Legal Definitions - civil obligation

Definition: A legal or moral duty to do or not do something, which may be imposed by law, contract, promise, social relations, courtesy, kindness, or morality. It can also refer to a formal, binding agreement or acknowledgment of a liability to pay a certain amount or to do a certain thing for a particular person or set of persons.

Examples: A person who signs a contract to pay rent for an apartment has a civil obligation to pay the agreed-upon amount each month. Similarly, a person who borrows money from a bank has a civil obligation to repay the loan according to the terms of the agreement. In both cases, failure to fulfill the obligation can result in legal consequences.

These examples illustrate how civil obligations are created through agreements between parties and are legally enforceable. They demonstrate the importance of fulfilling one's obligations to avoid negative consequences.