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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §33.5.16.pr

Invalidity of Option Exercise before Acceptance of Heir

Passage 5035 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It states that when a choice is bequeathed, it cannot be exercised before the inheritance is accepted, and any such attempt is void.

[TERENTIUS CLEMENS libro quinto decimo ad legem Iuliam et Papiam. ] §33.5.16.prOptione legata placet non posse ante aditam hereditatem optari et nihil agi, si optaretur.
[TERENTIUS CLEMENS, Book XV on the Lex Julia et Papia.] Where a choice has been bequeathed, it is accepted that the choice cannot be made before the inheritance is accepted, and that if a choice should be made, it is of no effect.

Notes

  1. §33.5.16.prplacet — An impersonal verb meaning "it is accepted" or "it is held as a rule." The two accusative-with-infinitive clauses (non posse... optari and nihil agi) serve as its subject.
  2. §33.5.16.prante aditam hereditatem — The preposition ante governing the noun hereditatem with the perfect passive participle aditam (the "ab urbe condita" construction), meaning "before the acceptance of the inheritance."
  3. §33.5.16.prnihil agi — The passive infinitive agi (from ago) with nihil ("nothing is done"), which in a legal context is a standard expression meaning "to have no effect" or "to be void."

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §33.5.16.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:33.5.16.pr

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