Légals

Légals is a term used to refer to legally mandated public notices in some French-speaking jurisdictions. Derived from publicités légales, these notices are published to inform the public about official or legal actions affecting individuals, businesses, or government proceedings. The concept emphasizes transparency and public awareness, serving as a formal record of actions that may have legal consequences.

The scope of légals typically includes corporate actions such as the formation, dissolution, alteration of corporate structure, name changes, or changes in registered office or share capital. It also covers insolvency procedures, mergers or acquisitions, public tenders and auctions, and certain court or administrative actions. The exact types of notices and the thresholds that trigger publication vary by country and jurisdiction.

Publication is usually carried out in designated outlets, such as official gazettes or newspapers authorized by law. In many systems, publishing a légal notice is a prerequisite for the action to take full legal effect, or to protect rights of creditors, shareholders, or other interested parties. Fees for publication and the precise format of notices are typically regulated by statute or administrative rule.

Geographically, légals are most commonly encountered in France, Quebec, and other Francophone regions where the practice is established. In non-French-speaking contexts, analogous notices are generally referred to as public notices or statutory notices. While the term légals emphasizes the French legal tradition, the underlying purpose—public notice of legally significant actions—is common to many legal systems.