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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §27.2.1.pr-27.2.1.3

Praetor's Discretion on Child Custody and Upbringing

Passage 3988 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The passage discusses the praetor's authority to determine where children should be raised or reside, establishing that the praetor has discretion over testamentary instructions, and addresses the coercion of those refusing to bring up a child and the denial of actions for legatees or heirs who refuse such duties.

[ULPIANUS libro trigesimo quarto ad edictum. ] §27.2.1.prSolet praetor frequentissime adiri, ut constituat, ubi filii uel alantur uel morentur, non tantum in postumis, uerum omnino in pueris.
[ULPIANUS, from the thirty-fourth book on the Edict.] It is very common for the praetor to be approached so that he may determine where children should either be nourished or stay, not only in the case of posthumous children, but generally in the case of all children.
§27.2.1.1Et solet ex persona, ex condicione et ex tempore statuere, ubi potius alendus sit: et nonnumquam a uoluntate patris recedit praetor.
And he is accustomed to decide where the child should rather be nourished, based on the person, the condition, and the time; and sometimes the praetor departs from the will of the father.
denique cum quidam testamento suo cauisset, ut filius apud substitutum educetur, imperator Seuerus rescripsit praetorem aestimare debere praesentibus ceteris propinquis liberorum: id enim agere praetorem oportet, ut sine ulla maligna suspicione alatur partus et educetur.
Indeed, when a certain person had provided in his will that his son should be brought up with his substitute heir, the Emperor Severus wrote in a rescript that the praetor ought to make an assessment in the presence of the other relatives of the children; for it behoves the praetor to act in such a way that the offspring may be nourished and brought up without any evil suspicion.
§27.2.1.2Quamuis autem praetor recusantem apud se educari non polliceatur se coacturum, attamen quaestionis est, an debeat etiam inuitum cogere, ut puta libertum, parentem uel quem alium de adfinibus cognatisue.
Although, moreover, the praetor does not promise that he will compel a person who refuses to have the child brought up with him, yet it is a question whether he ought to compel even an unwilling person, such as a freedman, a parent, or any other of the relatives by marriage or by blood.
et magis est, ut interdum debeat id facere.
And the better opinion is that he sometimes ought to do so.
§27.2.1.3Certe non male dicetur, si legatarius uel heres educationem recuset testamento sibi iniunctam, denegari ei actiones debere exemplo tutoris testamento dati: quod ita demum placuit, si idcirco sit relictum: ceterum si esset relicturus, etiamsi educationem recusaturum sciret, non denegabitur ei actio, et ita diuus Seuerus saepissime statuit.
Certainly it will not be poorly said that, if a legatee or an heir should refuse the upbringing enjoined upon him in the will, actions ought to be denied to him, after the example of a tutor appointed by will; which, indeed, was accepted only if the legacy or inheritance was left for that very reason. But if the testator was going to leave it, even if he knew that the person would refuse the upbringing, the action will not be denied to him; and so the deified Severus very often decided.

Notes

  1. §27.2.1.pradiri — The present passive infinitive of the verb 'adire' (to approach, to petition), depending on 'solet' with the nominative 'praetor' as its subject. It means that the praetor is passively 'approached' or 'petitioned' by citizens.
  2. §27.2.1.1praesentibus ceteris propinquis liberorum — An ablative absolute construction. Meaning 'with the other relatives (ceteris propinquis) of the children (liberorum) being present (praesentibus)', indicating the procedural condition under which the praetor must make his decision.
  3. §27.2.1.2recusantem apud se educari — 'recusantem' is a present participle in the accusative, acting as the object of the following 'se coacturum [esse]'. 'apud se educari' (to be brought up at his own place) is an infinitive phrase acting as the object of 'recusantem'. The pronoun 'se' refers back to 'recusantem' (the refuser) and not to the praetor.
  4. §27.2.1.3si idcirco sit relictum — A subjunctive passive verb phrase (with an implied subject such as 'legatum' or 'hereditas'). The adverb 'idcirco' (for that reason) indicates that the bequest was made precisely 'for the purpose of having the child brought up'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §27.2.1.pr-27.2.1.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:27.2.1.pr-27.2.1.3

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