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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §10.2.2.pr-10.2.2.5

Scope of the Action for Inheritance Division and Debts

Passage 1639 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpian explains the scope of the action for the division of an inheritance (familiae erciscundae actionem), specifying which types of inheritance and estates it applies to, and details how the division of claims (nomina) is managed through stipulations.

[ULPIANUS libro nono decimo ad edictum. ] §10.2.2.prPer familiae erciscundae actionem diuiditur hereditas, siue ex testamento siue ab intestato, siue ex lege duodecim tabularum siue ex aliqua lege deferatur hereditas uel ex senatus consulto uel etiam constitutione: et generaliter eorum dumtaxat diuidi hereditas potest, quorum peti potest hereditas.
[ULPIAN, on the Edict, book 19] By the action for the division of an inheritance, the inheritance is divided, whether it is devolved by will or on intestacy, or by the Law of the Twelve Tables, or by some other law, or by a senate decree, or even by an imperial constitution; and generally, only the inheritance of those whose inheritance can be claimed by action can be divided.
§10.2.2.1Si quarta ad aliquem ex constitutione diui Pii adrogatum deferatur, quia hic neque heres neque bonorum possessor fit, utile erit familiae erciscundae iudicium necessarium:
If a fourth share is devolved, under the constitution of the deified Pius, upon someone who has been arrogated, since he becomes neither heir nor possessor of the goods, a useful action for the division of the inheritance will be necessary.
§10.2.2.2Item si filii familias militis peculium sit. fortius defendi potest hereditatem effectam per constitutiones, et ideo hoc iudicio locus erit.
Likewise, if there is a peculium of a soldier who is a filius familias, it can be more strongly argued that an inheritance has been created by the constitutions, and therefore there will be room for this action.
§10.2.2.3In familiae erciscundae iudicio unusquisque heredum et rei et actoris partes sustinet.
In the action for the division of an inheritance, each of the heirs sustains the roles of both defendant and plaintiff.
§10.2.2.4Dubitandum autem non est, quin familiae erciscundae iudicium et inter pauciores heredes ex pluribus accipi possit.
Moreover, it is not to be doubted that the action for the division of an inheritance can be accepted even between a smaller number of heirs out of many.
§10.2.2.5In hoc iudicium etsi nomina non ueniunt, tamen, si stipulationes interpositae fuerint de diuisione eorum, ut stetur ei et ut alter alteri mandet actiones procuratoremque eum in suam rem faciat, stabitur diuisioni.
Although claims (nomina) do not enter into this action, nevertheless, if stipulations have been entered into concerning their division, to the effect that it should be adhered to, and that one should mandate his actions to the other and make him a procurator in his own interest, the division shall be adhered to.

Notes

  1. §10.2.2.preorum dumtaxat diuidi hereditas potest, quorum peti potest hereditas — The demonstrative pronoun "eorum" (genitive plural) is the antecedent of the relative pronoun "quorum" and refers to the deceased persons whose estates are in question. It establishes that only the inheritance of those individuals against whose estate an action for recovery (peti ... hereditas) can be brought is eligible for division.
  2. §10.2.2.1utile erit familiae erciscundae iudicium necessarium — The words "utile" and "iudicium" combine to mean an "analogous/useful action" (iudicium utile). Here, "utile" modifies "iudicium", while "necessarium" (neuter nominative singular) functions as a predicate adjective: "an analogous trial for the division of an inheritance will be necessary." Alternatively, "necessarium" could be taken as another attributive adjective, but in this context, it is more natural to read it as a predicate expressing that the analogous trial becomes essential.
  3. §10.2.2.5nomina — The term "nomina" (plural nominative of "nomen") in classical Roman law refers specifically to "claims" or "debts" (originally book debts/entries). Under the rules of the Twelve Tables, claims and debts were divided by operation of law (ipso iure) among coheirs in proportion to their shares, which is why they do not directly enter into the division under this action (non ueniunt in hoc iudicium).
  4. §10.2.2.5ut stetur ei ... stabitur diuisioni — The impersonal passive voice of the intransitive verb "stare" (to stand by, adhere to) is used twice here. First, "ut stetur ei" is a present subjunctive passive meaning "that it should be adhered to," where "ei" is a neuter dative singular. Second, "stabitur diuisioni" is a future indicative passive where "diuisioni" is the dative case governed by "stare" ("it will be adhered to the division," meaning "the division shall be adhered to").

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §10.2.2.pr-10.2.2.5. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:10.2.2.pr-10.2.2.5

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