schuldhaftes

Schuldhaftes is a German adjective form meaning culpable or blameworthy. It is used to describe conduct or actions that are fault-based and thus capable of giving rise to liability or moral blame. In everyday language it often pairs with nouns like Verhalten (conduct) or Verschulden (fault).

In criminal law, schuldhaftes Verhalten denotes conduct for which a person can be held legally responsible due to fault. German criminal law distinguishes between Vorsatz (intent) and Fahrlässigkeit (negligence) as forms of schuld. Both intentional and negligent actions can be considered schuldhaft, but the degree of culpability and the corresponding penalties vary with the mental state and the circumstances of the offense. The term is commonly found in judicial assessments of whether the defendant acted with the requisite fault.

In civil law, Schuld or Verschulden refers to fault that can trigger liability for damages or breach of duty. A party may be found schuldhaft if its action or omission violated a legal duty and caused harm. German jurisprudence distinguishes levels of fault such as leichtes Verschulden (slight negligence) and grobes Verschulden (gross negligence), which influence the extent of liability and compensation.

Outside formal law, schuldhaftes is used in moral or evaluative contexts to label behavior as socially or ethically blameworthy. It is contrasted with unverschuldet (not at fault) or entschuldigt (excused). The term therefore captures both legal concepts of fault and broader notions of responsibility and accountability.