Juridical person facts for kids
A juridical person is like a group or organization that the law treats as if it were a single person. Think of it as an "artificial person." This means it can have its own rights and responsibilities, separate from the people who are part of it.
For example, a company, a government agency, or even a big group like the United Nations can be a juridical person. They can own property, sign contracts, and even be sued, just like an individual person can. The idea is that the group itself, not just its members, has a legal identity.
This concept has been around for a very long time. Even in ancient Roman law, groups like cities and associations were treated as distinct entities. They could act as a single unit in legal matters.
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What is a Juridical Person?
A juridical person is an organization that the law recognizes as having its own legal personality. This means it can do many things a natural person can do, such as:
- Own property.
- Enter into agreements or contracts.
- Sue others in court.
- Be sued by others.
- Have its own duties and obligations.
The key idea is that the organization's actions and responsibilities are separate from the individual people who work for it or own it. For instance, if a company signs a contract, it's the company (the juridical person) that is responsible, not necessarily the individual manager who signed the paper.
Examples of Juridical Persons
Many different types of organizations are considered juridical persons. Here are some common examples:
- Corporations: These are businesses that are legally separate from their owners.
- Government Agencies: Departments or offices within a government, like a city council or a national park service.
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Groups that work for a cause, like charities or environmental protection groups.
- International Organizations: Groups formed by multiple countries, such as the United Nations or the Red Cross.
These groups are given legal standing so they can operate smoothly and be held accountable for their actions.
Juridical Persons Around the World
The idea of a juridical person is common in legal systems worldwide, but the specific rules can differ.
Brazil's Legal View
In Brazilian law, a juridical person (called "pessoa jurídica" in Portuguese) is an entity with its own rights and duties. To become a juridical person, an organization needs to register officially. This registration involves creating a "Constitutional Document" that outlines its purpose and structure. The specific rules depend on the type of organization and local laws.
Germany's Basic Law
The German Constitution states that fundamental rights also apply to "artificial persons" (another term for juridical persons). This means that organizations in Germany can also have basic rights, like freedom of speech or property rights, as long as those rights make sense for an organization.
Italy's Trade Unions
In Italy, trade unions (groups that represent workers) are recognized as juridical persons. This is stated in the Italian Constitution. Because they are juridical persons, these unions can sign important agreements about work conditions that apply to all workers in that field. This gives them significant power to protect workers' rights.
See also
- Corporate personality
- Corporate personhood
- Legal person
- Person
- Person (Catholic canon law) § Juridic persons
