Lögbundnu

Lögbundnu is an Icelandic term used in legal and governmental contexts to describe something that is provided for or required by statute rather than by private contract or customary practice. The adjective stems from lög ("law") and bundinn ("bound"), indicating that the matter is bound to the statutory framework. In use, it refers to rights, obligations, or benefits established by law. Examples include phrases such as lögbundnu réttindin (the statutory rights) or lögbundnar skyldur (statutory duties). The form lögbundnu appears as the declined form used before certain nouns, for example in 'lögbundnu réttindin'. Statutory rights and obligations are generally intended to apply broadly within a jurisdiction and can take precedence over terms that arise solely from private agreements, though they may be supplemented by or limited by other legal instruments, such as regulations or constitutional provisions.

In Icelandic law, the distinction between statutory (lögbundin) and contractual rights is central in areas such as social security, labor law, and civil rights. Statutory provisions typically create entitlements that persist beyond individual contracts and guide administrative actions and judicial decisions. The concept also has parallels in other legal systems, where statutes define minimum standards, protections, and duties that individuals and institutions must follow.

See also: statutory law, rights, Icelandic law, labor law.