Legal glossary

Short explanations of the legal terms you come across on our website. The explanations are general and do not replace advice for your own matter.

A

Appeal (överklagande)

When you ask for a decision to be reviewed by a higher body. The appeal is sent to the authority that made the decision, and the decision states how and when to appeal. Under the Administrative Procedure Act the time limit is normally three weeks from when you were notified.

Arbitration (skiljeförfarande)

When a dispute is decided by one or more arbitrators instead of a public court. It requires the parties to have agreed on it and covers matters the parties are able to settle.

Articles of association (bolagsordning)

A limited company’s basic rules, including its name, registered office, business, share capital and number of board members. Changes are decided by the general meeting and must be filed with the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket).

Asset transfer (inkråmsöverlåtelse)

When the buyer takes over a company’s business and assets, such as equipment, stock and contracts, but not the company itself or its shares.

Board meeting minutes (styrelseprotokoll)

The minutes of a board meeting in a limited company, recording the board’s decisions. They are signed or checked by the chair and, if the board has several members, by another member.

C

Child from another relationship (särkullbarn)

A child of the deceased who is not the child of the surviving spouse. Such a child (särkullbarn) is entitled to receive their inheritance straight away, but can choose to wait in favour of the surviving spouse and inherit later.

Citizenship (medborgarskap)

Swedish citizenship can be applied for from the Swedish Migration Agency. The requirements include proven identity, a permanent residence permit, residence in Sweden for a certain time, good conduct, the ability to support yourself and knowledge of Swedish and Swedish society.

Cohabitation agreement (samboavtal)

An agreement in which cohabiting partners decide that there will be no division of property, or that certain property is excluded. It must be in writing and signed by both. Cohabitants are two people living together as a couple with a joint household.

Collective agreement (kollektivavtal)

A written agreement between an employer or employers’ organisation and a trade union about terms of employment, such as pay, working hours and holiday.

Complaint about a defect (reklamation)

Notifying the seller that goods are defective. Under the Sale of Goods Act this must be done within a reasonable time of noticing or when you should have noticed the defect, and no later than two years after receiving the goods unless a guarantee says otherwise. If you buy from a business as a private individual, the Consumer Sales Act (konsumentköplagen) applies instead.

Conduct (vandel)

How well you have behaved, for example whether you have followed rules, paid debts and given correct information. Conduct is assessed for citizenship and, since 13 July 2026, also for residence permits.

Consent clause (samtyckesförbehåll)

A clause in the articles of association stating that shares may only be transferred to a new owner with the company’s consent. Anyone who wants to sell must first apply to the board for consent.

Consultancy agreement (konsultavtal)

An agreement between a company and a consultant about an assignment, for example the work, fees, timing, liability, confidentiality and who owns what is produced.

Deed of gift (gåvobrev)

A written document recording a gift. A gift of real property requires a deed signed by both the giver and the recipient stating that the property is transferred. The recipient then applies for registration of title.

Distribution of the estate (arvskifte)

When the deceased person’s property is divided between heirs and beneficiaries. If the deceased was married, the division of matrimonial property is done first. The distribution must be recorded in a document signed by the estate’s co-owners.

Division of property (bodelning)

When the property of spouses or cohabiting partners is divided, usually on divorce, separation or death. Spouses who agree can also divide property during the marriage after notifying the Swedish Tax Agency. For cohabitants it covers only the home and household goods acquired for joint use.

Duty of confidentiality (tystnadsplikt)

An obligation not to pass on what you learn. Juridico is not a law firm, so the duty of confidentiality that the law gives advokats does not apply to us. Instead, we have a duty of confidentiality through our agreement with you.

E

Employment contract (anställningsavtal)

The agreement between employer and employee about the job. Employment is open-ended unless a fixed-term contract is allowed, and the employer must give written information about the essential terms.

Employment Protection Act (lagen om anställningsskydd, LAS)

The Swedish law that governs, among other things, which forms of employment are allowed, probationary employment, termination and what information the employer must give about the job.

Estate inventory (bouppteckning)

A list of the deceased person’s assets and debts. It is drawn up at a meeting to which all co-owners of the estate are invited, with two independent officials (förrättningspersoner), and is then sent to the Swedish Tax Agency for registration.

Estate of a deceased person (dödsbo)

The deceased person’s property and debts until the estate is distributed. It is managed jointly by the co-owners of the estate: the surviving spouse or cohabitant, the heirs and anyone who inherits all or a share of the estate under a will.

F

Family ties (anknytning)

A residence permit based on family ties can be granted to someone with a close family relationship to a person living in Sweden, such as a spouse, cohabiting partner or child. The person in Sweden is called the sponsor (anknytningsperson).

G

General meeting (bolagsstämma)

The meeting where shareholders make decisions in a limited company. An annual general meeting is held every year, where among other things the annual report is presented. The decisions are recorded in the minutes.

L

Lasting power of attorney (framtidsfullmakt)

A power of attorney meant to apply if, because of illness or similar, you can no longer manage your affairs. It must be in writing and signed in the presence of two witnesses at the same time. If signed electronically, an advanced electronic signature is required.

Legal expenses insurance (rättsskydd)

Part of Swedish home insurance that can cover the cost of a legal representative in a dispute that can be tried in a district court, court of appeal or the Supreme Court. Matters before, for example, the rent tribunal, Kronofogden or administrative courts are not covered.

Limitation (preskription)

When a claim can no longer be enforced because too much time has passed. The general rule is ten years, but three years for certain claims against consumers. The limitation period can be interrupted, for example by a written demand.

M

Marital property (giftorättsgods)

All property owned by a spouse that is not separate property. In a division of property, the spouses’ marital property is added together, after deducting debts, and split equally.

N

Non-disclosure agreement (sekretessavtal)

An agreement not to pass on information that is shared, for example before a collaboration. The Trade Secrets Act protects information a company keeps secret and whose disclosure would harm its competitive position.

O

Order to pay (betalningsföreläggande)

A way to get a decision on an unpaid debt through the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden). The claim must concern money and the due date must have passed. If the other party disputes the claim, you can have a court decide.

P

Partnership agreement (kompanjonsavtal)

An agreement between the partners of a trading partnership (handelsbolag) on how they run the business together, for example who does what, how profit is shared and what happens if someone wants to leave. The partners are personally and jointly liable for the partnership’s debts.

Permanent residence permit (permanent uppehållstillstånd)

A permit to live in Sweden without a time limit. It must be revoked if you no longer live in Sweden. If you have told the Swedish Migration Agency that you want to keep it, it can be revoked at the earliest one year after you moved.

Power of attorney (fullmakt)

An authorisation giving someone the right to act on your behalf, for example to sign a contract or handle a matter. What that person does within the limits of the power of attorney and in your name binds you.

Pre-emption clause (förköpsförbehåll)

A clause in the articles of association stating that a shareholder or someone else must be offered to buy a share before it is sold to a new owner.

Prenuptial agreement (äktenskapsförord)

An agreement in which spouses or future spouses decide that certain property is separate and excluded from a division of property. It must be in writing, dated, signed by both and registered with the Swedish Tax Agency to take effect.

Probationary employment (provanställning)

A fixed-term trial employment of no more than six months. If the employer or employee does not want to continue, they must say so by the end of the trial period, otherwise it becomes permanent employment.

Promissory note (skuldebrev)

A written document in which someone undertakes to repay a loan or another sum. If several people sign without splitting the liability, each of them is liable for the whole debt.

Purchase agreement (köpeavtal)

An agreement on a purchase, for example of a car, a boat or business equipment. The Swedish Sale of Goods Act covers movable property. Buying real property requires a written deed of sale signed by both seller and buyer.

Post-transfer redemption clause (hembudsförbehåll)

A clause in the articles of association giving a shareholder or someone else the right to redeem, that is buy, a share that has already passed to a new owner.

Q

Quote (offert)

A written price proposal. At Juridico you get a quote before we start, and you pay only once you have accepted it.

Registration of title (lagfart)

The entry of a new owner of real property in the Swedish property register. Anyone who has bought, been given or otherwise acquired a property must apply to Lantmäteriet within three months of the deed being signed.

Representative (ombud)

A person who acts for you in a matter under a power of attorney, for example before a public authority. The authority can still ask you to take part in person.

Residence permit (uppehållstillstånd)

A permit to stay in Sweden. It can be temporary or permanent and is granted, among other reasons, for work, to live with a family member or to run your own business.

Right of withdrawal (ångerrätt)

A consumer’s right to cancel a contract made at a distance, for example online or by phone. The withdrawal period is 14 days, and for a service it runs from the day the contract was made.

S

Separate property (enskild egendom)

Property that is not included in the division when a marriage ends. It becomes separate through a prenuptial agreement or through a condition in a gift, a will or a beneficiary designation.

Service agreement (uppdragsavtal)

An agreement to carry out an assignment for someone else, for example a service for a customer. It sets out the work, fees, timing and what applies if something goes wrong.

Settlement (förlikning)

When the parties to a dispute agree themselves on how to resolve it. Swedish courts work to help the parties settle, and a settlement can be confirmed by the court.

Share purchase agreement (aktieöverlåtelseavtal)

The agreement used when shares in a limited company change owner. It sets out, among other things, which shares are sold, the price, when the buyer takes over and what warranties the seller gives.

Shareholders’ agreement (aktieägaravtal)

An agreement between the shareholders of a limited company on how the company is owned and run, for example what happens when someone wants to sell their shares. It applies between those who signed it and complements the articles of association.

Statutory share of inheritance (laglott)

Half of the inheritance that a child or grandchild (bröstarvinge) is entitled to by law. It cannot be removed by will, but the heir must claim an adjustment of the will within six months of being served with it.

Supplementary information (komplettering)

When the Swedish Migration Agency asks you to send more information or documents so that it can assess your application. If you have a representative, the agency contacts them instead of you.

W

Will (testamente)

A document in which you decide who will receive your property when you die. It must be in writing and signed in the presence of two witnesses at the same time. The witnesses must know it is a will but do not need to know its contents.

Work permit (arbetstillstånd)

A permit to work in Sweden, which citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA normally need. It is granted for a limited time and requires, among other things, an employment contract with terms no worse than collective agreements or practice in the occupation.

Checked against the source on 30 October 2026.

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