Glossary
Good faith
bona fides
civil-law
An obligation to act honestly and with due regard to the other party's legitimate interests.
In more detail
Civil-law systems impose a general duty of good faith in negotiation and performance, exemplified by §242 of the German Civil Code. Common-law systems traditionally reject a general duty, recognising it only in specific relationships or through implied terms, though the gap has narrowed.
Related terms
- estoppel
- force-majeure
See how this applies to you
Definitions are general. How a term operates depends on the jurisdiction you are in.