[ULPIANUS libro quinquagesimo ad edictum. ] §29.3.2.prTabularum testamenti instrumentum non est unius hominis, hoc est heredis, sed uniuersorum, quibus quid illic adscriptum est: quin potius publicum est instrumentum.
[ULPIAN, book 50 on the edict] The instrument of the tablets of a will does not belong to a single person, that is, the heir, but to all those to whom anything has been written therein; nay, rather, it is a public instrument.
§29.3.2.1Testamentum autem proprie illud dicitur, quod iure perfectum est: sed abusiue testamenta ea quoque appellamus, quae falsa sunt uel iniusta uel irrita uel rupta: itemque inperfecta solemus testamenta dicere. §29.3.2.2Ad causam autem testamenti pertinere uidetur id quodcumque quasi ad testamentum factum sit, in quacumque materia fuerit scriptum, quod contineat supremam uoluntatem: et tam principales quam secundae tabulae edicto continentur.
Now, strictly speaking, that is called a "will" which is legally complete; but in an extended sense we also call those "wills" which are forged, or unlawful, or invalid, or revoked; and likewise we are accustomed to call incomplete wills "wills." Moreover, anything whatsoever that has been made as if for a will, on whatever material it may have been written, provided that it contains the last will, seems to belong to the business of a will; and both the primary and secondary tablets are included in the edict.
§29.3.2.3Si plura sint testamenta, quae quis exhiberi desideret, uniuersorum ei facultas facienda est.
If there should be several wills which someone desires to be produced, the opportunity must be granted to him in respect of all of them.
§29.3.2.4Si dubitetur, utrum uiuat an decesserit is, cuius quis quod ad causam testamenti pertinet inspici describique postulat, dicendum est praetorem causa cognita statuere id debere, ut, si liquerit eum uiuere, non permittat.
If there is doubt whether he is alive or has died, whose will-related document someone requests to be inspected and copied, it must be said that the praetor, after investigating the case, ought to decree that, if it is clear that the person is alive, he should not permit it.
Inspici tabulas est, ut ipsam scripturam quis inspiciat et sigilla et quid aliud ex tabulis uelit spectare.
To inspect the tablets is for someone to inspect the writing itself, the seals, and whatever else he wishes to look at from the tablets.
§29.3.2.5Inspectio tabularum etiam lectionem earum indicat.
Inspection of the tablets also implies the reading of them.
§29.3.2.6Diem autem et consulem tabularum non patitur praetor describi uel inspici idcirco, ne quid falsi fiat: namque etiam inspectio materiam falso fabricando instruere potest.
However, the praetor does not allow the date and the consul of the tablets to be copied or inspected, for the purpose of preventing any forgery from being committed; for even inspection can provide the material for fabricating a forgery.
§29.3.2.7Utrum autem in continenti potestatem inspiciendi uel describendi iubet an desideranti tempus dabit ad exhibitionem? et magis est, ut dari debeat secundum locorum angustias seu prolixitates.
Does the praetor command the power of inspecting or copying immediately, or will he grant time for production to the person who desires it? The better opinion is that time ought to be granted according to the proximity or distance of the places.
§29.3.2.8Si quis non negans apud se tabulas esse non patiatur inspici et describi, omnimodo ad hoc compelletur: si tamen neget penes se tabulas esse, dicendum est ad interdictum rem mitti quod est de tabulis exhibendis.
If someone, while not denying that the tablets are in his possession, does not allow them to be inspected and copied, he shall be compelled in every way to do so; but if he denies that the tablets are in his possession, it must be said that the matter is referred to the interdict "concerning the production of tablets."