Art. 3227 Execution of contracts

When someone dies before finishing a written contract they had agreed to, the deal doesn't automatically fall apart. The court can allow the person handling the deceased's estate (called the succession representative) to step in and complete the contract on the deceased person's behalf.

Before this can happen, the succession representative must first follow the steps laid out in Article 3229. This usually means giving proper notice and getting court approval, so that everyone involved, including creditors and heirs, has a chance to weigh in before the contract moves forward.

This rule matters because it protects contracts that were already in motion when someone passed away. For example, if the deceased had agreed to sell property or complete a service, the other party to that contract doesn't automatically lose their deal just because of the death. The estate can still carry out what was promised, as long as the court signs off on it first.