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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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101
Article 101 Civil Law · Des Enfans naturels
Family Law
When the birth record of a natural child does not express its recognition, an authentic act signed by the father may supplement this first title....
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When the birth record of a natural child does not express its recognition, an authentic act signed by the father may supplement this first title. Recognition made by the father, without the mother's acknowledgment, benefits the child only with respect to the father's property.

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102
Article 102 Civil Law · Des Enfans naturels
Family Law
A recognized natural child may exercise, in the succession of his fathers, only the rights determined in the title on Successions.
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A recognized natural child may exercise, in the succession of his fathers, only the rights determined in the title on Successions.

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103
Article 103 Civil Law · Des Enfans naturels
Judicial Procedure
Any person with an interest in contesting the recognition made by the father or by the mother, or the claim of the recognized child, shall...
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Any person with an interest in contesting the recognition made by the father or by the mother, or the claim of the recognized child, shall have the free right to do so.

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104
Article 104 Civil Law · Des Enfans naturels
Family Law
In no case may the search for paternity be permitted; but the search for maternity is admitted. The child, in the latter case, shall be...
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In no case may the search for paternity be permitted; but the search for maternity is admitted. The child, in the latter case, shall be required to produce proofs of identity; that is, that the child of whom his mother was delivered is precisely himself. Testimonial proof may only be admitted where there already exists in his favor a beginning of written proof.

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105
Article 105 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
To be able to adopt, one must be over fifty years of age, have at least fifteen years more than the individuals one adopts, and...
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To be able to adopt, one must be over fifty years of age, have at least fifteen years more than the individuals one adopts, and be without legitimate children or descendants; however, no nobles, under any pretexts or for any reasons whatsoever, may adopt any individual without the express permission of the king.

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106
Article 106 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
Adoption by multiple persons is valid only in the case where it is made by two spouses.
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Adoption by multiple persons is valid only in the case where it is made by two spouses.

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107
Article 107 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
The official guardian who has no legitimate children, after five full years of guardianship, may adopt his ward by testamentary act, without even the consent...
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The official guardian who has no legitimate children, after five full years of guardianship, may adopt his ward by testamentary act, without even the consent of his spouse.

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108
Article 108 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
To legally adopt, it is required that, during the minority of the person being adopted, and for a period of at least six years, one...
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To legally adopt, it is required that, during the minority of the person being adopted, and for a period of at least six years, one has provided an uninterrupted series of aid and care; or it is required that the adopted person saved the life of his benefactor, whether in the hazards of war or by preserving him from any sinister event or the result of any force majeure. In the latter case, it suffices that the benefactor has reached the age of majority; that he has no legitimate children or descendants; that the adopted person is younger than the adopter; and that the adoption, if the benefactor is married, is approved by his spouse.

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109
Article 109 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
To be eligible to enjoy the benefits of adoption, one must be of legal age, and one is always required, in this case, to seek...
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To be eligible to enjoy the benefits of adoption, one must be of legal age, and one is always required, in this case, to seek the counsel of one's father and mother.

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110
Article 110 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
By the fact of adoption, the name of the adopter is conferred upon the adopted, by adding it to the latter's own name.
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By the fact of adoption, the name of the adopter is conferred upon the adopted, by adding it to the latter's own name.

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111
Article 111 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
The adopted person always remains part of his natural family and loses none of the rights therein; but marriage is forbidden between the adopter, the...
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The adopted person always remains part of his natural family and loses none of the rights therein; but marriage is forbidden between the adopter, the adopted, and the latter's descendants; between the adoptive children of the same person; between the adopted and any children that may be born to the adopter; between the adopter and the spouse of the adopted; and consequently, reciprocally, between the adopted and the spouse of the adopter.

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112
Article 112 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
Just as fathers and mothers are obliged to feed, maintain, and raise their children, so the adopter shall be required to provide the adopted with...
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Just as fathers and mothers are obliged to feed, maintain, and raise their children, so the adopter shall be required to provide the adopted with all the care that characterizes parenthood; and just as the child owes sustenance to his father and mother, proportional to his fortune and their need, so too the adopted must fulfill all the duties of filial piety toward the adopter who falls into misfortune.

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113
Article 113 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
The status of adopted person confers no right of succession over the property of the adopter's relatives; but the adopted shall exercise, in the succession...
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The status of adopted person confers no right of succession over the property of the adopter's relatives; but the adopted shall exercise, in the succession of the adopter, the same rights as those belonging to children born in marriage, with whom he inherits concurrently and in equal shares, if any such children exist, born since the adoption.

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114
Article 114 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
All things given by the adopter or collected from the succession by the adopted, which still exist in kind at the time of the latter's...
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All things given by the adopter or collected from the succession by the adopted, which still exist in kind at the time of the latter's death without legitimate descendants, shall return to the adopter or his descendants, without prejudice to the payment of debts or the rights of any parties; it being understood that only the children or grandchildren of the adopter may claim the objects specified in this article; in their absence, they shall belong by right to the adopted's own relatives, and shall devolve to them with the remainder of his property.

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115
Article 115 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Family Law
If the children or descendants of the adopted person should, after the latter's death, die without issue, the surviving adopter shall succeed to all objects...
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If the children or descendants of the adopted person should, after the latter's death, die without issue, the surviving adopter shall succeed to all objects given by him; but this right, in favor of the adopter, shall expire with his person; and his heirs, even in the descending line, may not claim a right that could not be transmitted to them.

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116
Article 116 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Civil Administration
The act in which the respective consents of the person adopting and the person being adopted shall be recorded, shall be executed before the lieutenant...
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The act in which the respective consents of the person adopting and the person being adopted shall be recorded, shall be executed before the lieutenant judge of the adopter's domicile.

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117
Article 117 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Civil Procedure
The most diligent party shall deliver, within the ten following days, a copy of this act to the king's prosecutor of the seneschalsy in whose...
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The most diligent party shall deliver, within the ten following days, a copy of this act to the king's prosecutor of the seneschalsy in whose jurisdiction the adopter's domicile is located, so that its homologation may be submitted to that court.

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118
Article 118 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Judicial Procedure
The seneschalsy, after having assured itself that the adopter and the adopted meet all the qualities and conditions required by law, shall pronounce in these...
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The seneschalsy, after having assured itself that the adopter and the adopted meet all the qualities and conditions required by law, shall pronounce in these words, without further statement of reasons: there are grounds, or there are no grounds for the adoption.

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119
Article 119 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Judicial Procedure
One month after the homologation judgment, the most diligent party shall submit it to the superior court, which shall proceed in the same forms as...
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One month after the homologation judgment, the most diligent party shall submit it to the superior court, which shall proceed in the same forms as the seneschalsy, and pronounce as follows: the judgment is confirmed, or the judgment is reformed, and consequently, there are grounds, or there are no grounds for the adoption.

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120
Article 120 Civil Law · De l'Adoption
Civil Administration
Any judgment of a superior court confirming an adoption shall be pronounced at a public hearing, and posted in such places and in such number...
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Any judgment of a superior court confirming an adoption shall be pronounced at a public hearing, and posted in such places and in such number of copies as the court shall deem appropriate.

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