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PUISSANCE PATERNELLE

Categories: Criminal Law

Definition (1910 Edition)

Origin: French

Fr. Paternal power. In the French law, the male parent has the following rights over the person of his child: (1) If child is under sixteen years of age, he may procure him to be imprisoned for one month or under. (2) If child is over sixteen and under twentyone he may procure an imprisonmeut for six months or under, with power in each case to procure a second period of imprisonment. The female parent, being a widow, may, with the approval of the two nearest relations on the father’s side, do the like. The parent enjoys also the following rights over the property of his child, viz., a right to take the income until the child attains the age of eighteen years, subject to maintaining the child and educating him in a suitable manner. Brown.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition (1910) — Public Domain. UK commentary and modern updates are original additions. This entry is for educational reference only and does not constitute legal advice.