Monetary claim - Kinsensaiken

In a broad sense, it refers to a claim for which the object is the payment of money. Usually, it refers to a claim for which the object is the payment of a fixed amount of money, i.e., a monetary claim. It is the most representative of the various types of claims, and also has an important economic meaning. For example, debts to pay money frequently arise in daily life, such as a buyer paying the price in a sales contract, a tenant paying rent based on a contract, or a borrower paying the principal and interest in a money loan.

Monetary claims can be considered a type of type claim (claims that aim to provide a certain amount of goods of a certain type), but for a 1 million yen claim, the important thing is the value (amount) of 1 million yen, and the type of currency, such as 100 10,000 yen bills or 200 5,000 yen bills, is of secondary importance, so it is different from normal type claims. In addition, borrowing and lending specific money, such as gold coins or coins for display at an exhibition, is not included in monetary claims. Even if there is a special agreement to pay in a specific type of currency (for example, 10,000 yen bills or 100 dollar bills) (called a denomination claim), if that currency loses its legal tender status, the obligation can be paid in another currency and will not be considered unfulfilled (Civil Code Articles 402, Paragraph 2 and 592).

In this way, a monetary claim (monetary claim) that is stated only in an amount without specifying the type of currency can be paid (repaid) in any type of currency as long as it is legally tendered (Article 402, Paragraph 1 of the same law).

For monetary claims, special provisions are provided for the conditions for default and compensation for damages (Article 419 of the same law). In other words, the debtor is responsible for the default of a monetary claim even if it is due to force majeure, and the debtor is not exempted from liability even if he or she proves that it was due to force majeure (Article 419, Paragraph 3 of the same law). The creditor can make a claim without having to prove that he or she suffered damages due to the default (Article 419, Paragraph 2 of the same law). However, the amount of compensation for damages will be based on the statutory interest rate (if the agreed interest rate is higher than the statutory interest rate, the agreed interest rate will be used) (Article 419, Paragraph 1 of the same law).

Regarding monetary claims, in addition to the Civil Code, there are laws such as the Interest Rate Restriction Law, the Pawnbroker Business Law, the Law on the Regulation of Acceptance of Contributions, Deposits and Interest Rates, and the Money Lending Business Law, which are enacted to protect debtors. Also, while money is considered to have an almost constant value, in the event of a sudden change in monetary value, it becomes necessary to increase or decrease the nominal amount, which is the content of the claim, based on the principle of changed circumstances. This is incorporated in the House Rental Law and Land Rental Law, etc.

[Ken Kawai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

広義には金銭の給付を目的とする債権をいう。通常は一定額の金銭の給付を目的とする債権、すなわち金額債権をさす。各種債権のうちでもっとも代表的なものであると同時に、経済的にも重要な意味をもっている。たとえば、売買契約で買い主が代金を支払うとか、借地人が契約に基づいて地代を支払うとか、金銭貸借で借り主が元本や利息を支払うなど、金銭を支払うべき債務は、日常的にもしばしば発生している。

　金銭債権は、一種の種類債権（一定の種類に属する物の一定の給付を目的とする債権）ともいえるが、100万円の債権は100万円の価値（金額）が重要で、1万円札で100枚、5千円札で200枚という通貨の種類は二次的な意義しかもたないから、通常の種類債権とは異なっている。また、展示会などに陳列するための金貨、コインなど特定の金銭を貸借するような場合は金銭債権には含まれない。特定の種類の通貨（たとえば1万円紙幣や100ドル紙幣）で支払うという特約のある場合（金種債権とよばれる）でも、その通貨が強制通用力を失ったときには、他の通貨で弁済ができ、履行不能とはならない（民法402条2項・592条）。

　このように、通貨の種類が特定されていない金額だけで示された金銭債権（金額債権）は、強制通用力のある貨幣ならば、任意の種類の貨幣で支払う（弁済する）ことができる（同法402条1項）。

　金銭債権については、債務不履行の要件および損害賠償について特則が定められている（同法419条）。すなわち、金銭債権の不履行は不可抗力による場合でも債務者に責任があり、債務者が不可抗力によるものであることを証明しても免責されない（同法419条3項）。債権者は不履行によって損害を受けたことを証明する必要がなく請求できる（同法419条2項）。ただし、損害賠償の額については法定利率（約定利率が法定利率より高いときは約定利率）による（同法419条1項）。

　なお、金銭債権に関して、民法のほか、利息制限法、質屋営業法、「出資の受入れ、預り金及び金利等の取締りに関する法律」、「貸金業法」などが制定されており、債務者の保護が図られている。また、金銭はほぼ恒常的な価値をもっていると考えられるが、急激な貨幣価値の変動の際には、事情変更の原則に基づき債権の内容である名目上の金額を増減する必要が生じる。借家法、借地法などにはこれが取り入れられている。

［川井　健］

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