Saturday, December 15, 2012

Definition of Deposit


Definition of DEPOSIT

A deposit is constituted from the moment a person receives a thing belong to another, with the obligation of safely keeping it and of returning the same.  If the safekeeping of the thing delivered is not the principal purpose of the contract, there is no deposit but some other contract.

NOTE:  it is essential that the depository is not the owner of the thing deposited

What are the Characteristics of Deposit? 
1.   real  -  because it is perfected only by the delivery of the subject matter BUT an agreement to constitute a deposit is binding and enforceable, since it is merely consensual

2.   unilateral  -  if gratuitous

3.   bilateral  -  if with compensation

What are the distinctions between deposit, mutuum and commodatum?

Deposit
Mutuum
Commodatum
Principal purpose is safekeeping or mere custody

Principal purpose is consumption
Principal purpose is transfer of use
Can demand return of the subject matter at will
Lender must wait until expiration of period granted to debtor
May demand return at will (PRECARIUM) or only after the expiration of the period or accomplishment of the use of the thing subject to exceptions

Both movable and immovable may be the object

But in extrajudicial deposit, only s movable (corporeal) thing may be the object
Only money and any other fungible thing may be the object
Both movable and immovable may be the object

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