1 Lorsque des choses appartenant à divers propriétaires ont été mélangées ou unies de telle sorte qu’il n’est plus possible de les séparer sans détérioration notable, ou qu’au prix d’un travail et de frais excessifs, les intéressés deviennent copropriétaires de la chose nouvelle en raison de la valeur qu’avaient ses parties au moment du mélange ou de l’adjonction.
2 Si, dans le mélange ou l’union de deux choses, l’une ne peut être considérée que comme l’accessoire de l’autre, la chose nouvelle est acquise au propriétaire de la partie principale.
3 Demeurent réservées les actions en dommages-intérêts et celles qui dérivent de l’enrichissement.
1 If a person has possessed a chattel belonging to another person uninterruptedly and without challenge for five years believing in good faith that he or she owns it, he or she becomes its owner by adverse possession.
1bis In the case of animals kept as pets rather than for investment or commercial purposes, the period is two months.599
1ter Subject to exceptions prescribed by law, the time limit for adverse possession in the case of objects of cultural heritage within the meaning of Art. 2 para. 1 of the Cultural Property Transfer Act of 20 June 2003600 is 30 years.601
2 Involuntary loss of possession does not interrupt adverse possession provided the possessor regains the chattel within one year or by means of legal action brought within the same time limit.
3 The computation, interruption and suspension of adverse possession time limits are governed mutatis mutandis by the provisions on the prescription of debts.
599 Inserted by No I of the FA of 4 Oct. 2002 (Article of Basic Principles: Animals), in force since 1 April 2003 (AS 2003 463; BBl 2002 4164 5806).
601 Inserted by Art. 32 No 1 of the Cultural Property Transfer Act of 20 June 2003, in force since 1 June 2005 (AS 2005 1869; BBl 2002 535).
Ceci n’est pas une publication officielle. Seule la publication opérée par la Chancellerie fédérale fait foi. Ordonnance sur les publications officielles, OPubl.
This document is not an official publication. Only the publication of the Federal Chancellery is legally binding.