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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

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458
Article 458 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
Before the expiration of three days following the affixing of seals, whether affixed before or after burial, no lifting or inventory may proceed, under penalty...
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Before the expiration of three days following the affixing of seals, whether affixed before or after burial, no lifting or inventory may proceed, under penalty of nullity of the reports and inventories, and damages against those who made or requested them.

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459
Article 459 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
If there are unemancipated minor heirs, they shall be provided with a tutor or emancipated before proceeding to the lifting of seals.
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If there are unemancipated minor heirs, they shall be provided with a tutor or emancipated before proceeding to the lifting of seals.

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460
Article 460 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
The lifting of seals may be requested by all those entitled to have them affixed, except those of Article 448.
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The lifting of seals may be requested by all those entitled to have them affixed, except those of Article 448.

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461
Article 461 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
The following formalities shall be observed for the lifting of seals: 1. A requisition shall be made to the judge; 2. The judge by his...
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The following formalities shall be observed for the lifting of seals: 1. A requisition shall be made to the judge; 2. The judge by his order indicates the day and hour of the lifting; 3. A summons to attend shall be served on the surviving spouse, presumptive heirs, testamentary executor, universal and general legatees if known, and opponents; if the interested parties reside more than five leagues away, the king's prosecutor must be present, or a notary appointed by the seneschal shall be called for the absent parties.

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462
Article 462 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
Those named in the third paragraph of the preceding article may attend all sessions of the seal lifting and inventory, in person or by representative,...
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Those named in the third paragraph of the preceding article may attend all sessions of the seal lifting and inventory, in person or by representative, except opponents who may attend only the first session; for subsequent sessions, a single representative shall represent all of them; they shall name him, or one shall be appointed ex officio.

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463
Article 463 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
If the parties designated at the beginning of the above article cannot agree on the choice of one or two notaries, and one or three...
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If the parties designated at the beginning of the above article cannot agree on the choice of one or two notaries, and one or three experts to proceed with the inventory, they shall be appointed by the seneschal. The experts shall take their oath before the judge of the place where the inventory will be conducted.

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464
Article 464 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
The seal-lifting report shall contain: 1. The date; 2. The names, profession, residence, and election of domicile of the requester; 3. The order issued for...
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The seal-lifting report shall contain: 1. The date; 2. The names, profession, residence, and election of domicile of the requester; 3. The order issued for the lifting; 4. The summonses prescribed by Article 461; 5. The appearances and statements of the parties; 6. The appointment of notaries and experts; 7. The examination of the seals, whether they are intact or altered, with recourse for any alterations; 8. Requests for will searches, their results, and any other matters to be decided.

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465
Article 465 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
The seals shall be lifted only successively, as the inventory progresses, and at the end of each session they shall be re-affixed; objects of the...
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The seals shall be lifted only successively, as the inventory progresses, and at the end of each session they shall be re-affixed; objects of the same type are inventoried in succession.

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466
Article 466 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
Objects and papers unrelated to the succession, which are claimed by third parties, shall be returned to their owners; if they cannot be returned immediately,...
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Objects and papers unrelated to the succession, which are claimed by third parties, shall be returned to their owners; if they cannot be returned immediately, and a description is necessary, it shall be done summarily.

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467
Article 467 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Levée du Scellé
Civil Procedure
If the reason for the seal affixation ceases before they have been lifted, they shall be lifted without description.
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If the reason for the seal affixation ceases before they have been lifted, they shall be lifted without description.

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468
Article 468 Law on Civil Procedure · De l'Inventaire
Civil Procedure
Those entitled to request the lifting of seals may request the inventory; it must be made in the presence of: 1. The surviving spouse; 2....
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Those entitled to request the lifting of seals may request the inventory; it must be made in the presence of: 1. The surviving spouse; 2. The presumptive heirs; 3. The testamentary executor if the will is known; 4. The universal or general legatees, if they reside within five leagues; but if they reside beyond, the king's prosecutor, or in his absence, a notary appointed by the seneschal, shall represent all absent, summoned, and defaulting parties.

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469
Article 469 Law on Civil Procedure · De l'Inventaire
Civil Procedure
The inventory shall contain, besides the formalities required for notarial acts: 1. The names, professions, and residences of the requesters, attendees, defaulters, and absentees if...
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The inventory shall contain, besides the formalities required for notarial acts: 1. The names, professions, and residences of the requesters, attendees, defaulters, and absentees if known, of the prosecutor or notary representing them and the order appointing him, and the experts' identities; 2. The indication of the places where the inventory is conducted; 3. The description and valuation of effects at fair value without markup; 4. The designation of the quality, weight, and grade of silverware; 5. The designation of cash in coin; 6. Papers are numbered first and last and initialed by one of the notaries; the condition of commercial books and registers is noted, their pages numbered and initialed if not already, and blanks in written pages are struck through; 7. The declaration of active and passive titles; 8. At closing, the oath of those who had the objects in their possession or who lived in the house that they diverted nothing and saw nothing diverted; 9. If papers are to be remitted, note of the person to whom they will be entrusted.

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470
Article 470 Law on Civil Procedure · De l'Inventaire
Civil Procedure
If during the inventory any difficulties arise between the parties, the notaries shall send said parties to seek a summary ruling before the seneschal; the...
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If during the inventory any difficulties arise between the parties, the notaries shall send said parties to seek a summary ruling before the seneschal; the notaries themselves may refer the matter if they reside in the commune where the seneschal court sits; in that case only, the seneschal writes his order on the original of the report.

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471
Article 471 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
The forms prescribed in the chapter on Writs of Execution shall be followed for the sale of movables belonging to a succession, carried out in...
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The forms prescribed in the chapter on Writs of Execution shall be followed for the sale of movables belonging to a succession, carried out in execution of Article 461 of the Successions title of the Civil Law.

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472
Article 472 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
The sale shall be conducted by a notary or bailiff designated by the seneschal's order, issued upon the request of one of the interested parties.
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The sale shall be conducted by a notary or bailiff designated by the seneschal's order, issued upon the request of one of the interested parties.

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473
Article 473 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
Parties who reside or have elected domicile within five leagues shall be summoned to attend the sale, by act served at the elected domicile.
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Parties who reside or have elected domicile within five leagues shall be summoned to attend the sale, by act served at the elected domicile.

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474
Article 474 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
The seneschal shall rule provisionally by summary proceedings on any difficulties that may arise.
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The seneschal shall rule provisionally by summary proceedings on any difficulties that may arise.

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475
Article 475 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
Unless otherwise ordered, the sale must take place where the effects are located; the parties being present or absent, without summoning anyone to represent non-attendees;...
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Unless otherwise ordered, the sale must take place where the effects are located; the parties being present or absent, without summoning anyone to represent non-attendees; and note shall be made of the requester's presence or absence.

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476
Article 476 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente du Mobilier
Civil Procedure
When there is no interested third party in the succession, and the parties are adults, present, and in agreement, they shall not be required to...
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When there is no interested third party in the succession, and the parties are adults, present, and in agreement, they shall not be required to observe any of the above formalities.

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477
Article 477 Law on Civil Procedure · De la Vente des Biens immeubles
Civil Procedure
The sale of immovable property belonging to adults shall be made in whatever manner they agree upon. Partition sales, if any, shall be conducted according...
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The sale of immovable property belonging to adults shall be made in whatever manner they agree upon. Partition sales, if any, shall be conducted according to the rules prescribed in the chapter on Partitions and Auction Sales hereafter.