Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §22.4.5.pr

Validity of Transactions Proven by Fact without Written Deeds

Passage 3252 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Callistratus explains that if the occurrence of a transaction can be proven by factual reality even without a written signature, its validity is not diminished merely because no written instrument was drawn up.

[CALLISTRATUS libro secundo quaestionum. ] §22.4.5.prSi res gesta sine litterarum quoque consignatione ueritate factum suum praebeat, non ideo minus ualebit, quod instrumentum nullum de ea intercessit.
[CALLISTRATUS from the second book of Questions.] If a transaction, even without the signing of a written document, demonstrates its own occurrence by the truth of the matter, it will not be any the less valid because no written instrument was executed concerning it.

Notes

  1. §22.4.5.prueritate factum suum praebeat — ueritate is an ablative of means ("by the truth of the matter"). factum suum (its own occurrence) is the direct object of praebeat. This indicates a situation where, even without formal written evidence, the reality of the transaction is demonstrated by objective facts.
  2. §22.4.5.prnon ideo minus ualebit, quod — A common legal construction expressing "it will not be any less valid [just] because...". It emphasizes the principle that the absence of a formal writing (instrumentum nullum) does not undermine the substantive validity of a transaction, provided its occurrence can be otherwise proved.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §22.4.5.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:22.4.5.pr

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