ABSTRACT

The Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) of 18 August 1896 came into force on 1 January 1900.2

The BGB is the most important source (Quelle) of private law in Germany. It consists of 2,385 paragraphs divided into five Books:3

Book I: Allgemeiner Teil (general part), §§ 1-240 Book II: Schuldrecht (law of obligations), §§ 241-853 Book III: Sachenrecht (law of property), §§ 854-1296 Book IV: Familienrecht (family law), §§ 1297-1921 Book V: Erbrecht (law of succession), §§ 1922-2385.