Legal Definitions - fructus civiles

Fructus Civiles refers to the income or profits an owner receives from allowing another party to use their property or money.

This concept, originating in Roman and civil law, distinguishes between natural products of a thing (like crops from land) and the monetary benefits derived from a contractual agreement for its use. Essentially, it's the compensation paid for the temporary enjoyment or utilization of someone else's assets.

• Example 1: Rental Income from a Commercial Property

  A property developer owns a multi-story office building and leases several floors to different businesses. The monthly payments the developer receives from these tenant businesses are considered fructus civiles. This is because the income is generated by allowing other parties (the businesses) to use the developer's real property (the office space) in exchange for rent.

• Example 2: Interest Earned on a Personal Loan

  An individual lends a sum of money to a friend, agreeing on a repayment schedule that includes a small percentage of interest. The interest payments the individual receives from their friend are fructus civiles. This income arises from allowing another person to use their money for a period, with the interest serving as the compensation for that use.

• Example 3: Lease Payments for Specialized Equipment

  A film production company owns high-end camera equipment that it doesn't use constantly. It leases this equipment to smaller independent filmmakers for various projects. The fees the production company collects from these filmmakers for the temporary use of its cameras and accessories are fructus civiles. This income is derived from allowing others to utilize their tangible property (the equipment) for a specified duration.