Definition

Duty to disclose (contract law) (Ro.:obligaţie de informare, Fr.: obligation d’information/ de renseignement, n.f., Gr.: υποχρέωση ενημέρωσης, Cz.: informační povinnost) (See also: good faith, representation) = an obligation incumbent upon each party of a contract to inform the other party of any material fact, or relating circumstance, during contractual negotiations, by virtue of the principle of good faith. 

The duty to disclose is mandatory in insurance contracts, in fiduciary agreements, and if a statutory duty to disclose exists, in order to prevent misrepresentation. 

 

Useful links

Legislation

http://legeaz.net/noul-cod-civil/art-2100-obligatia-de-informare-contractul-de-intermediere - Romanian Civil Code, Art. 2100, Romania [Romanian]

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/4/contents/enacted/data.htm - Insurance Act 2015, Part 2.3, The duty of fair presentation, UK [English]

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ica1984220/ - Insurance Contracts Act 1984, Part IV, Australia [English]

Article 519 of the Greek Civil Code [Greek]

Organisations and associations

http://www.lawhandbook.org.au/handbook/ch23s01s06.php#Ch1315Se261499 – Duty of disclosure, The Law Handbook (Australia)

Online Publications

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/contract/files/expert_groups/report_on_section_3_final_en.pdf - Samothrakis, Yannis, Differences in Insurance Contract Laws and Existing EU Legal Framework. Insurance Contract Law – General Part 1, europa.eu

http://www.juridicainternational.eu/?id=12727 – Beale, Hugh, Pre-contractual Obligations: The General Contract Law Background, Juridica International

http://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1354&context=californialawreview – Eisenberg, Melvin A., 2003, Disclosure in Contract Law, California Law Review

http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1289&context=facpub – Zeiler, Kathryn, 2005, Common-Law Disclosure Duties and the Sin of Omission: Testing the Meta-Theories, Georgetown University Law Center

http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1286&context=faculty_scholarship – DeMott, Deborah A., Do you have the right to remain silent?: duties of disclosure in business transactions, Duke Law

Publications

Cockburn, Tina, Wiseman, Leanne, 1996, Disclosure Obligations in Business Relationships, NSW, The Federation Press

Marsh, S.B., Soulsby, J., 2002, Business Law, 8th edition, UK, Nelson Thornes Ltd., p. 131

Ole Lando, Commission on European Contract Law, 2000, Principles of European Contract Law, Part 12, The Hague, Kluwer Law International, p. 256

 

By Oana Gligan