sidepõhimõtted

Sidepõhimõtted, often translated as "side principles" or "ancillary principles," refers to a legal concept in Estonian law that governs the relationship between a principal obligation and its accompanying accessory obligations. These principles dictate that the fate of the accessory obligation is directly tied to that of the principal obligation. If the principal obligation ceases to exist or is deemed invalid, then any associated accessory obligations typically become unenforceable as well.

This legal doctrine is crucial for maintaining fairness and preventing unjust enrichment. For instance, if a loan agreement (the principal obligation) is settled or declared void, any collateral or guarantees (accessory obligations) securing that loan would generally also be discharged. The underlying rationale is that the accessory obligation exists solely to support and secure the performance of the principal obligation. Without the principal obligation, the purpose and justification for the accessory obligation disappear.

The application of sidepõhimõtted ensures that parties are not burdened by obligations that have lost their foundational purpose. It provides a clear framework for understanding how the termination, invalidity, or fulfillment of a main contract affects related security interests or subsidiary agreements. Estonian legal practice consistently upholds this principle to ensure legal certainty and predictability in contractual relationships.