Text of the provision
Art. 11. Customs which are contrary to law, public order or public policy shall not be countenanced.
(n)
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings.
What this article means
Custom can have legal force only within limits. A custom that conflicts with law, public order, or public policy is void and the courts will not enforce it. Long-standing practice cannot legitimize what the law forbids — the law prevails over usage.
Questions about this provision
Related provisions
- Article 12 — a custom must be proved as a fact.
- Article 7 — disuse or custom does not excuse violating a law.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.
Note. The text of the provision above is reproduced in full from the official enactment (Republic Act No. 386), verified against the LawPhil and ChanRobles renderings. The annotation and commentary around it are the work of Vivas & Nobles Law Office and are general legal information, not legal advice. How a provision applies to a particular situation depends on facts that only a lawyer reviewing your case can assess.