Commentaries: Art. 1051

Where insuperable obstacles (statutory provisions enacted by a state or some other instance of force majeure) militate against the timely presentation of the bill of exchange or timely protest, the time limits for such actions are extended.
The holder is obliged to notify the immediately preceding endorser of the force majeure event without delay and to note such notification together with the date and place and his signature on the bill of exchange or an annex thereto; in other respects, the provisions set out in Article 1042 are applicable.
Once the force majeure ceases to apply, the holder must present the bill for acceptance or for payment without delay and, where necessary, make protest.
In the event that the force majeure lasts for longer than 30 days after maturity, recourse may be had without need for presentation or protest.
In the case of sight bills or after-sight bills, the thirty-day time limit commences on the date on which the holder notified the immediately preceding endorser of the force majeure event; such notification may be made even before expiry of the time limit for presentation. In the case of after-sight bills, the thirty-day time limit is extended by the fixed period after sight indicated on the bill of exchange.
Facts pertaining purely to the person of the holder or a person charged with the task of presenting the bill of exchange or making protest do not count as force majeure events.