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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §29.2.57.pr-29.2.57.2

Necessary Heir's Abstention and Relief for Minors

Passage 4460 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Gaius explains the rules regarding the proconsul's grant of the power to abstain from an inheritance to necessary heirs of minor and major age, the relief available to those under twenty-five under the general edict, and the exclusion of slave necessary heirs from this privilege.

[GAIUS libro uicesimo tertio ad edictum prouinciale. ] §29.2.57.prNecessariis heredibus non solum impuberibus, sed etiam puberibus abstinendi se ab hereditate proconsul potestatem facit, ut, quamuis creditoribus hereditariis iure ciuili teneantur, tamen in eos actio non detur, si uelint derelinquere hereditatem.
[GAIUS, in the twenty-third book on the Provincial Edict.] The proconsul grants to necessary heirs, not only those below puberty but also those above puberty, the power to abstain from the inheritance, so that, although they remain liable to the inheritance creditors under civil law, an action may not be granted against them if they wish to abandon the inheritance.
sed impuberibus quidem, etiamsi se immiscuerint hereditati, praestat abstinendi facultatem, puberibus autem ita, si se non immiscuerint.
But to those below puberty indeed, even if they have intermeddled with the inheritance, he provides the opportunity of abstaining, whereas to those above puberty, he does so only if they have not intermeddled.
§29.2.57.1Sed tamen et puberibus minoribus uiginti quinque annis, si temere damnosam hereditatem parentis appetierint, ex generali edicto quod est de minoribus uiginti quinque annis succurrit, cum et si extranei damnosam hereditatem adierint, ex ea parte edicti in integrum eos restituit.
Nevertheless, even to those above puberty who are under twenty-five years of age, if they have rashly sought a damaging inheritance from a parent, he brings relief under the general edict concerning those under twenty-five years of age, since even if outside heirs have entered upon a damaging inheritance, he restores them to their original condition under that part of the edict.
§29.2.57.2Seruis autem necessariis heredibus, siue puberes siue impuberes sint, hoc non permittitur.
However, this is not permitted to slaves who are necessary heirs, whether they are above or below puberty.

Notes

  1. §29.2.57.prNecessariis heredibus — The term 'necessary heirs' here refers strictly to 'self-acquired and necessary heirs' (sui et necessarii heredes, such as children under the deceased's power). Although 'necessary heirs' (necessarii heredes) strictly designates slaves set free and appointed heirs by will, the explicit contrast with slave necessary heirs in section 2 (§29.2.57.2) indicates that free heirs are meant in this section.
  2. §29.2.57.prpuberibus autem ita, si — The phrase 'ita, si' expresses a strict limiting condition ('only on the condition that'). Here, the verb phrase 'praestat abstinendi facultatem' from the first part of the sentence is understood: 'but to those above puberty [he provides the opportunity] only if they have not intermeddled.'
  3. §29.2.57.1succurrit — While the subject is not explicitly stated, in this context it either functions impersonally ('relief is brought') or has the implicit subject 'proconsul' (or praetor) from the preceding sentence ('he brings relief'). The same applies to the subject of 'restituit' in the following clause.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §29.2.57.pr-29.2.57.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:29.2.57.pr-29.2.57.2

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