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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §37.10.12.pr

Instituted Heirs and Relief on Death During Carbonian Proceedings

Passage 5828 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains that an instituted heir cannot temporarily obtain possession of goods according to the will while an impubes son, whose status is disputed, claims possession under the Carbonian Edict, and addresses the relief granted to their heirs if the parties die in the meantime.

[IDEM libro quarto decimo quaestionum. ] §37.10.12.prScriptus heres, contra quem filius impubes, qui subiectus dicitur, ex edicto primo bonorum possessionem petit, exemplo legitimi secundum tabulas interim accipere non potest.
[IDEM libro quarto decimo quaestionum.] An instituted heir, against whom an impubes son, who is alleged to be supposititious, claims possession of goods under the Edict, cannot in the meantime receive possession in accordance with the will, after the example of a legitimate son.
quod si medio tempore scriptus uel ille, qui intestati possessionem habere potuerit, moriantur, heredibus eorum succurrendum erit: quid enim, si non potuerunt adire hereditatem iure cessante uel ob litem in dubio constituti?
But if, in the meantime, the instituted heir or the person who could have had possession on intestacy should die, relief must be granted to their heirs; for what if they could not enter upon the inheritance because the right was suspended, or because they were placed in a state of doubt on account of the lawsuit?

Notes

  1. §37.10.12.prexemplo legitimi — The genitive legitimi is understood by supplying a noun like filius (legitimate son). It means following the example where the child is assumed to be a legitimate son.
  2. §37.10.12.prille, qui intestati possessionem habere potuerit — The pronoun ille refers to the impubes son whose status is in dispute. If he were the true son, he would have had the right to the possession of goods on intestacy, hence this periphrastic description.
  3. §37.10.12.prnon potuerunt — The subject of the verb potuerunt and the perfect participle constituti is heredibus (their heirs) mentioned in the main clause. The rhetorical question quid enim, si... (for what if...?) explains the necessity of relief if these heirs could not enter upon the inheritance due to the uncertainty.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §37.10.12.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:37.10.12.pr

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