Libro Primero Título III. Del ejercicio de la pretension procesal

Any person who seeks to enforce a right, or to have it declared that such right pertains to him or her, may seek it before the judges in the manner prescribed in this Code.

To file a claim or counterclaim, it is necessary to have an interest therein.

No one may be compelled to sue except in cases of boasting and when one has an action or defense that depends on the exercise of another person's action.

In the case of boasting, proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of Articles 225 to 228 of this Code.

In the second case, after a two-day hearing granted to the other party, the judge shall set a period not exceeding sixty days for the claim to be filed by the appropriate party, under warning that his right shall be deemed lapsed.

If the decision cannot be rendered except in relation to several parties, they must sue or be sued in the same proceedings.

If it is brought by some or against some of them only, the judge shall summon the others within a peremptory term.

Several parties may sue or be sued in the same proceedings, when among the actions brought there is a connection by reason of the object or of the title on which they depend, or when the decision depends, wholly or partially, on the decision of identical questions.

Various claims may be brought against the same party in the same proceedings, provided that they are not contradictory, nor must they be pursued in actions subject to procedures of a different nature, in accordance with the provisions of Article 11.

In proceedings conducted between two or more persons, a third party may appear to assert an action relating to the same matter. This new action is called a third-party claim and the person who brings it, an opposing or supporting third party.

Upon filing or answering the claim, each of the parties may call a third party to the proceedings, with respect to whom it considers the cause to be common or from whom it seeks a guarantee.

Once the summons has been effected in legal form, the third party is bound by the final decision in the matter, and the judgment rendered may be enforced against such third party.

When the party disappears due to death or other cause, the proceedings are continued by or against the universal successor.

If in the course of the proceedings the disputed right is transferred by inter vivos act by particular title, the proceedings continue between the original parties. If the transfer by particular title occurs by cause of death, the proceedings are continued by the universal successor or against him.

In any case, the successor by particular title may intervene or be summoned to the proceedings as a party and, if the other parties consent thereto, the transferor or the universal successor may be excluded.

The judgment rendered against the latter produces effects against the successor by particular title.