Chapter I: Bills of exchange

I. – The bill of exchange contains: 1° The name of the bill of exchange inserted in the actual text of the instrument and expressed in the language used for the drafting of that instrument; 2° The pure and simple mandate to pay a specified sum; 3° The name of the person who must pay, referred to as the drawee; 4° The indication of the due date ; 5° That…

The bill of exchange may be to the order of the drawer himself. It may be drawn on the drawer himself. It may be drawn on behalf of a third party. It may be payable at the domicile of a third party, either in the locality where the drawee has his domicile or in another locality.

In a bill of exchange payable at sight or within a certain period of sight, it may be stipulated by the drawer that the sum will bear interest. In any other bill of exchange, this stipulation is deemed to be unwritten. The rate of interest must be stated in the bill; if it is not stated, the clause is deemed to be unwritten. Interest accrues from the date of the…

A bill of exchange the amount of which is written both in words and in figures shall, in the event of a difference, be worth the sum written in words. A bill of exchange the amount of which is written several times, either in words or in figures, shall, in the event of a difference, be worth only the lesser sum.

Bills of exchange subscribed by minors are void as regards them, save for the respective rights of the parties, in accordance with Article 1352-4 of the Civil Code. If the bill of exchange bears signatures of persons incapable of obligating themselves by bill of exchange, false signatures or signatures of imaginary persons or signatures which, for any other reason, cannot bind the persons who signed the bill of exchange, or…

The drawer is guarantor of acceptance and payment. He may exonerate himself from the guarantee of acceptance; any clause by which he exonerates himself from the guarantee of payment shall be deemed unwritten.