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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §34.4.18.pr

Extinction of Legacy by Inter Vivos Donation of Property

Passage 5250 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This text explains that if a testator, during their lifetime, donates a bequeathed object to a third party, the legacy is completely extinguished, regardless of whether the donation was made out of necessity or free will.

[MODESTINUS libro octauo differentiarum. ] §34.4.18.prRem legatam si testator uiuus alii donauerit, omnimodo exstinguitur legatum.
[MODESTINUS in the eighth book of Differences.] If a testator, while alive, has donated a bequeathed thing to another, the legacy is extinguished in every way.
nec distinguimus, utrum propter necessitatem rei familiaris an mera uoluntate donauerit, ut, si necessitate donauerit, legatum debeatur, si nuda uoluntate, non debeatur: haec enim distinctio in donantis munificentiam non cadit, cum nemo in necessitatibus liberalis exsistat.
Nor do we make a distinction as to whether he made the donation due to the necessity of his household affairs or out of mere free will, so that, if he donated out of necessity, the legacy would be due, and if out of pure free will, it would not be due; for this distinction does not apply to the munificence of a donor, since no one is generous in times of necessity.

Notes

  1. §34.4.18.prtestator uiuus — The adjective uiuus functions as a predicative adjective (predicate nominative) modifying the subject testator, meaning "while still alive" or "in his lifetime."
  2. §34.4.18.prut, si... debeatur — The ut clause illustrates the specific consequence or import of the preceding nec distinguimus (we do not distinguish). Because the negative nec governs this entire sequence, the sense is "not [distinguishing] in such a way that..."
  3. §34.4.18.prin donantis munificentiam non cadit — The idiom cadere in followed by the accusative means "to apply to" or "to be compatible with." It expresses that an act done out of necessity does not fit the character or category of a donor's munificence (voluntary giving).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §34.4.18.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:34.4.18.pr

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