lovbekendtgørelse

Lovbekendtgørelse is a Danish term referring to the official published text of a law. The word combines “lov” (law) and “bekendtgørelse” (proclamation or publication) and denotes the legally binding version of a statute as made available to the public. In practice, a new act passed by the Folketing is accompanied by a lovbekendtgørelse that contains the complete wording of the law, including any amendments and the date it or its provisions take effect. The lovbekendtgørelse is the authoritative source for the law’s wording and its application.

Publication and accessibility are key aspects. Traditionally published in the Danish Official Journal (Lovtidende), lovbekendtgørelser are now widely accessible online through government portals such as Retsinformation, where the current consolidated text and historical changes can be consulted. The text in the lovbekendtgørelse is binding, and lawyers, courts, and public administrations rely on it to determine the law as it stands.

The relationship between the law itself (the act passed by the Folketing) and its lovbekendtgørelse is akin to a statute and its published codification. The lovbekendtgørelse may be amended or supplemented over time as the law is amended, and new editions or consolidated versions are issued to reflect changes. Thus, the lovbekendtgørelse serves as the definitive, publicly accessible reference for the law’s current form and applicability in Denmark.