+ Law Jurisdiction Enacted Years since Notes Code of Justinian South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, eSwatini 529 The edict remains in force in the six southern African countries using Roman law.Sądowe stosowanie "Corpus Iuris Civilis" w Afryce Południowej w świetle wybranych orzeczeń Quran Multiple 632 Quran alongside with the hadith remains a source of law in countries using sharia including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran among others.Sharia Law and Customary Law in the Constitution Fairs Act 1204 Ireland 1204 The oldest statute in force on the Irish statute bookLegislation Directory. Irish Statute Book Magna Carta (1225) South Australia 1225 Codex Holmiensis Schleswig, Germany 1241 In 1900, the replaced the Code in Schleswig, albeit with a number of exceptions for areas like dyke law, hunting law, and leasehold law.Articles 55 following of the EGBGB. (German) The Code of Jutland has been cited in a water way case from 1990BVerwG, Entscheidung vom 30.11.1990 - 7 A 1.90 (German) as well as a beach property case from 2000.OLG Schleswig, Entscheidung vom 14.12.2000 - 11 U 89/99 (German) In both cases, a low German translation authorized by King Christian IV in 1592 was used. Statute of Marlborough England and Wales 1267 The oldest piece of statute law in the United Kingdom still in force.The 750th anniversary of England’s oldest law Bishop Árni's Christian Law Iceland 1275 The oldest law still in force in Iceland regulating the bishop's authority over churches.AlþingishúsiðLagasafn raðað í tímaröð (nýjast efst) Magna Carta (1297) United Kingdom 1297 Clauses 1, 9, and 29 New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory Clause 29Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory All apart from the chapter 26 Royal Mines Act 1424 Scotland 1424 Oldest law in effect in ScotlandCrown Estate: a consultation on the long-term management of the Crown Estate in Scotland :fr:Paix de Saint-Jacques Belgium 1487 Oldest law remaining in force in Belgium, it concerns drainage tunnels.Précis de méthodologie juridique Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts France 1539 Oldest law still in effect in FranceThe Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts Statute of Frauds United States 1677 Originally passed by the British parliament, the statute remains the oldest source of the common law in the United States.Signature Without A Person: The Attribution Requirement In American Signature Law Norwegian Code Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands 1687 As of 2025 only four of its articles remain in effect.Kong Christian Den Femtis Norske Lov Civil Code of 1734 Sweden, Finland 1734 With some modifications and amendments the code remains in force in Sweden and Finland.Historical Background of the Finnish Legal System An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of administering certain Oaths United States 1789 The oldest federal statute in the United States, parts of which remain in effect.The First Act of the First Congress :hu:1827. évi XII. törvény Hungary 1827 Oldest legal act in effect in Hungary, it does not establish any rules or prohibitions, merely memorizing certain individuals.1827. évi XII. törvény :nl:Wet algemene bepalingen Netherlands 1829 Over de plaats en de functie van de Wet, houdende Algemeene Bepalingen der Wetgeving van het Koningrijk (1829) Bengal Districts Act India 1836 The oldest law still in effect in India.248TH Report of LAW COMMISSION OF INDIA Towns and Communities Act Jamaica 1843 Oldest law still in effect in Jamaica.Century-old laws targeted Land Registration Ordinance Hong Kong 1844 The oldest law still in force in Hong Kong.Doors still shut on real value of homes Civil Code of Indonesia Indonesia 1847 Passed during the Dutch control, remains in effect to this day.Indonesia's Inability in Removing Self from Colonial Law (Study of Employment Laws) Pakistan Penal Code Pakistan 1860 Oldest law in effect in Pakistan.Shameful but true: Pakistan laws remain those of our British overlords Spanish Notaries Act Spain 1862 Oldest law in effect in Spain.La ley ¿más antigua en vigor en España? y el reconocimiento de deudas :it:Legge 20 marzo 1865, n. 2248 Italy 1865 Oldest law still in effect in ItalyPensioni, da agosto l’Agenzia delle Entrate toglierà soldi a chi ha più redditi Trade Regulation Act Germany 1869 The oldest codification of business law in Germany which is still in force with changes.Verwaltungsrechtsgeschichte Proclamation for Calendar Reform Japan 1872 Oldest law still in effect in Japan.日本で有効な一番古い法律は？ Bankruptcy Act Samoa 1908 Oldest law in force in Samoa.Review of the Fabric of Laws of Samoa Project The law abolishing nobility, orders and titles Czech Republic 1918 The law remains in force to this day, but parts imposing criminal penalties have been repealed rendering it purely declaratory.Šlechtické tituly a republika, která by je nejraději zrušila dvakrát :pl:Ustawa o nabywaniu nieruchomości przez cudzoziemców Poland 1920 Oldest law still in effect in PolandNajstarsza ustawa, która wciąż obowiązuje Civil Code of RSFRR Russia 1922 The part of the code regarding inheritance rules remains oldest legislation in effect in Russia.Самый старый действующий закон России Village Law Turkey 1924 THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY INSTITUTION OF TÜRKİYE

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