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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §27.2.6.pr

Ward's Maintenance and Praetor's Measures in Tutor's Absence

Passage 3993 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

When a tutor is absent and the ward needs maintenance, the praetor will decide on removal or curator appointment if the absence is due to negligence, but will appoint a temporary administrator solely for maintenance if the absence is necessary and unexpected.

[TRYPHONINUS libro quarto decimo disputationum. ] §27.2.6.prSi absens sit tutor et alimenta pupillus desideret, si quidem neglegentia et nimia cessatio in administratione tutoris obiciatur, quae etiam ex hoc arguatur, quod per absentiam eius deserta derelictaque sunt pupilli negotia, euocatis adfinibus atque amicis tutoris praetor edicto proposito causa cognita etiam absente tutore uel remouendum eum, qui dignus tali nota uidebitur, decernet uel adiungendum curatorem: et ita qui datus erit, expediet alimenta pupillo.
[TRYPHONINUS, from the fourteenth book of Disputations.] If a tutor is absent and the ward requires maintenance, if indeed negligence and excessive inaction in the administration of the tutor are charged, which is also proved by this fact, that through his absence the business of the ward is deserted and abandoned, the praetor, having summoned the relatives and friends of the tutor and published an edict, after investigating the case, even in the absence of the tutor, shall decide either that he who shall seem worthy of such ignominy is to be removed, or that a curator is to be appointed; and thus he who is appointed shall provide maintenance for the ward.
si uero necessaria absentia tutoris et inprouisa acciderit, forte quod subito ad cognitionem principalem profectus nec rei suae prouidere nec consulere pupillo potuerit et speratur redire et idoneus sit tutor nec expediat alium adiungi et pupillus alimenta de re sua postulet: recte constituetur ad hoc solum, ut ex re pupilli alimenta expediat.
But if the absence of the tutor is necessary and unforeseen, as for instance because he, having suddenly set out for an imperial investigation, could neither provide for his own property nor take counsel for the ward, and it is hoped that he will return, and the tutor is suitable, and it is not expedient that another be appointed, and the ward requests maintenance from his own property: someone shall be rightfully appointed for this sole purpose, namely, to provide maintenance from the property of the ward.

Notes

  1. §27.2.6.prremouendum ... decernet uel adiungendum curatorem — Two gerundives in the accusative (with 'esse' omitted, forming future passive infinitive constructions) are parallelly governed by 'decernet'. The subject of 'remouendum' is 'eum', and the subject of 'adiungendum' is 'curatorem'.
  2. §27.2.6.prquod per absentiam eius deserta derelictaque sunt pupilli negotia — The nouns 'neglegentia et nimia cessatio', antecedent of the relative pronoun 'quae', function as the subject of 'arguatur' (subjunctive passive). The 'quod' clause is an appositive clause explaining the concrete content of the preceding demonstrative pronoun 'ex hoc'.
  3. §27.2.6.prcognitionem principalem — The adjective 'principalis' derives from 'princeps' (emperor), and in Roman law specifically refers to the imperial judicial proceeding (cognitio extra ordinem).
  4. §27.2.6.prrecte constituetur ad hoc solum — The subject of 'constituetur' (future passive) is not explicitly stated, but contextually a temporary administrator (analogous to 'curator') is understood. Rather than interpreting it impersonally as 'a procedure will be established', it is better understood as the appointment of a personal administrator, which smoothly matches the subject of the verb in the following clause 'ut... expediat' (so that he may provide).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §27.2.6.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:27.2.6.pr

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