Kohuseliselt

Kohuseliselt is an Estonian adverb used primarily in legal language to indicate that an action, decision, or requirement stems from the authority of a court or is performed under judicial direction. The term signals that the source of power or instruction is the court rather than parties or administrative bodies.

Etymology and form: kohuseliselt is formed from the noun kohus (court) with the adverbial suffix -eliselt, a pattern in Estonian for creating manner-related adverbs that refer to an institution or concept. The word belongs to the specialized vocabulary of law and formal proceedings.

Usage and function: Kohuseliselt appears in formal texts such as court documents, judgments, and legal briefs to emphasize that something is decided or mandated by the court. It can be used to distinguish acts done under judicial authority from those based on private agreement, administrative rule, or voluntary action. In practice, speakers may pair it with verbs like otsustama, määrama, or rahuldama to indicate that the court, not the parties, controls the outcome. Examples of common phrasing include kohuseliselt tehtav toiming or kohuseliselt rahuldatud hagi, though more everyday alternatives in legal language often use kohtuotsuse alusel or kohtu poolt.

See also: Kohusellos are terms related to court authority, such as kohtuotsus (court decision), kohtualluvus (court jurisdiction), and seaduslik toimimine (legal operation). Kohuseliselt is a specialized expression and is not widely used outside legal contexts; in everyday language, simpler formulations like kohtu poolt or kohtuotsuse alusel are more common.