Définition
Under French law, a legal person is a grouping with legal personality. Usually a legal person consists of a group of natural persons gathered to accomplish something in common. This group may also include individuals and legal entities. It may also consist of only one element.
Legal personality gives a legal person rights and duties; French law distinguishes:
- legal persons governed by public law: the State, local authorities, public institutions...
- legal persons governed by private law: the most common being private companies, civil companies, economic interest groups and associations. Some legal entities under private law are responsible for the management of a public service.