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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §5.2.29.pr-5.2.29.4

Standing and Jurisdiction in Suits on Inofficious Wills

Passage 993 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpian explains the status of legatees in actions of inofficious testament, the right of illegitimate sons to sue, the validity of a testament in case of compromise, the status of false adoptive mothers, and the proper jurisdiction.

[ULPIANUS libro quinto opinionum. ] §5.2.29.prSi suspecta collusio sit legatariis inter scriptos heredes et eum qui de inofficioso testamento agit: adesse etiam legatarios et uoluntatem defuncti tueri constitutum est, eisdemque permissum est etiam appellare, si contra testamentum pronuntiatum fuerit. §5.2.29.1De inofficioso testamento matris spurii quoque filii dicere possunt. §5.2.29.2Quamuis instituta inofficiosi testamenti accusatione res transactione decisa sit, tamen testamentum in suo iure manet: et ideo datae in eo libertates atque legata, usque quo Falcidia permittit, suam habent potestatem. §5.2.29.3Quoniam femina nullum adoptare filium sine iussu principis potest, nec de inofficioso testamento eius, quam quis sibi matrem adoptiuam falso esse existimabat, agere potest. §5.2.29.4In ea prouincia de inofficioso testamento agi oportet, in qua scripti heredes domicilium habent.
[ULPIANUS in his Fifth Book of Opinions.] collusion between the instituted heirs and the person who brings the action of inofficious testament is suspected by the legatees, it has been established that the legatees also may appear and defend the will of the deceased, and they are also permitted to appeal if a judgment is pronounced against the testament. regard to the inofficious testament of a mother, illegitimate sons also can bring an action. though, after the accusation of an inofficious testament has been instituted, the matter is settled by a compromise, nevertheless the testament remains valid in its own right; and therefore the manumissions and legacies granted therein, as far as the Falcidian law permits, retain their force. a woman cannot adopt any son without the authority of the emperor, one cannot bring an action of inofficious testament regarding the estate of a woman whom he falsely believed to be his adoptive mother. action of inofficious testament must be brought in that province in which the instituted heirs have their domicile.

Notes

  1. 5.2.29.prlegatariis — Dative of relation or judgment depending on 'suspecta', indicating that the collusion is suspected 'by' the legatees.
  2. 5.2.29.pradesse — Infinitive meaning 'to be present' or 'to assist in court'. Its subject in the accusative and infinitive construction is 'legatarios'.
  3. 5.2.29.2usque quo Falcidia permittit — Meaning 'as far as the Falcidian law permits'. 'Falcidia' is a feminine singular adjective with the noun 'lex' understood, functioning substantively.
  4. 5.2.29.3eius, quam quis sibi matrem adoptiuam falso esse existimabat — The pronoun 'eius' is the antecedent of the relative clause 'quam...' (feminine genitive singular). The structure is 'de inofficioso testamento eius agere' (to bring an action regarding her testament). 'matrem adoptiuam... esse' is the object clause of 'existimabat'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §5.2.29.pr-5.2.29.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:5.2.29.pr-5.2.29.4

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