velvoittaja

Velvoittaja is a Finnish legal term referring to the party that is bound to fulfill an obligation arising from a contract, a statutory duty, or any other legal act. It is most often translated as “obligor” in English. The velvoittaja bears the duty to perform, which may take the form of delivering goods or services, paying a sum of money, or refraining from a specified action. Obligations can be created by bilateral contracts, unilateral undertakings, statutory provisions, or court decisions, and they may be simple or joint.

Failure to fulfil the obligation constitutes a breach, enabling the claimant to seek remedies through the civil-law system such as damages, specific performance, or contract termination. In some cases, enforceable obligations are secured by collateral or other guarantees.

The concept is a staple in Finnish civil law, contract law, and administrative or regulatory contexts where an individual or entity owes a duty to act or refrain. The term appears primarily in formal legal texts and case law; in ordinary language, people might refer to the debtor or party owing an obligation, depending on the context. See also the broader notion of velvoite (obligation) in Finnish law.