Verpflichtete

Verpflichtete is a legal term used in German law to designate the party that is bound to perform a duty under a contract or statutory obligation. The term emphasizes the obligation side of a relationship and is used for any person or entity that must provide a specified Leistung, such as payment, delivery, or service. The counterpart in the relationship is typically the Gläubiger (creditor) or the party entitled to demand performance.

The Verpflichtete can be a natural person or a legal entity and may be the sole debtor or part of a group of obligated parties, depending on the underlying Schuldverhältnis (obligation). In everyday language, the term is commonly encountered in contract law, civil law, and contexts involving statutory duties, such as maintenance obligations or public-law duties.

In practice, the Verpflichtete has to fulfill the agreed or legally required performance. Failure to do so can lead to consequences such as late payment, breach of contract, or other remedies under the law, including damage claims, rescission, or enforcement measures. The term is a descriptive label for the obligation bearer rather than a separate juridical category with distinct rights.

See also: Schuldner, Gläubiger, Vertrag, Leistungsstörung, BGB, Unterhalt.