Cancellation

In legal studies, it is used in two senses. In so-called continuing credit relationships such as leases and employment, a unilateral expression of intent by a party that terminates a contract only in the future and does not have retroactive effect is called "notice" in academic studies, and is distinguished from "cancellation" stipulated in Article 541 and following of the Civil Code, which has retroactive effect. Cancellation is used synonymously with notice (cancellation in the broad sense), or it is used in cases of contractual relationships that do not have a fixed term (cancellation in the narrow sense). Therefore, cancellation in the narrow sense has the function of terminating a contractual relationship that does not have a fixed term by setting a period (the Civil Code stipulates a period for requesting cancellation - Articles 617 and 627, etc.). In continuing contracts such as leases, the facts that have passed are left as they are, and the contract is invalidated in the future (non-retroactive invalidity - Article 620). The same applies to contracts such as employment and mandate.

However, special laws often impose restrictions on requests to terminate. The statutory cause for termination is breach of contract, but the breach must be to the extent that it destroys the relationship of trust, and the right to terminate does not arise unless there is a breach of contract that constitutes a breach of trust. For example, the House Rental Act requires that there be a legitimate reason for refusing to renew or terminate the contract at the end of the term (House Rental Act, Article 1-2). In addition, the period for requesting termination has been extended. For example, the House Rental Act requires that the period for requesting termination has elapsed (Articles 2-1 and 3), and Article 20 of the Labor Standards Act also contains provisions with a similar effect.

[Takahisa Awaji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

法学上、広狭二義に用いられる。賃貸借、雇用などのいわゆる継続的債権関係において、将来に向かってのみ契約を終了せしめ遡及(そきゅう)効を生じない当事者の一方的意思表示を、講学上「告知」とよび、その遡及効を生じる民法第541条以下に規定されている「解除」と区別している。解約は告知と同義に用いられ（広義の解約）、あるいはそのうちとくに期間の定めのない契約関係の場合に用いられる（狭義の解約）。したがって、狭義の解約は、期間の定めのない契約関係を期間を定めて終了せしめる機能をもっている（民法は解約申入れ期間を定める――617条・627条など）。継続的契約である賃貸借などにおいては、経過した事実関係はそのままにして、将来に向かって契約を無効にする（不遡及的無効――620条）。雇用や委任などの契約についても同様である。

　ただし、特別法はしばしば解約の申入れに対して制限を課している。法定解約原因は債務不履行であるが、信頼関係を破る程度の債務不履行であることが要件とされ、背信関係としての債務不履行がなければ、解約権は生じない。たとえば借家法では、期間満了時における契約の更新拒絶ないし解約については正当事由を要件としている（借家法1条ノ2）。そのほか、解約申入れ期間を伸長している。たとえば、借家法では解約申入れ期間の経過を要件としており（2条1項・3条）、そのほか、労働基準法第20条でも同様の趣旨の規定がある。

［淡路剛久］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例