Legal force

In Swiss procedure, a decision acquires legal force when it is no longer open to ordinary challenge or when available challenges no longer prevent finality in the relevant sense. Legal force has two main aspects: formal finality, meaning the decision cannot be altered through ordinary procedural steps, and material res judicata, meaning the decided matter binds the parties and courts in later proceedings within its scope. The exact effect depends on the type of decision, remedy and subject matter. Legal force is related to, but not identical with, enforceability.