The Legal Implications of the Right to Retention: A Comparative Study of Creditor Protection in Civil Law Systems
Keywords:
Right of Retention; Creditor Protection; Comparative Law; Civil Law Systems; Obligations Law; Security Rights;
Abstract
This paper aims at explaining the concept of the right to retention as a legal device for the protection of creditors, as a tool for safeguarding creditors and ensuring payment security. Highlighted are its benefits in protecting creditor rights by comparing its utilization in frameworks such as the Algerian, French and Egyptian Civil Codes. The study explores the prerequisites for invoking this right. How it proves advantageous. Case studies, from sales, easements and deposits demonstrate applications of the right to retention to ensure payment and asset protection. The paper also discusses how the right to retention stacks up, against ways creditors protect themselves like mortgages and pledges by pointing out its simplicity and direct use but also mentioning its limitations well. Ultimately though when you compare these methods you see that while the right to retention has its perks it works best in situations where ownership of property is crucial, to the creditors case.
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References
References
Abdelwahab, A. A. (1994 ). The right to retention in Islamic jurisprudence and the Civil Code. Dar Al Nahda Al-Arabia, Cairo, Egypt.
Achachoua, K. A. (2002). Theory of the right to retention and civil insolvency proceedings. . Monchat Al Ma'arif El Iskandaria, Egypt.
Adhaher, A. (2012). The right to retention in the Palestinian draft Civil Code, comparative study with the Jordanian and Egyptian Codes.
Aissa, A. (2003). The right to retention in the Syrian Civil Code. Damascus University.
Alster, E. (2023). New preprint: The politics of rights retention. . doi: 10.59350/dxmjy-ssz95.
Arabidhi, A. G. (2008). Rights and obligations of the retaining creditor. Djarach for research and studies,. Jordan University, Vol. 13, No. 1, 132., Vol. 13, No. 1, 132.
Armour, J. (2019). The right of retention in modern commercial law: A comparative analysis. International Journal of Commercial Law, 15(3), 45-67.
Aynès, A. (2025). Le droit de rétention : unité ou pluralité.Retrieved from http://www.theses.fr/2005PA020002
Baudenbacher, C. (2020). Creditor protection mechanisms in civil law systems: Retention rights and security interests. . .European Review of Private Law, 28(4), 785-810.
Beale, H. B. (2018). Security interests and retention of title in comparative perspective. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 38(2), 298-325. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 38(2), 298-325.
Bjerre, C. S. (2020). Secured transactions: A systems approach. . University of Oregon School of Law. https://law.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/law%20bios%20files/Carl_S._Bjerre_secured_trans.pdf.
Boudriga, M. (2018). Boudriga, M. (2018). A Comparative Study of the Right to Retention in Algerian Civil Law. . University Press of Algiers.
Brown, L. (2020). Creditor protection in civil law systems: Retention rights and their limitations. International Review of Law, 15(3), 234-256.
Dauchez, P. (2021). Le droit de rétention en droit civil français: Évolution et perspectives. . Revue Trimestrielle de Droit Civil, 2021(2), 234-258. .
Davis, M. (2019). The evolution of retention rights in modern commercial law. Cambridge Law Journal, 78(2), 301-325.
Evans, S. (2022). Comparative creditor protection: Retention rights across jurisdictions. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 42(1), 145-170.
Fauvarque-Cosson, B. (2019). Comparative analysis of retention rights in French and German civil law. Revue Internationale de Droit Comparé, 71(3), 567-590.
Goode, R. (2020). The right of retention as a security device: Common law and civil law perspectives. Law Quarterly Review. Law Quarterly Review, 136(4), 612-638.
Hamad, S. R. (2020). Right to retention and its nature as a means of guarantee in Civil Code (comparative study).
Hamdane, A. (2022). The right of retention in Algerian civil law: A comparative study. Algerian Journal of Legal Sciences, 59(2), 123–145.
Komninos, N. (2021). Security interests and retention rights in Mediterranean legal systems. Mediterranean Journal of Law, 12(1), 78-102.
Larouche, P. (2018). Retention rights in international commercial transactions: A European perspective. European Business Law Review, 29(3), 401-428.
Leif, A. &. (2011). Pledges and Retention in Civil Obligations. Journal of Property Law, 12(2), 189–208. Journal of Property Law, 12(2), 189–208.
Patrick, D. (2009). The Legal Status of Retention Rights in Mortgage Law. Comparative Civil Law Review, 14(3), 270–288. Comparative Civil Law Review, 14(3), 270–288.
Pavićević, A. G. (2019). Right of retaining possession in Serbian Law and in the Draft Common Frame of Reference.Récupéré sur https://doi.org/10.5937/ZRPFNS53-23746
Populaire, R. A. (2007). Code civil algérien [Algerian Civil Code] (Law No. 58-75, amended). Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne.
Soultane, A. (1995). General theory of the pledge (Part I). Dar El Ma'arif El Iskandaria, Egypt.
Theo, S. (2023). Security Rights in Movable Assets: Reassessing the Retention Right in Modern Civil Law. Journal of Legal Theory, 16(2), 201–219.
Wilson, J. (2021). Security interests and retention mechanisms: A functional approach. Modern Law Review, 84(4), 756-782.
Abdelwahab, A. A. (1994 ). The right to retention in Islamic jurisprudence and the Civil Code. Dar Al Nahda Al-Arabia, Cairo, Egypt.
Achachoua, K. A. (2002). Theory of the right to retention and civil insolvency proceedings. . Monchat Al Ma'arif El Iskandaria, Egypt.
Adhaher, A. (2012). The right to retention in the Palestinian draft Civil Code, comparative study with the Jordanian and Egyptian Codes.
Aissa, A. (2003). The right to retention in the Syrian Civil Code. Damascus University.
Alster, E. (2023). New preprint: The politics of rights retention. . doi: 10.59350/dxmjy-ssz95.
Arabidhi, A. G. (2008). Rights and obligations of the retaining creditor. Djarach for research and studies,. Jordan University, Vol. 13, No. 1, 132., Vol. 13, No. 1, 132.
Armour, J. (2019). The right of retention in modern commercial law: A comparative analysis. International Journal of Commercial Law, 15(3), 45-67.
Aynès, A. (2025). Le droit de rétention : unité ou pluralité.Retrieved from http://www.theses.fr/2005PA020002
Baudenbacher, C. (2020). Creditor protection mechanisms in civil law systems: Retention rights and security interests. . .European Review of Private Law, 28(4), 785-810.
Beale, H. B. (2018). Security interests and retention of title in comparative perspective. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 38(2), 298-325. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 38(2), 298-325.
Bjerre, C. S. (2020). Secured transactions: A systems approach. . University of Oregon School of Law. https://law.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/law%20bios%20files/Carl_S._Bjerre_secured_trans.pdf.
Boudriga, M. (2018). Boudriga, M. (2018). A Comparative Study of the Right to Retention in Algerian Civil Law. . University Press of Algiers.
Brown, L. (2020). Creditor protection in civil law systems: Retention rights and their limitations. International Review of Law, 15(3), 234-256.
Dauchez, P. (2021). Le droit de rétention en droit civil français: Évolution et perspectives. . Revue Trimestrielle de Droit Civil, 2021(2), 234-258. .
Davis, M. (2019). The evolution of retention rights in modern commercial law. Cambridge Law Journal, 78(2), 301-325.
Evans, S. (2022). Comparative creditor protection: Retention rights across jurisdictions. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 42(1), 145-170.
Fauvarque-Cosson, B. (2019). Comparative analysis of retention rights in French and German civil law. Revue Internationale de Droit Comparé, 71(3), 567-590.
Goode, R. (2020). The right of retention as a security device: Common law and civil law perspectives. Law Quarterly Review. Law Quarterly Review, 136(4), 612-638.
Hamad, S. R. (2020). Right to retention and its nature as a means of guarantee in Civil Code (comparative study).
Hamdane, A. (2022). The right of retention in Algerian civil law: A comparative study. Algerian Journal of Legal Sciences, 59(2), 123–145.
Komninos, N. (2021). Security interests and retention rights in Mediterranean legal systems. Mediterranean Journal of Law, 12(1), 78-102.
Larouche, P. (2018). Retention rights in international commercial transactions: A European perspective. European Business Law Review, 29(3), 401-428.
Leif, A. &. (2011). Pledges and Retention in Civil Obligations. Journal of Property Law, 12(2), 189–208. Journal of Property Law, 12(2), 189–208.
Patrick, D. (2009). The Legal Status of Retention Rights in Mortgage Law. Comparative Civil Law Review, 14(3), 270–288. Comparative Civil Law Review, 14(3), 270–288.
Pavićević, A. G. (2019). Right of retaining possession in Serbian Law and in the Draft Common Frame of Reference.Récupéré sur https://doi.org/10.5937/ZRPFNS53-23746
Populaire, R. A. (2007). Code civil algérien [Algerian Civil Code] (Law No. 58-75, amended). Journal Officiel de la République Algérienne.
Soultane, A. (1995). General theory of the pledge (Part I). Dar El Ma'arif El Iskandaria, Egypt.
Theo, S. (2023). Security Rights in Movable Assets: Reassessing the Retention Right in Modern Civil Law. Journal of Legal Theory, 16(2), 201–219.
Wilson, J. (2021). Security interests and retention mechanisms: A functional approach. Modern Law Review, 84(4), 756-782.
Published
2025-12-27
How to Cite
kedjar , Z. H. (2025). The Legal Implications of the Right to Retention: A Comparative Study of Creditor Protection in Civil Law Systems . Journal of Science and Knowledge Horizons, 5(02), 337-364. https://doi.org/10.34118/jskp.v5i02.4449
Section
Articles
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