Bonus pater familias


In Roman law, the term bonus pater familias refers to a standard of care, analogous to that of the reasonable man in the common law.

Modern rules

Spain

In Spanish law, the term used is a direct translation, and used in the Spanish Código Civil. It is also used in Latin American countries.

Portugal

In Portuguese law the term is also mentioned in the Civil Code, in its direct translation.

Italy

In Italian law, the term is used in a direct translation.

France and Canada

Similar is the French language expression bon père de famille, used in a sense similar to "reasonably cautious person." For example, in the case of Fales v. Canada Permanent Trust Co., 2 SCR 302, at p. 315, the Supreme Court of Canada described the standard of care and diligence expected of the manager of a trust as being "ceux qu’un bon père de famille apporte à l’administration de ses propres affaires". In the English version of the decision, this concept was translated as "that of a man of ordinary prudence in managing his own affairs."