According to Maria Helena Diniz, an individual or natural person "is the human being considered as a subject of rights and obligations".
A corporation or non-governmental organization can, however, file a lawsuit or own property as a legal person.
According to section 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB), a person acquires legal capacity on completion of their birth.
[5]: § 1923 (2) The question of whether a fetus may have legal capacity as well has been left open by the Federal Court of Justice, although there are indications of a positive response.
[6] The German Civil Code grants the fetus, which does not have full legal capacity, essential rights, which are subject to the condition of subsequent live birth.