lawful
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lawful
Describes that something complies with the law or a rule and is therefore valid or permissible. It is often used to confirm the legality of an action or decision.
Das Gericht entschied, dass die Kündigung nicht rechtens war.
The court decided that the dismissal was not lawful.
The word 'rechtens' (lawful) is almost always used with the verb 'sein' (to be) and comes after the noun. It is not declined before a noun like a normal adjective.
Das Vorgehen der Firma war nicht rechtens.
The company's actions were not lawful.
'Rechtens' is an old genitive form of 'Recht' (law/right). It literally means 'of the law' or 'in accordance with the law' and expresses that something agrees with the law.
Die Richterin prüfte, ob die Handlung rechtens war.
The judge checked whether the action was lawful.
This word belongs to formal language and is mainly used in legal or administrative contexts. In everyday speech, it is rather rare to hear.
In dem offiziellen Dokument wurde bestätigt, dass alles rechtens zugegangen ist.
The official document confirmed that everything had been done lawfully.
right
'von Rechts wegen' (by right) and 'rechtens' (lawful) both say that something complies with the law or a rule. 'rechtens' is often used with 'sein': a decision or action 'ist rechtens' (is lawful). 'von Rechts wegen' is a fixed expression and emphasizes more strongly that something applies or is due to someone on the basis of the law. Both sound rather formal. 'rechtens' is good when judging whether something is permissible; 'von Rechts wegen' fits especially with claims or legal reasons.
Im Büro prüfen wir, ob die Kündigung rechtens ist.
At the office, we check whether the dismissal is lawful.
Von Rechts wegen muss der Vertrag schriftlich bestätigt werden.
By law, the contract must be confirmed in writing.