The Quebec Government (Civil Code of Quebec) refers to the governmental body responsible for enacting, maintaining, and overseeing the application of the Civil Code of Quebec (CCQ). The Civil Code is the fundamental legal document that governs private law within the province of Quebec, Canada. It regulates relationships between individuals and entities, including matters of property, contracts, obligations, family, and succession.
The Civil Code of Quebec is distinct from the legal framework used in the rest of Canada because Quebec follows a civil law system, inherited from the French legal tradition, rather than the common law system. The Government of Quebec, specifically the Ministry of Justice (Ministère de la Justice du Québec), is tasked with administering and enforcing the Civil Code to ensure its applicability in all civil matters within the province (Official Website).
The Civil Code provides a detailed and comprehensive legal framework for nearly every aspect of private life in Quebec. It was initially introduced in 1866 as a replacement for the Custom of Paris and has since undergone significant revisions, with the latest version coming into force on January 1, 1994. The current Civil Code consists of ten books, each covering different areas of civil law, and aims to offer clarity, predictability, and consistency in legal matters involving Quebec residents and businesses.
