to become time-barred
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to become time-barred
Describes the legal state in which a claim or criminal offense can no longer be enforced or prosecuted in court after a legally specified period has expired.
Der Anspruch auf Schadensersatz verjährt in der Regel nach drei Jahren.
The claim for damages generally becomes time-barred after three years.
The verb is made up of the inseparable prefix 'ver-' and the stem 'jähren', which comes from the word 'Jahr' (year). The prefix 'ver-' here expresses that something is lost or becomes invalid through the passage of time (years).
Viele alte Gesetze sind inzwischen verjährt oder wurden geändert.
Many old laws have since become time-barred or have been changed.
'Verjähren' (to become time-barred) describes a change of state (from valid to invalid). Therefore, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein', not with 'haben'.
Die Forderung ist bereits letztes Jahr verjährt.
The claim already became time-barred last year.
Since it is a legal term, the subjects are usually legal concepts. Typical subjects are 'ein Anspruch' (a claim), 'eine Forderung' (a demand/claim), 'Schulden' (debts), or 'eine Straftat' (a criminal offense).
Eine einfache Körperverletzung verjährt nach fünf Jahren.
A simple assault becomes time-barred after five years.
'Verjähren' (to become time-barred) is a term from legal language. You find it in laws, contracts, and the news, but it is rarely used in normal everyday life.
Sein Anwalt prüfte, ob der Anspruch des Klägers nicht schon verjährt war.
His lawyer checked whether the plaintiff's claim had not already become time-barred.
to expire / proceed / drain
'ablaufen' and 'verjähren' both have to do with the end of a time limit. 'ablaufen' is more general: an ID card, a contract, a voucher, or a medication can 'ablaufen' when its validity or shelf life ends. 'verjähren' is used only in the legal sense. It means that a claim or criminal offense can no longer be enforced or prosecuted in court after a statutory period. The words can be confused because in both cases a time limit ends. A simple guideline is: for ordinary things, use 'ablaufen'; for legal claims or criminal offenses, use 'verjähren'.
Der Anspruch verjährt nach drei Jahren, wenn niemand rechtzeitig handelt.
The claim becomes time-barred after three years if no one acts in time.
Mein Reisepass läuft nächsten Monat ab, deshalb brauche ich einen neuen.
My passport expires next month, so I need a new one.