gäldenären

gäldenären is the Swedish term for the debtor, the person or entity obligated to fulfill an obligation to a creditor in civil law. The term is used in contracts, loan agreements, rental agreements, and other contexts where one party must perform or pay. The counterpart is the borgenär or creditor.

The obligations of the gäldenären can be to pay money, deliver goods, provide services, or otherwise perform a specified act. These duties arise from a contract, from statute, or from a court decision. The debtor is expected to fulfill the obligation in a timely and proper manner. If the obligation is monetary, interest may accrue on late payments, and default can trigger additional remedies.

Remedies and enforcement can vary but typically include demand for performance, damages for non-performance, or other compensation. In Sweden, creditors may seek enforcement through the Kronofogdemyndigheten (the Enforcement Authority) to collect payments, seize assets, or obtain other relief. The processes are designed to secure the creditor’s right to receive what is owed and to impose costs or interest on the debtor when appropriate.

Notes and related terms: When several persons share responsibility, they may be medgäldenärer (co-debtors) or bear liability jointly and severally (solidariskt ansvar). There may also be security arrangements, such as guarantors (garant). The concept of gäldenären is central to civil transactions, where one party owes performance to another.