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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §25.1.1.pr-25.1.1.3

Classification of Expenses and Necessary Expenses on Dowry

Passage 3660 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Introducing the threefold classification of expenses (necessary, useful, and voluptuary), defining necessary expenses as those made upon the dotal property, and listing specific examples of necessary expenses such as dikes, mills, granaries, and building repairs.

[ULPIANUS libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. ] §25.1.1.prImpensarum quaedam sunt necessariae, quaedam utiles, quaedam uero uoluptariae.
[ULPIANUS, On Sabinus, book 36] Of expenses, some are necessary, some are useful, and some indeed are voluptuary.
§25.1.1.1Necessariae hae dicuntur, quae habent in se necessitatem inpendendi: ceterum si nulla fuit necessitas, alio iure habentur.
Those are called necessary which have in themselves the necessity of being expended; but if there was no necessity, they are treated under a different rule of law.
§25.1.1.2In necessariis impensis hoc sciendum est eas demum inpensas dotem minuere, quae in dotem factae sunt: ceterum si in dotem factae non sint, non habent in se reputationem.
With regard to necessary expenses, it must be known that only those expenses diminish the dowry which were made upon the dotal property; but if they were not made upon the dotal property, they do not carry in themselves a right of set-off.
§25.1.1.3Inter necessarias inpensas esse Labeo ait moles in mare uel flumen proiectas. sed et si pistrinum uel horreum necessario factum sit, in necessariis impensis habendum ait.
Labeo says that moles projected into the sea or a river are among necessary expenses; but he also says that if a mill or a granary has been built out of necessity, it must be reckoned among necessary expenses.
proinde Fulcinius inquit, si aedificium ruens quod habere mulieri utile erat refecerit, aut si oliueta reiecta restaurauerit, uel ex stipulatione damni infecti ne committatur praestiterit,
Accordingly, Fulcinius says, if he has repaired a ruinous building which it was useful for the woman to keep, or if he has restored neglected olive groves, or if he has provided security under a stipulation against threatened damage to prevent it from occurring,

Notes

  1. §25.1.1.2eas demum inpensas dotem minuere, quae in dotem factae sunt — The construction `eas ... quae` accompanied by the restrictive adverb `demum` (only, not until) means "only those expenses which...". `eas... inpensas` serves as the subject of the accusative-with-infinitve clause `eas... inpensas dotem minuere`.
  2. §25.1.1.2in dotem — The preposition `in` with the accusative (`dotem`) is used here in the sense of "upon the dotal property" or "for the sake of the dotal property", rather than merely "to be counted as dowry".
  3. §25.1.1.3si aedificium ruens quod habere mulieri utile erat refecerit — The subject of `refecerit` is understood from the context as the husband (maritus), and its object is `aedificium ruens`. The relative clause `quod habere mulieri utile erat` (which it was useful for the woman to keep) modifies `aedificium`. The subjective meaning of `habere` (to keep/have) is linked with the dative `mulieri`. This conditional clause (`si` clause) is incomplete and continues into the next chunk.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §25.1.1.pr-25.1.1.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:25.1.1.pr-25.1.1.3

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