seaduslik

Seaduslik is an Estonian adjective meaning legal, lawful, or legitimate. It describes something that is in conformity with the law or recognized by the law, such as a person’s status, an action, or an institution. The word is formed from seadus, meaning law, with the derivational suffix -lik, which indicates a relation to or characteristic of. The opposite form is ebaseaduslik, meaning illegal or unlawful.

In everyday and legal language, seaduslik denotes actions or statuses permissible under current legislation. For example, a company that operates seaduslikult (legally), property that is seaduslikult omandatud (legally acquired), or acts performed seaduslikult (legally). Common phrases include seaduslik omand (lawful ownership), seaduslikult tegutsev ettevõte (a company operating legally), and seaduslik vanem (legitimate parent).

The term is important for rights and obligations, such as ownership, custody, or eligibility for benefits, as it underscores conformity with statutory requirements and procedural rules. The adverbial form seaduslikult is used to describe how an action is carried out in a manner that adheres to the law. Seaduslik is routinely contrasted with ebaseaduslik to distinguish compliant from noncompliant conduct.