# Good faith

Source: https://contracko.com/pt/glossario/boa-fe

# Good faith

The duty to act honestly and reasonably in forming and performing a contract.

## Definição

Good faith is the principle that parties must deal honestly, fairly, and reasonably with one another, both when negotiating and when performing a contract. In Dutch law this is the central doctrine of redelijkheid en billijkheid: under article 6:248 it can supplement the contract with additional duties and, in exceptional cases, set aside a clause that would be unacceptable to apply. Article 6:2 extends the same standard to all obligations between parties.

## Exemplo

> A party tries to enforce a clause to the letter in a way neither side ever intended; a court may set it aside as contrary to reasonableness and fairness.

## Porque é um risco para a empresa

Good faith is a double-edged principle. It can protect you when a counterparty exploits a technicality, but it also creates implied obligations that go beyond the written text. Businesses that rely on the literal wording of a clause to avoid responsibilities that any reasonable person would expect them to honour may find courts unwilling to enforce that position.

## Como gerir

- Draft contracts with the intent of the parties clear on paper, so there is no room for a court to imply a different obligation.
- When a contract becomes difficult to perform, communicate early and in writing rather than simply defaulting; courts look at the conduct of both parties.
- Review long-term contracts periodically to check whether changed circumstances have created a gap that good faith might fill in an unexpected way.

### Como o Contracko ajuda

Contracko's AI review identifies contractual provisions that appear incomplete or that create gaps a court might fill by implication. Version history and obligation tracking provide a contemporaneous record of how a contract was performed, which is relevant context if a good-faith dispute arises later.

## Referências jurídicas

- [BW 6:248 Dutch Civil Code: supplementary and derogating effect Direito neerlandês](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005289)
- [BW 6:2 Dutch Civil Code: reasonableness and fairness between parties Direito neerlandês](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005289)

Salvo indicação em contrário, as referências remetem para o direito neerlandês (Burgerlijk Wetboek, o Código Civil neerlandês); os instrumentos da UE, como o RGPD, aplicam-se em toda a UE. Esta é informação geral, não constitui aconselhamento jurídico. Outras jurisdições tratam estes conceitos de forma diferente. Verifique o texto em vigor e a sua situação com um advogado qualificado.

## Relevante para

[Serviços Jurídicos](https://contracko.com/pt/setores/servicos-juridicos)[Consultoria](https://contracko.com/pt/setores/consultoria)[Imobiliário Comercial](https://contracko.com/pt/setores/imobiliario-comercial)

## Cláusulas relacionadas

- [Entire Agreement Clause](https://contracko.com/pt/biblioteca-de-clausulas/acordo-integral)
- [Severability Clause](https://contracko.com/pt/biblioteca-de-clausulas/divisibilidade)
- [Dispute Resolution Clause](https://contracko.com/pt/biblioteca-de-clausulas/resolucao-de-litigios)

## Termos relacionados

- [Breach of contract](https://contracko.com/pt/glossario/incumprimento-de-contrato)
- [Representation](https://contracko.com/pt/glossario/declaracao)
- [Rescission](https://contracko.com/pt/glossario/rescisao)
- [Clause](https://contracko.com/pt/glossario/clausula)

### Nunca mais perca um prazo contratual

- A IA encontra as datas de renovação e aviso prévio
- Os riscos e obrigações são apresentados automaticamente
- Os lembretes ajudam-no a agir antes que as datas passem

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Conforme com o RGPD. Encriptado. Nunca utilizado para treinar IA.

## Perguntas frequentes

Questões comuns sobre este termo.

- **Q:** Can good faith override the written words of a contract?
  **A:** Exceptionally, yes. Under article 6:248(2) BW a clause may be set aside where applying it would be unacceptable by the standards of reasonableness and fairness, but courts use this power sparingly.

- **Q:** Does good faith impose pre-contractual obligations?
  **A:** Yes. Under Dutch law, parties in negotiations have obligations of good faith towards each other: a duty to provide material information and, in certain circumstances, a duty not to break off negotiations arbitrarily.

- **Q:** How is good faith different from equity in English law?
  **A:** English law has no general good-faith doctrine in contracts; it uses specific equitable doctrines (estoppel, unconscionability) case by case. Dutch law applies redelijkheid en billijkheid systematically as an overarching principle for all obligations.

- **Q:** Can parties exclude good faith by contract?
  **A:** No. The supplementary and derogating effect of good faith under BW 6:248 is a mandatory principle; it cannot be contracted out of. Parties can shape their obligations in detail, but a court can always apply good faith where applying agreed terms would be unacceptable.

- **Q:** What is the Haviltex standard and how does it relate to good faith?
  **A:** The Haviltex standard (HR 1981) is the Dutch rule for contract interpretation: meaning depends on what parties reasonably could and did expect from each other, not just literal text. It is an expression of good faith applied to the interpretation stage.

## Veja estes termos nos seus próprios contratos

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