Hüvitise

Hüvitise is the Estonian term for compensation or indemnity. It refers to the monetary payment made to cover losses, damages, or expenses resulting from an event, such as injury, fault, or a contractual obligation. The payer may be an individual, company, or public authority, and the recipient is the party who incurred the loss.

In civil law, hüvitise commonly means damages paid for harm caused by fault or negligence. This can include direct costs such as medical bills, repair costs, and lost income, as well as, in some cases, non-material damages like pain and suffering where permitted by law. In the context of social security or insurance, hüvitised are payments to replace income or reimburse approved expenses during illness, disability, unemployment, or caregiving. In property matters, expropriation or eminent domain may require the payer to provide fair compensation based on the value of the affected property.

The amount and eligibility for hüvitise are determined by contract, applicable statute, or court decision. When disputes arise, they are resolved by courts, arbitration, or administrative authorities, depending on the nature of the claim and governing law.

The word derives from the verb hüvitama, to compensate, and is used across legal, financial, and social contexts in Estonian.