Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §2.14.49.pr

Agreement to Sue Only to the Extent of Means

Passage 415 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpianus affirms the validity of an agreement where a creditor agrees to sue a debtor only to the extent of the debtor's ability to pay.

[ULPIANUS libro trigensimo sexto ad Sabinum. ] §2.14.49.prSi quis crediderit pecuniam et pactus sit ut, quatenus facere possit debitor, eatenus agat: an pactum ualeat? et magis est hoc pactum ualere.

[ULPIANUS, On Sabinus, book 36] If someone lends money and agrees that he will sue only to the extent that the debtor is able to perform: is the agreement valid? And the better opinion is that this agreement is valid.

nec enim improbum est, si quis hactenus desideret conueniri, quatenus facultates patiuntur.

For it is not improper if someone desires to be sued only to the extent that his means allow.

Notes

§2.14.49.prfacere possit — The verb facere here is used not in a generic sense but specifically to mean "to perform" or "to pay" (soluere) a debt, corresponding to the later mentioned "means" (facultates). This is a standard expression in the context of the beneficium competentiae.
§2.14.49.prmagis est — The expression magis est is followed by an accusative and infinitive construction (hoc pactum ualere). This is an impersonal legal idiom meaning "it is more correct" or "the better opinion is that...", indicating the preferred scholarly view.
§2.14.49.prconueniri — The passive infinitive of the verb conuenire. In legal Latin, active conuenire means "to sue" or "to summon to court"; hence, the passive conueniri means "to be sued" or "to be summoned". Its subject is the debtor implied by si quis.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §2.14.49.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.14.49.pr

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