severability provision

[/ˌsɛvərəˈbɪləti prəˈvɪʒən/]
nounpl: severability provisions
cláusula de separabilidade
1. A legal clause in a contract or statute that ensures if one or more provisions are found invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect
The severability provision in the contract protected the other clauses even though one was deemed unenforceable.
A cláusula de separabilidade no contrato protegeu as outras disposições mesmo que uma fosse considerada inaplicável.
2. A protective measure in legislation designed to preserve the validity of a law if certain sections are struck down by courts
The statute included a severability provision to ensure that if the court invalidated one section, the rest of the law would remain intact.
A lei incluía uma cláusula de separabilidade para garantir que, se o tribunal invalidasse uma seção, o resto da lei permaneceria intacto.
Severability provisions are fundamental in both American and Brazilian contract and constitutional law. In the USA, they are standard in commercial contracts to protect parties' overall agreement. In Brazil, they are increasingly common in modern contracts and statutory law (Lei de Introdução às Normas do Direito Brasileiro). Courts in both jurisdictions recognize the importance of preserving parties' intent when possible, making severability clauses essential legal safeguards.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
severability clausesaving clauseseparability clauseblue pencil doctrine
Antonyms / Antônimos
inseverability clauseentire agreement clause

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
cláusula de separabilidade
most common and formal usage in Brazilian legal contexts
General Brazilian
disposição de separabilidade
alternative formal usage
Portugal
cláusula de salvaguarda
sometimes used in Portuguese legal terminology
General Brazilian
cláusula de subsistência
less common but used to emphasize survival of remaining provisions

Related Words

contract lawvoid provisionenforceabilitystatuteunenforceabilityinvalidationlegal interpretation

Related Idioms & Phrases

to sever a provision
to strike down a clause
to invalidate a section
the remaining provisions shall stand
blue pencil test
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