Kehtivad

Kehtivad is an Estonian verb form meaning “are valid” or “are in effect.” It is the present tense form used with a plural subject of the verb kehtima, which denotes that rules, documents, agreements, or conditions are currently applicable or enforceable.

In legal, administrative, and formal writing, kehtivad is used to indicate which provisions apply. For example, the phrase “Need eeskirjad kehtivad alates 1. jaanuarist” translates to “These rules are in force from January 1,” and “Lepingutingimused kehtivad kuni lepingu lõpuni” means “The contract terms are in effect until the end of the contract.” The term helps distinguish active, operative norms from those that may be superseded or expired.

Kehtivad is often contrasted with kehtetu (invalid) or kehtiv (valid, in a non-temporal sense). While kehtivad refers to the current applicability of multiple items, kehtiv and kehtetu describe the status of a single item or condition. The concept also ties into kehtivus, the notion of validity or applicability period, and kehtima as the general action of becoming or remaining in force.

Usage notes: kehtivad appears in lists, schedules, and regulations to signal which parts are currently enforceable. It is commonly followed by temporal clauses (alates, kuni) or references to documents and agreements. In everyday language, variants of the same idea may be expressed with the singular form kehtib or the adjective kehtiv, depending on the subject and tense.

Related terms include kehtiv, kehtivus, and kehtima, which share the core concept of validity and applicability.