Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine Explained Simply: What the Article Regulates

Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine (CCU) regulates the term of the contract—that is, the period during which the parties may exercise their rights and must fulfill the obligations stipulated by the contract. A simple example: a person rents an apartment for one year. During this year, the landlord must provide the housing for use, and the tenant must timely pay the rent and fulfill other agreed conditions.

As of October 20, 2026, the Civil Code of Ukraine is effective in the version dated August 5, 2026. The official text is posted in the legislative database of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

What Exactly Does Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine Establish?

The article contains four main rules. These precisely define when the contract comes into effect, how long it lasts, and what happens after the term ends.

1. The contract term is the period during which the parties may exercise rights and fulfill obligations under the contract.
2. The contract takes effect from the moment of its conclusion, unless otherwise provided by law or the contract itself.
3. The parties may agree that the terms of the contract apply to relations that actually arose between them before the contract was concluded.
4. The expiration of the contract term does not relieve a party from liability for violations committed during its validity.

For an ordinary person, the last rule is key. If debt or another violation occurred while the contract was in force, the simple expiration date does not “reset” the liability.

When Does the Contract Take Effect?

As a general rule, Article 631 of the CCU states the contract takes effect when it is concluded. At the same time, part 2 of Article 631 explicitly allows another option if established by law or the contract itself.

For example, the parties may write: “This contract takes effect from November 1, 2026.” If the document was signed on October 20 but its conditions provide for a different start date, the agreed wording and legal requirements for that specific contract type must be considered.

This has practical significance for:

• rental of housing or other property;
• provision of services;
• performance of work;
• delivery and sales;
• loans and other civil contracts;

Therefore, before signing a document, it is worth separately checking two points—the date of conclusion and the effective date. They may coincide, but not necessarily.

Part 3 of Art. 631 CCU: What Does the Contract’s Effect on Prior Relations Mean?

Part 3 of Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine is often searched regarding the question of a contract “retroactively.” In fact, this provision does not mean that parties can simply put a false date of signing in the document.

The meaning is different. The parties sign the contract today but agree to apply its terms to relations that actually existed earlier.

For example, the property was used from September 1, but the written contract was concluded on October 1. The contract can stipulate that its terms apply to the relations between the parties from September 1.

Application of Part 3 Art. 631 CCU in Court Practice

There is an important limitation. The Supreme Court, in case № 910/21671/17, explained that part 3 of article 631 does not allow parties to retroactively modify relations already regulated and fulfilled by means of a new contract or additional agreement.

Therefore, application of part 3 of Art. 631 CCU should be evaluated based on the actual circumstances. Simply stating the contract extends to the past period is not always enough to change already performed obligations.

Article 631 in a Contract: Sample Wording

The phrase “Article 631 in a contract sample” frequently comes up in practical queries. In a standard civil contract, the corresponding clause might look like this:

“This contract takes effect from the moment of its signing by the parties and is valid until December 31, 2026. The expiration of the contract term does not relieve the parties from liability for violations committed during its validity.”

If it is necessary to apply the terms to prior factual relations, another wording can be provided:

“In accordance with part three of Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine, the parties agree that the terms of this Contract apply to relations between them that arose from September 1, 2026.”

These are just examples. The wording should be adapted to the type of contract, the parties’ factual relations, and special legislative norms.

What Does the Expiration of the Contract Term Mean?

Comment on Art. 631 CCU is important for another reason: the date of contract termination and the end of liability are not the same.

Suppose the contract was valid until December 31. The debtor had to pay 20,000 UAH by December 20 but did not do so. The arrival of January 1 does not in itself mean the debt disappeared or that the creditor lost the right to demand performance.

The Supreme Court also noted that expiration of the contract term does not exempt a party from liability for violations committed while it was in effect.

Do not confuse contract terms with limitation periods. The general limitation period under Article 257 CCU is three years, although specific claims may have different terms under the law.

What Rights and Obligations Does a Citizen Have Under Article 631 CCU?

For a party to a civil contract, the practical significance of the article can be summarized into several actions. They help understand exactly when rights arise and when agreements must be fulfilled.

• check the date when the contract takes effect;
• agree on the term of its validity;
• determine whether contract terms apply to relations that arose earlier;
• demand fulfillment of obligations according to agreed terms;
• demand liability for violations committed during the contract term, even after its expiration;

It is especially important to carefully read the sections “Contract Term,” “Procedure for Entering into Force,” “Liability of the Parties,” and “Final Provisions.” These often contain terms directly related to Article 631 CCU.

Frequently Asked Questions About Article 631 of the Civil Code of Ukraine