Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §41.3.29.pr

Usucapion of Estate Property Delivered by Mistake

Passage 6781 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Pomponius discusses a case where a sole heir mistakenly delivers hereditary property to someone believed to be a co-heir, explaining that usucapion is impossible except in cases of compromise.

[IDEM libro uicensimo secundo ad Sabinum. ] §41.3.29.prCum solus heres essem, existimarem autem te quoque pro parte heredem esse, res hereditarias pro parte tibi tradidi.
[THE SAME, On Sabinus, book 22] Since I was the sole heir, but thought that you also were an heir for a share, I delivered the hereditary things to you for a share.
propius est, ut usu eas capere non possis, quia nec pro herede usucapi potest quod ab herede possessum est neque aliam ullam habes causam possidendi.
It is more correct that you cannot usucapt them, because neither can that which has been possessed by an heir be usucapted as heir, nor do you have any other cause for possessing.
ita tamen hoc uerum est, si non ex transactione id factum fuerit.
This is true, however, only if it was not done as a result of a compromise.
idem dicimus, si tu quoque existimes te heredem esse: nam hic quoque possessio ueri heredis obstabit tibi.
We say the same if you also think that you are an heir; for here too the possession of the true heir will stand in your way.

Notes

  1. 41.3.29.prpropius est, ut — The impersonal expression propius est (neuter comparative of prope, 'nearer') followed by ut and the subjunctive (possis) is used to express that a certain legal interpretation is 'more correct' or 'closer to the truth.'
  2. 41.3.29.prpro herede — Meaning 'as heir,' this is a technical legal term referring to one of the lawful causes (causa / titulus) for usucapion. Here, it addresses the cause of possession under the mistaken belief of being an heir.
  3. 41.3.29.prquod ab herede possessum est — The relative clause introduced by quod ('that which has been possessed by an heir') functions as the subject of the passive infinitive phrase nec ... usucapi potest ('cannot be usucapted').

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §41.3.29.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:41.3.29.pr

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