The Civil Code comprises a body of rules which, in all matters within the letter, spirit or object of its provisions, lays down the jus commune, expressly or by implication.

As the cornerstone of Quebec's legal system, the Civil Code is frequently amended in order to keep in step with the demands of modern society.

The Civil Code of Quebec comprises over 3,000 articles and is structured into major divisions and subdivisions called books, titles, chapters and subsections.

[10] The Civil Code Revision Office was established, headed by Thibaudeau Rinfret, a former Chief Justice of Canada.

The Office produced reports, held consultations, and presented a Draft Civil Code with commentaries to the Quebec National Assembly on 15 August 1977.

It did not come into force until 1 January 1994, as the necessary legislation to provide transitional rules determining what matters would be subject to the new Code was not passed until 1992.