hatályos

Hatályos is a Hungarian term used in legal language to describe the status of a rule, regulation, or provision as currently in force, valid and enforceable. It indicates that a regulation, directive, or contract can be applied by authorities and binding on subjects as of a certain date or time.

The word derives from hatály, meaning effect or validity, and is commonly found in official texts, court decisions, and administrative communications. It is used to distinguish provisions that are presently applicable from those that have been repealed or are not yet in force.

In practical use, the expression appears in phrases such as "A rendelet 2024. január 1-jétől hatályos" (the regulation is effective from January 1, 2024) or "Hatályos a jelen rendelkezés." A rule can become hatályos on entry into force (hatálybalépés). Conversely, once a provision is amended or repealed, it may lose its effect (hatályt vesztett) or become hatálytalan. The term is commonly applied to nouns like "hatályos jogszabály" or "hatályos szerződés."

Nuances: hatályos emphasizes current applicability, whereas érvényes is a broader term meaning legally valid in a general sense. The distinction between hatályos and related concepts such as hatálybalépés, hatályvesztés, and hatálytalan is routine in Hungarian legal texts, where precise timing and status are important.