Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §29.4.2.pr-29.4.2.1

Actions against Those Waiving Inheritance for a Price

Passage 4516 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section discusses the rescript of the deified Hadrian allowing an action against one who abandoned an inheritance for a price, and the proper order of suing the possessor versus the heir.

[IDEM libro septimo ad Sabinum. ] §29.4.2.prLicet pro herede gerere non uideatur, qui pretio accepto praetermisit hereditatem, tamen dandam in eum actionem exemplo eius, qui omissa causa testamenti ab intestato possidet hereditatem, diuus Hadrianus rescripsit: proinde legatariis et fideicommissariis tenebitur.
[THE SAME, book seven on Sabinus] Although he who has abandoned the inheritance having accepted a price does not seem to act as heir, nevertheless the deified Hadrian wrote in a rescript that an action should be given against him after the example of one who, having abandoned the basis of the testament, possesses the inheritance as on intestacy; therefore, he will be held liable to the legatees and fideicommissaries.
§29.4.2.1Sed utrum ab eo erit incipiendum et sic ad heredem ueniendum an conuertemus ordinem? mihi uidetur humanior esse haec sententia, ut possessor hereditatis prior excutiatur, maxime si lucratiuam habet possessionem.
But should we begin with him and so come to the heir, or shall we reverse the order? To me, this opinion seems more humane, that the possessor of the inheritance should first be sued, especially if he has a lucrative possession.

Notes

  1. §29.4.2.prpro herede gerere — To "act as heir," which signifies the tacit acceptance of an inheritance. Although the act of abandoning an inheritance after receiving a price does not strictly constitute managing the estate, the rescript of Hadrian allows an action against such a person by extending the scope of the edict.
  2. §29.4.2.1ab eo erit incipiendum — Impersonal passive periphrastic conjugations using the neuter gerundives (incipiendum [erit] and ueniendum [erit]), expressing necessity: "one must begin with him and so come to...".
  3. §29.4.2.1prior — The nominative adjective is used adverbially to mean "first" or "previously," modifying the subject: "the possessor should first be sued (or examined)."

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §29.4.2.pr-29.4.2.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:29.4.2.pr-29.4.2.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.