TITLE IX

LOAN

CHAPTER I

LOAN FOR USE

 

Section 640.- A loan for use is a contract whereby a person, called the lender, lets another prson, called the borrower, have gratuitously the use of a property, and the borrower agrees to return it after having made the use thereof.

 

Section 641.- A loan for use is complete only on delivery of the property lent.

 

Section 642.- Costs of the contract, costs of delivery of the property lent and costs of return are borne by the borrower.

 

Section 643.- If the borrower uses the property lent for purposes other than ordinary purposes or purposes appearing from the contract, or lets a third person have the use of it, or keeps it longer than he ought to, he is liable for any loss or damage to the property even caused by force majeure unless he proves that the loss or damage would have happened in any case.

 

Section 644.- The borrower is bound to take as much of the property lent as a person of ordinary prudence would take of his own property.

 

Section 645.- In any of the cases provided in Section 643, or if the borrower acts contrary to Section 644, the lender may terminate the contract.

 

Section 646.- If no time is fixed, the property shall be returned after the borrower has made the use of it for the purposes appearing from the contract. The lender may claim the return of the property earlier, if so much time has elapsed that the borrower might have made the use of it.

If no time is fixed and no purpose appears from the contract, the lender may claim the return at any time.

 

Section 647.- Expenses for ordinary maintenance of the property lent must be borne by the borrower.

 

Section 648.- A loan for use is extinguished by the death of the borrower.

 

Section 649.- No action for compensation in connection with a loan for use can be entered later than six months after the extinction of contract.