Legal Definitions - natural obligation

A natural obligation is a moral duty that is not legally enforceable. It is a duty that a person feels they should do, but there is no legal requirement to do it. For example, if a person borrows money from a friend and promises to pay it back, but there is no written agreement, it is a natural obligation. The friend cannot take legal action to force the person to pay it back, but the person may feel a moral obligation to do so.

Another example of a natural obligation is when a person voluntarily pays for medical treatment for someone who cannot afford it. There is no legal obligation to pay for the treatment, but the person may feel a moral obligation to help.

It is important to note that something that has been performed under a natural obligation may not be reclaimed. For example, if a person voluntarily pays for someone's medical treatment, they cannot later reclaim the payments voluntarily made.