Text of the provision
Art. 1423. Obligations are civil or natural. Civil obligations give a right of action to compel their performance. Natural obligations, not being based on positive law but on equity and natural law, do not grant a right of action to enforce their performance, but after voluntary fulfillment by the obligor, they authorize the retention of what has been delivered or rendered by reason thereof. Some natural obligations are set forth in the following articles.
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
Obligations are civil (giving a right of action to compel performance) or natural. Natural obligations, based on equity and natural law, give no right of action — but after voluntary fulfillment, they authorize retention of what was paid or rendered.
Related provisions
- Article 1421 — Illegality and Third Persons.
- Article 1424 — Performance After Prescription.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.