kehtetud

Kehtetud is an Estonian term used to describe something that has been declared invalid or is no longer in effect. It is most common in legal, administrative, and formal texts. The word functions as an adjective in descriptive phrases such as kehtetu leping, kehtetu seadus, or kehtetu otsus, meaning “void contract,” “void law,” or “voided decision.” The opposite term is kehtiv, meaning valid or in force, and kehtivus refers to validity.

The status kehtetud may result from a court ruling, legislative repeal, or administrative decision. It can be temporary or permanent depending on the underlying act; in some cases a kehtetu document can be revived if amended or replaced. Kehtetud is not a value judgment; it simply marks the status of legal effect.

Etymology: kehtetud is derived from the verb kehtima ‘to be in effect/valid’ with a participial suffix forming a descriptive attribute. It is widely used in official communications, case law, and governmental reporting, and is part of standard Estonian legal vocabulary.