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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §27.10.17.pr

Limits on Manumission and Alienation by Curators of the Insane

Passage 4090 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It explains that the curator of a madman cannot manumit slaves, that the alienation of property is limited to what is necessary for administration, and that alienation for the purpose of a gift is void unless done for the great benefit of the madman upon a judicial inquiry.

[GAIUS libro primo de manumissionibus. ] §27.10.17.prCurator furiosi nullo modo libertatem praestare potest, quod ea res ex administratione non est: nam in tradendo ita res furiosi alienat, si id ad administrationem negotiorum pertineat: et ideo si donandi causa alienet, neque traditio quicquam ualebit, nisi ex magna utilitate furiosi hoc cognitione iudicis faciat.
[GAIUS, in the first book on Manumissions.] The curator of a madman can in no way grant freedom, because that matter does not belong to administration; for in transferring possession, he alienates the property of the madman only if it pertains to the administration of affairs. And therefore, if he should alienate for the purpose of making a gift, even the delivery will have no validity, unless he does this for the great benefit of the madman upon an inquiry by a judge.

Notes

  1. §27.10.17.prex administratione — The preposition ex here denotes 'belonging to' or 'falling within the scope of'. Thus, 'ex administratione' means 'within the scope of administration'.
  2. §27.10.17.prita ... si — Used correlatively to express a restrictive condition, meaning 'only if' or 'in such a way ... if'. It indicates that the curator's power to alienate property is restricted to cases necessary for the administration of affairs.
  3. §27.10.17.prcognitione iudicis — Refers to an official investigation or inquiry (cognitio) by a judge (iudex). It denotes an exceptional judicial review or authorization procedure conducted by virtue of office, distinct from ordinary civil litigation.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §27.10.17.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:27.10.17.pr

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