créancier

A créancier (creditor) is a person or legal entity that holds a claim against another person or entity, the débiteur (debtor), and is entitled to demand performance of an obligation, most commonly the payment of money. Claims arise from contracts, quasi-contracts, or legal obligations such as damages, restitution, or statutory duties. The creditor’s right becomes enforceable through civil procedure if the debtor fails to comply.

Creditors may be private individuals or organizations, and there are distinctions based on security and priority. Secured creditors have a lien on the debtor’s assets (for example by mortgage or pledge) and typically have priority in enforcement or liquidation. Unsecured creditors lack such collateral and are paid from remaining assets only after secured claims are satisfied.

In many jurisdictions, creditors are further categorized by priority: privileged or secured creditors enjoy a higher ranking than ordinary (unsecured) creditors; public authorities (tax and social contributions) often have special priority. Creditors may also be classified by the nature of their claims, and by the scope of the law that governs them, such as national versus cross-border arrangements.

When a debtor cannot meet obligations, the creditor may resort to formal demand and court actions. Enforcement tools include seizure (saisie), attachment, or sale of assets; in corporate contexts, insolvency procedures (sauvegarde, redressement judiciaire, liquidation judiciaire) determine debt repayment order and distribution among creditors.

The term créancier is central in French civil law and in many jurisdictions with similar concepts, describing the party to whom a legal obligation is owed.