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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §39.6.12.pr

Fraudulent Possession for an Unborn Child and Mortis Causa

Passage 6262 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Julian explains the legal interpretation regarding a woman who fraudulently obtains money by claiming possession in the name of her unborn child, classifying her acquisition as mortis causa.

[IDEM libro quadragensimo quarto ad Sabinum. ] §39.6.12.prSi mulier, uentris nomine per calumniam ut in possessionem mitti desideret, pecuniam accepit, forte dum substituto patrocinatur, ut institutum aliqua ratione excludat, mortis causa eam capere Iulianus saepius scribit.
[THE SAME, from the forty-fourth book on Sabinus.] If a woman, with the purpose of seeking to be put into possession in the name of her unborn child through false pretenses—perhaps while supporting the substitute heir in order to exclude the appointed heir in some way—has received money, Julian writes repeatedly that she acquires it mortis causa.

Notes

  1. 39.6.12.pruentris nomine — Literally "in the name of the belly," referring to the legal procedure in Roman law where a pregnant woman requests to be put into possession of the estate (missio in possessionem) for the sake of the unborn child.
  2. 39.6.12.prut in possessionem mitti desideret — A purpose clause introduced by ut. The passive infinitive mitti (to be sent/admitted) is a legal term referring to being placed in possession of the estate (missio in possessionem).
  3. 39.6.12.prmortis causa eam capere — Accusative with Infinitive (A.c.I.) construction depending on the main verb Iulianus saepius scribit. eam (referring to the woman) is the subject of the infinitive capere. In this context, capere refers to "acquisition by reason of death" (mortis causa capio) in a broad sense.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §39.6.12.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:39.6.12.pr

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