Ohustajad

Ohustajad is an Estonian term used in civil law to refer to parties who are bound by an obligation arising from a contract or legal arrangement. The word is derived from ohustus meaning obligation or duty, with the agentive suffix -aja and the plural ending -d. In practice, ohustajad include individuals or legal entities who are obliged to perform a duty, such as delivering goods, paying money, or refraining from certain actions.

The term encompasses various actors in a contractual framework, including primary obligors (the party primarily obliged to perform) and secondary obligors such as guarantors or co-debtors, depending on the contract’s terms and applicable law.

The obligations associated with ohustajad are defined by the contract, statute, or court order and may be monetary or non-monetary. Breach of an obligation by an ohustaja can give rise to remedies such as damages, specific performance, or contract termination, as provided by civil law.

The concept is commonly used in legal drafting and dispute resolution to describe who must act or refrain from acting under a set of rules. In cross-border contexts, the precise implications vary by jurisdiction, but the core idea remains: an ohustaja has an enforceable obligation under a legal arrangement.

See also: debtor, guarantor, contract obligations.