Sopimuslaki

Sopimuslaki is the Finnish term for contract law, the part of civil law that governs agreements between private parties. It sets rules for how contracts are formed, interpreted, and enforced, and defines the rights and obligations that arise from promises.

The field covers a wide range of contracts, including commercial agreements, sales, leases, employment, and consumer contracts. Core principles include freedom of contract, good faith, and predictable performance. Some contracts or terms fall under specific statutes or consumer-protection rules.

Formation and validity: A contract generally forms from an offer that is accepted, with mutual assent. Parties must have legal capacity, and the consent must be free from fraud or coercion. In many cases the contract may be oral, but certain forms are required by law for evidentiary or regulatory reasons.

Performance and breach: Obligations should be fulfilled as agreed. If a party fails to perform, the other may seek remedies such as damages, termination, or, in appropriate cases, specific performance. Defences like misrepresentation, mistake, or illegality can affect enforceability.

Sources and context: Sopimuslaki draws on Finnish civil law, case law, and EU directives governing consumer and commercial contracts. The law aims to balance freedom of contract with protection against unfair terms and to facilitate predictable commercial dealings.