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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §36.1.64.pr-36.1.64.1

Dowry in Restitution and Timing of a Foster Child's Trust

Passage 5617 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The first section discusses whether dowry is included in the part of the inheritance to be restored when a daughter dies, and the second section addresses whether substitute beneficiaries can claim a trust immediately upon the death of a foster-child before reaching his twentieth year.

[SCAEUOLA libro quarto responsorum. ] §36.1.64.prA filia petit, ut, si liberis superstitibus moreretur, partem eius quod ad eam ex bonis patris peruenisset, quod si sine liberis, uniuersum fratri restitueret: quaeritur, defuncta ea in matrimonio superstite filia, an heres eius cum parte hereditatis eius quoque quod dotis nomine datum erat partem restituere debeat.
[SCAEUOLA, Opinions, Book 4] He requested of his daughter that, if she should die leaving children surviving, she should restore a part of that which had come to her from her father's estate, but if without children, she should restore the whole to her brother: the question arises whether, upon her death during marriage leaving a daughter surviving, her heir ought to restore a part [of the dowry] as well, along with a part of the inheritance, of that which had been given under the name of dowry.
respondit id, quod in dotem fuisset, non contineri in partem hereditatis quae restituenda est: sed et si ex promissione dotis aliquid debitum fuit, aeris alieni loco habendum.
He answered that what had been given as dowry was not included in the part of the inheritance which was to be restored; but also if anything was due from a promise of dowry, it was to be regarded as a debt.
§36.1.64.1Alumno certam pecuniam legauit et eam recipi a Sempronio mandauit et certas usuras alumno praestari, donec ad uicensimum annum peruenerit: deinde alumni fidei commisit, ut, si sine liberis decederet, partem restitueret Sempronio, partem Septiciae.
He bequeathed a certain sum of money to a foster-child, and directed that it be received by Sempronius, and that a certain interest be paid to the foster-child until he should reach his twentieth year; then he charged the faith of the foster-child that, if he should die without children, he should restore a part to Sempronius and a part to Septicia.
quaesitum est defuncto alumno intra annum uicensimum, an substituti fideicommissum petere possint an uero in id tempus sustinere, quo, si uiueret, alumnus uicensimum annum impleret.
The question was asked, upon the death of the foster-child before his twentieth year, whether the substitutes could claim the trust, or whether they must wait until the time when, if he were living, the foster-child would have completed his twentieth year.
respondi secundum ea quae proponerentur posse.
I answered that, according to the facts proposed, they could.

Notes

  1. §36.1.64.prA filia petit — The verb 'petit' is in the present tense, but is used here as a historical present referring to the past action of the testator. The subject of 'petit' is not explicitly expressed but refers to the deceased father (testator).
  2. §36.1.64.prdefuncta ea in matrimonio superstite filia — This phrase consists of two consecutive, independent ablative absolute constructions: 'defuncta ea in matrimonio' (upon her death during marriage) and 'superstite filia' (with her daughter surviving), each having a different subject. 'superstite' is the ablative singular of the adjective 'superstes'.
  3. §36.1.64.preius quoque quod dotis nomine datum erat partem — The syntax depends on 'restituere debeat'. 'partem' is the direct object of 'restituere', modified by 'eius quoque quod...' (of that also which...). Thus, the heir is asked if they must restore a part [of the dowry] as well as a part of the inheritance.
  4. §36.1.64.1an uero in id tempus sustinere — The infinitive 'sustinere' (to wait) is used in the second part of the alternative indirect question introduced by 'an uero'. It is understood with an ellipsis of a modal verb like 'debeant' (whether they ought to wait), corresponding to 'an ... possint' in the first part.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §36.1.64.pr-36.1.64.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:36.1.64.pr-36.1.64.1

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