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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.7.4.pr-28.7.4.1

Conditions of Partnership and Non-Alienation in Institution

Passage 4324 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The text discusses the debate between Marcellus and Julian regarding the validity of a condition requiring heirs to remain partners for sixteen years, and how a negative condition not to alienate a slave is handled in the cases of co-heirs and a sole heir.

[ULPIANUS libro octauo ad Sabinum. ] §28.7.4.prSi qui ita sint instituti: 'si socii una bonorum meorum permanserint usque ad annos sedecim, heredes sunto', inutilem esse institutionem secundum uerborum significationem Marcellus ait: Iulianus autem, quoniam et ante aditam hereditatem iniri societas potest quasi rei futurae, ualere institutionem, quod est uerum.
[ULPIAN, in the eighth book on Sabinus.] If any persons should be instituted in this way: "if they remain partners together in my estate for sixteen years, let them be heirs," Marcellus says that according to the literal meaning of the words the institution is invalid; but Julian says that, since a partnership can be entered into even before the inheritance is accepted, as if concerning a future thing, the institution is valid, which is true.
§28.7.4.1Idem Iulianus scribit eum, qui ita heres institutus est, si seruum hereditarium non alienauerit, cauentem coheredi implere condicionem: ceterum si solus heres scriptus sit, sub impossibili condicione heredem institutum uideri: quae sententia uera est.
The same Julian writes that he who has been instituted heir under the condition "if he does not alienate a slave of the inheritance" fulfills the condition by providing a guarantee to his co-heir; but if he has been written as sole heir, he is considered to have been instituted under an impossible condition; which opinion is true.

Notes

  1. §28.7.4.prusque ad annos sedecim — While it can be interpreted as 'until sixteen years of age' or 'for sixteen years,' it is generally understood as 'for sixteen years' in the context of maintaining a partnership (societas) of the estate, which this translation follows.
  2. §28.7.4.prpotest quasi rei futurae — The verb 'iniri' is omitted here and should be supplied as 'potest iniri' (can be entered into). 'quasi rei futurae' (as if concerning a future thing) explains the legal nature of the agreement made regarding the inheritance before its acceptance.
  3. §28.7.4.1cauentem coheredi — The present participle 'cauentem' modifies the subject 'eum' and expresses the means of fulfilling the condition (by giving security to the co-heir). This is based on the doctrine of 'cautio Muciana', which allows an heir under a negative condition to inherit immediately by providing a guarantee against future non-performance.
  4. §28.7.4.1sub impossibili condicione — In the case of a sole heir, since there is no co-heir to whom the security can be given, it becomes impossible to immediately fulfill the lifelong negative condition through a guarantee. Therefore, this condition is regarded as an impossible condition ('impossibilis condicio'), which in testaments is treated as not written, making the heir inherit unconditionally.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.7.4.pr-28.7.4.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.7.4.pr-28.7.4.1

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