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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.5.63.pr-28.5.63.1

Institution Based on Capacity and Uncertainty of the Heir

Passage 4242 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

On the validity of instituting an heir with reference to the time of taking the inheritance, and the rules of interpretation and proof when the identity of the designated heir is ambiguous.

[IDEM libro secundo pandectarum. ] §28.5.63.prIn tempus capiendae hereditatis institui heredem posse beneuolentiae est, ueluti 'Lucius Titius cum capere potuerit, heres esto': idem et in legato.
[THE SAME, from the second book of the Pandects.] That an heir can be instituted with reference to the time of taking the inheritance is a matter of favor, for example: 'Let Lucius Titius be heir when he is able to take it'; the same also applies to a legacy.
§28.5.63.1Quotiens non apparet, quis heres institutus sit, institutio non ualet (quippe euenire potest, si testator complures amicos eodem nomine habeat et ad designationem singulari nomine utatur): nisi ex aliis apertissimis probationibus fuerit reuelatum, pro qua persona testator senserit.
Whenever it is not clear who has been instituted heir, the institution is invalid (for indeed it can happen if the testator has several friends of the same name and uses a single name for designation); unless it has been revealed by other most clear proofs which person the testator intended.

Notes

  1. 28.5.63.prIn tempus capiendae hereditatis — The gerundive construction capiendae hereditatis modifies the noun tempus. It means 'with reference to the time of taking the inheritance', referring to an institution made in anticipation of the heir gaining capacity in the future.
  2. 28.5.63.prbeneuolentiae est — A predicate genitive of characteristic or property, meaning 'is a matter of favor' or 'belongs to benevolence.'
  3. 28.5.63.1pro qua persona testator senserit — An indirect question clause introduced by the relative adjective qua with the preposition pro; the verb senserit is in the perfect subjunctive. Here, sentire is used in the sense of 'to mean, intend, or have in mind (a specific person)'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.5.63.pr-28.5.63.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.5.63.pr-28.5.63.1

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