Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §4.4.49.pr

Restitution for Sales of Minor Property Incurring Loss

Passage 751 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains that even if the sale of property belonging to a ward or a minor is legally permitted, the transaction can be revoked through restoration to the original condition if a significant loss is incurred, even in the absence of collusion.

[ULPIANUS libro trigensimo quinto ad edictum. ] §4.4.49.prSi res pupillaris uel adulescentis distracta fuerit, quam lex distrahi non prohibet, uenditio quidem ualet, uerumtamen si grande damnum pupilli uel adulescentis uersatur, etiam si collusio non intercessit, distractio per in integrum restitutionem reuocatur.
[ULPIANUS, in the thirty-fifth book on the Edict.] If property of a ward or of a minor, which the law does not prohibit from being sold, has been sold, the sale is indeed valid; nevertheless, if a great loss to the ward or the minor is involved, even if no collusion took place, the sale is revoked by means of restoration to the original condition.

Notes

  1. §4.4.49.prdistracta fuerit — The verb `distrahere` (and the noun `distractio` in the main clause) is used in classical legal sources specifically to mean "to sell off" or "to dispose of" assets, departing from its general literal meaning of "to pull apart" or "to separate."
  2. §4.4.49.pruersatur — In the conditional clause introduced by `si`, the passive/deponent verb `uersari` with `damnum` (loss) as its subject means "to be involved," "to be present," or "to arise."

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §4.4.49.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:4.4.49.pr

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