Fortbestehen

Fortbestehen is a German noun that denotes the continued existence or persistence of something over time, especially after change, disruption, or a transition. The term combines fort- (continuation) with bestehen (to exist).

In legal and corporate contexts, fortbestehen refers to the legal continuation of an entity after events such as mergers, restructurings, or transfers of ownership. The surviving entity typically retains its legal personality and obligations, while dissolved units cease to exist independently. The concept also covers the persistence of rights or contracts through succession, where duties or claims pass to a successor.

In public law and administration, fortbestehen may describe the persistence of a state, institution, or regulatory framework despite reforms, amendments, or reorganizations, underscoring continuity of the legal order rather than a complete break.

In philosophy and metaphysics, fortbestehen is used to discuss how objects or persons persist through time, contributing to debates about whether persistence occurs by enduring wholly or by successive temporal stages.

See also: continuity, persistence, continuation, legal personality, succession.

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