Võlaõigusseadusele

Võlaõigusseadus, or the Law of Obligations Act, is the central framework of Estonian civil law governing obligations. It regulates how obligations arise, are performed and extinguished, covering both contractual obligations and non-contractual liabilities, and it establishes the general rules for performance, breach and remedies. The act provides the general structure for modern private law by setting out how contracts are formed, interpreted and performed, and by detailing the duties that arise from contractual relationships.

The scope of the act includes a wide range of contract types, such as sale and purchase, lease, loan, service, work, commission and agency arrangements. It prescribes rules on price and consideration, delivery and risk transfer, conformity of goods and services, and the allocation of responsibility if performance fails. Remedies for breach of obligations are laid out, including damages, specific performance, contract termination, late-payment interest, and penalties. In addition to contractual obligations, the law governs non-contractual obligations arising from unlawful acts (delicts) and other sources within its general framework.

Core principles emphasized by Võlaõigusseadus include freedom of contract, good faith and reasonableness. While consumer contracts and certain terms are further regulated by dedicated consumer-protection legislation and EU directives, the act provides the overarching regime for obligations, modification or termination of contracts, and assignment or novation of rights and duties. Prescription periods for claims are also established within the act.

The Võlaõigusseadus forms part of Estonia’s civil-law system and remains in force, subject to periodic amendments to reflect evolving economic practices, technology and European Union law.