õigustoime

õigustoime refers to the legal capacity of a person or entity to perform legally valid acts. It is a fundamental concept in law, encompassing the ability to create, modify, or extinguish legal rights and obligations. There are typically two main aspects to õigustoime: õigusvõime (legal capacity to have rights and obligations) and teovõime (legal capacity to act and exercise those rights).

õigusvõime is generally possessed by all natural persons from birth and by legal entities upon their establishment. This means that even a newborn child has the capacity to inherit property or be a party to a contract, though they cannot directly manage these affairs. teovõime, on the other hand, is the ability to understand the consequences of one's actions and to voluntarily engage in legal transactions. This capacity is often linked to age and mental competence. Minors, for example, may have limited teovõime, with their legal acts requiring the consent of a legal guardian. Similarly, individuals deemed mentally incapacitated may have their teovõime restricted or removed.

The presence or absence of õigustoime is crucial in determining the validity of legal actions. Acts performed by individuals or entities lacking the necessary õigustoime may be considered void or voidable, meaning they have no legal effect or can be invalidated by a court. Understanding õigustoime is essential for navigating legal systems and ensuring that agreements and transactions are legally sound.