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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §23.3.21.pr

Implied Condition of Marriage in a Dowry Stipulation

Passage 3395 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It is explained that a stipulation made for a dowry implicitly contains the condition of marriage following, and if a notice of repudiation is sent, this condition is deemed to have failed.

[ULPIANUS libro trigesimo quinto ad Sabinum. ] §23.3.21.prStipulationem, quae propter causam dotis fiat, constat habere in se condicionem hanc 'si nuptiae fuerint secutae', et ita demum ex ea agi posse (quamuis non sit expressa condicio), si nuptiae, constat: quare si nuntius remittatur, defecisse condicio stipulationis uidetur
[ULPIANUS in the thirty-fifth book on Sabinus.] It is well established that a stipulation which is made for the sake of a dowry contains in itself this condition, 'if marriage should follow', and that an action can be brought on it only if the marriage follows (even though the condition is not expressed); therefore, if a notice of repudiation is sent, the condition of the stipulation is deemed to have failed.

Notes

  1. §23.3.21.prconstat — The verb constat appears twice in the sentence (constat habere... and si nuptiae, constat). This is a redundancy in the complex sentence structure, where the main verb 'it is well established/clear that...' is repeated for emphasis or reassurance. Syntactically, it governs the accusative and infinitive (AcI) construction: stipulationem... habere... et... agi posse... constat.
  2. §23.3.21.prsi nuptiae — After si nuptiae, the verbs fuerint secutae (or simply fuerint) are omitted, referencing the earlier conditional clause si nuptiae fuerint secutae.
  3. §23.3.21.prnuntius remittatur — A technical legal term in Roman law meaning to send (remittere) a formal notice (nuntius) of breaking off a betrothal (or dissolving a marriage). In this context, which concerns a dowry agreement made prior to marriage, it refers to the repudiation or breaking off of the engagement.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §23.3.21.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:23.3.21.pr

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