Legal Definitions - redemptio operis

redemptio operis

In civil law, redemptio operis refers to a contract where one party agrees to perform a specific task, labor, or service for another party, in exchange for an agreed-upon price. The essence of this contract is the commitment to complete a defined piece of work or deliver a particular service, rather than simply providing labor for an hourly wage or an indefinite period.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Home Renovation Project: A homeowner hires a general contractor to remodel their kitchen. The contract specifies the scope of work, including demolition, new cabinetry installation, countertop fitting, and appliance hook-up, all for a fixed total price. The contractor agrees to deliver a fully renovated kitchen according to the agreed plans.

  This is an example of redemptio operis because the contractor is committing to perform a specific "work" (the kitchen remodel) and deliver a completed project for a "specified price." The payment is tied to the successful completion of the entire renovation, not just the hours worked.

• Website Design and Development: A startup company contracts with a web design agency to create a new e-commerce website. The agreement outlines the website's features, design specifications, and a total cost for the completed, functional website. The agency is responsible for designing, building, and launching the site.

  This scenario illustrates redemptio operis as the web design agency is agreeing to perform a defined "service" (website design and development) and deliver a specific "work" (the functional e-commerce website) for a "specified price." Their compensation is for the delivery of the finished product, not merely for the time spent on the project.

• Legal Document Drafting: An individual engages a lawyer to draft a will and a power of attorney. The lawyer quotes a flat fee for preparing these specific legal documents, regardless of the exact number of hours it takes to complete them. The client expects to receive the finalized, legally sound documents.

  This is a clear instance of redemptio operis. The lawyer is undertaking to perform a specific "service" (drafting legal documents) and deliver a particular "work" (the completed will and power of attorney) for a "specified price." The focus is on the delivery of the final documents rather than an hourly billing for their time.