Text of the provision
Art. 1156. An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do or not to do.
(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
An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do, or not to do. "Juridical necessity" means it is legally enforceable — if the debtor fails, the creditor may go to court to compel performance or recover damages. This single sentence opens the entire law on obligations and contracts.
Questions about this provision
Related provisions
- Article 1157 — Sources of Obligations.
Cases citing this article
- Camarines Sur Teachers and Employees Association, Inc., represented by its President, Dr. Antonio A, G.R. No. 199666, October 7, 2019 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Ong Yong, Juanita Tan Ong, et. al. vs. David S. Tiu, Cely Y Tiu, et. al, G.R. No. 144476, February 1, 2002 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Compiled automatically from Supreme Court decisions published on LawPhil that expressly cite this article, most frequently cited first. A listing means the decision cites the provision — it is not a statement that the case is the leading authority, and it does not show whether a ruling has since been modified or abandoned. Always read the decision itself.