Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.5.28.pr

Rank of Heir Named after Conditional Substitution

Passage 4207 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpian explains that if a testator designates Titius as heir on the condition that Secundus is not heir, and subsequently designates Secundus as heir unconditionally, Secundus is held to be designated in the first degree.

[ULPIANUS libro quinto ad Sabinum. ] §28.5.28.prSi ita quis institutus sit: 'Titius heres esto, si Secundus heres non erit', deinde: 'Secundus heres esto': placet primo gradu Secundum esse institutum.
[ULPIANUS libro quinto ad Sabinum.] If someone is designated in this way: 'Let Titius be heir, if Secundus is not heir,' and then: 'Let Secundus be heir': it is held that Secundus has been designated in the first degree.

Notes

  1. §28.5.28.prplacet — An impersonal verb taking the accusative and infinitive construction (AcI) `Secundum esse institutum` ('that Secundus has been designated') as its subject, meaning 'it is held' or 'it is the accepted legal opinion'.
  2. §28.5.28.prprimo gradu — A case of ablative (of respect, or of place/circumstance) meaning 'in the first degree' or 'in the first rank'. It refers to the order or stage (gradus) of institution of an heir in Roman law, indicating the primary, unconditional designation, as opposed to a substitution which would be in the second degree (secundo gradu).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.5.28.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.5.28.pr

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