The article points out that not only the subject matter, the method and the functions are those factors that characterize civil law as a branch of private law, but the principles (of which the non-exhausted list is contained in Art. 3 of Civil Code of Ukraine) as well. The following principles of civil law are analyzed: the principle of legal equality, freedom of will expression, property independence of participants to civil relations; the prohibition of arbitrary interference in the sphere of personal life of a person; prohibition of deprivation of ownership; freedom of contract and freedom of entrepreneurship; judicial protection of civil rights and interests, the principle of justice, good faith and reasonableness.