately seized and placed in the king's...
Read more ▾

Those who insult or threaten judges or officers of justice in the exercise of their functions shall be immediately seized and placed in the king's custody, by order of the presiding judge or prosecutor, to be tried as the offense requires.

×
54
Article 54 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Délibérés et Instructions par écrit
Civil Procedure
If it is necessary for the judges to deliberate on the case before them, they order the documents placed on the bench and indicate the...
Read more ▾

If it is necessary for the judges to deliberate on the case before them, they order the documents placed on the bench and indicate the day when the report shall be made by the judge appointed in the same judgment.

×
55
Article 55 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Délibérés et Instructions par écrit
Civil Procedure
The judgment ordering deliberation shall be executed without needing to be formally issued; if one party does not submit its documents, the case is judged...
Read more ▾

The judgment ordering deliberation shall be executed without needing to be formally issued; if one party does not submit its documents, the case is judged on the other's.

×
56
Article 56 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Délibérés et Instructions par écrit
Civil Procedure
The judges may order the case to be conducted in writing if they do not believe it suitable for oral argument or deliberation; in that...
Read more ▾

The judges may order the case to be conducted in writing if they do not believe it suitable for oral argument or deliberation; in that case, the report is made by the judge appointed in the judgment.

×
57
Article 57 Law on Civil Procedure · Des Délibérés et Instructions par écrit
Civil Procedure
The brief containing the plaintiff's defense arguments and list of supporting documents shall be served within fifteen days of the judgment's service; and twenty-four hours...
Read more ▾

The brief containing the plaintiff's defense arguments and list of supporting documents shall be served within fifteen days of the judgment's service; and twenty-four hours later, the plaintiff must file at the clerk's office and serve the filing notice.

1 … 77 78 79 80 81 … 151