Edunsaaja

Edunsaaja is a Finnish legal term meaning beneficiary. It refers to a person or organization designated to receive a benefit from another party, typically under a will (testamentti), an inheritance arrangement, a life insurance policy, or other financial arrangements. The edunsaaja’s right to receive funds or property is defined by the document creating the benefit.

In inheritance law, the edunsaaja may be named to receive all or part of an estate, or to receive a specific bequest after the decedent’s death. In life insurance and other contracts, the policyholder or contract owner designates edunsaaja to receive the payout or benefits, often upon death, but sometimes on reaching a milestone or fulfilling conditions.

Designation can be changed or amended during the lifetime according to the instrument involved. After death, a claimant’s edunsaaja status is resolved through applicable procedures and may be subject to taxes under Finnish tax law, such as inheritance or gift tax, depending on the relationship and the nature of the benefit.

Edunsaaja is distinct from a statutory heir (lakiosaaja or perillinen), whose rights arise from inheritance law regardless of a will. The term is widely used in Finnish legal and financial contexts, including wills, life insurance, pension arrangements, and charitable foundations, to denote the recipient of specified benefits.