jõustus

Jõustus is an Estonian verb that means to take effect or to come into force. It is used mainly in legal and administrative contexts to indicate that a law, regulation, administrative act, treaty, or similar normative act has become legally binding. The form jõustus is the past tense, used to describe that something has already entered into force.

In practice, a law or regulation typically enters into force on a date specified within the act itself. If no date is stated, it commonly takes effect on a date determined by law or on the date of publication in the official gazette, Riigi Teataja. Transitional provisions may also set phased introductions or conditions for when different parts come into force. It is common to see phrases like “seadus jõustus …” or “määrus jõustub …” in official texts and news reports.

Jõustumise antonym is kehtivus, and in many contexts writers may simply say that something is or will be in force (kehtima) rather than explicitly stating it has entered into force. The concept is used for domestic legislation as well as international agreements, where the phrase “entered into force” is the approximate English equivalent. Juxtaposed terms such as jõustunud, jõustuv, and jõustumine appear in various grammatical forms to express past, ongoing, or future establishment of legal effect.

See also: Riigi Teataja, kehtivus, kehtima, entering into force, transitional provisions.