Pääasiakirja

Pääasiakirja is a Finnish term meaning the main or principal document. It is used in legal, administrative, corporate, and archival contexts to refer to the document that governs a matter or serves as the central reference point within a set of records.

Etymologically, pää means head or main, and asiakirja means document, together signaling the primary document in a collection or process.

In legal and contractual settings, the pääasiakirja is typically the core contract or instrument that defines the rights, obligations, and terms of the arrangement. Other documents, such as annexes, schedules, and supporting reports, function as subsidiary or complementary materials that accompany the main instrument.

In corporate governance, examples of a pääasiakirja include foundational documents like articles of association or a master agreement, depending on the context of the action or transaction.

In archives and records management, a file may designate a pääasiakirja as the most authoritative or central item, with other materials linked to or contextualizing it.

Because Finnish usage is contextual, there is no single universal legal definition of pääasiakirja. The term reflects organizational practices, contract structure, and archival conventions. When used, it is important to reference the exact document by title or identifier to avoid ambiguity. Related concepts include sopimus (contract), liite (appendix), arkisto (archive), and asiakirja (document).