THE LEGAL CHARACTER OF THE SUBJECTIVE TIME LIMIT UNDER ARTICLE 515 OF THE LAW ON OBLIGATIONS: BETWEEN GOOD FAITH AND FORMALISM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51738/kpolisa.2026.1r.ddmkzrKeywords:
eviction, legal defect, contractual liability, preclusion, good faith and fair dealingAbstract
The legal nature of the subjective time limit set forth in Article 515 of the Law on Obligations of the Republic of Serbia, which regulates the buyer’s right in cases of eviction, raises a number of theoretical and practical issues. Although prevailing legal doctrine and case law regard this time limit as preclusive, such interpretation becomes problematic in situations where the seller was aware of a third party’s right and failed to disclose it. The paper particularly examines the limits of contractual exclusion of the seller’s liability, viewed through the lens of the principle of good faith and fair dealing. By analyzing relevant judicial decisions and comparative legal solutions in German, French, Anglo-American, and international commercial law (CISG), the study argues for a clearer legislative determination of the nature of the time limit under Article 515 and for the introduction of exceptions in cases of the seller’s bad faith. It concludes that such a reform would enhance legal certainty, safeguard contractual equilibrium, and align Serbian contract law with modern European standards.
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