fordran

Fordran is a term used in several Scandinavian languages, notably Norwegian Bokmål, Swedish, and Danish, to denote a right to receive payment or a financial claim that another party owes. In accounting and finance, a fordran refers to a financial asset representing money owed to the entity, such as an outstanding customer invoice or other receivable. It arises from the sale of goods or provision of services on credit and is typically shown on the balance sheet as a current asset, with the possibility of being classified as non-current if collection is not expected within one year. The amount may be adjusted for expected credit losses and write-offs of bad debts to reflect net realizable value.

In legal contexts, a fordran can also mean a claim or entitlement arising from contracts, torts, or statutory rights. It may be monetary or non-monetary and enforceable through legal action. Claims can be assigned to third parties or securitized, and may be subject to prescription or limitation periods according to national law.

In usage, the term is cognate with the English "claim" or "demand" but has specialized meaning in accounting. In Swedish the common compound "kundfordran" refers to customer receivables; in Norwegian and Danish similar terms exist. The concept mirrors accounts receivable in many accounting systems, though terminology and regulatory treatment can vary by country.

See also: accounts receivable; asset; balance sheet; claim; debt.