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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.6.40.pr

Death of Arrogated Minor and Relief for Substitute Heir

Passage 4312 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Papinianus discusses the case where an arrogated minor dies, arguing that if the natural father had designated a substitute heir, that substitute should be granted relief through equitable actions, just as statutory heirs are protected.

[PAPINIANUS libro uicesimo nono quaestionum. ] §28.6.40.prCausa cognita impubes adrogatus decesserat.
[PAPINIANUS, from his twenty-ninth book of questions.] An arrogated minor had died after an inquiry into the case.
quemadmodum legitimis heredibus auctoritate principali prospicitur uinculo cautionis, ita, si forte substituit naturalis pater impuberi, succurrendum erit substituto: nam et legitimis heredibus futuris non aliae quam utiles actiones praestari possunt.
Just as provision is made for the statutory heirs by imperial authority through the bond of a security, so, if by chance the natural father had substituted an heir for the minor, relief must be given to the substitute; for indeed, to those who would be statutory heirs, no other than equitable actions can be granted.

Notes

  1. §28.6.40.prCausa cognita — An ablative absolute construction consisting of the noun 'causa' and the participle 'cognita'. It refers to the official inquiry and cognitive procedure conducted by magistrates or pontiffs under imperial authority before the arrogation of a minor could be approved.
  2. §28.6.40.prprospicitur — An impersonal passive verb. It takes the dative 'legitimis heredibus' (statutory heirs) to mean 'provision is made for them' or 'they are looked after'.
  3. §28.6.40.prsuccurrendum erit — An impersonal gerundive construction of obligation/necessity, taking the dative 'substituto' (the substitute). It indicates that 'relief must be granted' to the substitute heir appointed by the natural father.
  4. §28.6.40.prutiles actiones — Equitable or analogous actions (utiles actiones). When direct actions (directae actiones) based on strict civil law (ius civile) are not available, the praetor grants these as a matter of equity (aequitas) by extending or adapting existing legal formulae.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.6.40.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.6.40.pr

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