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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.16.169.pr

Clause of Best Condition and Guarantee of Servitude

Passage 8983 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Clarifies that the standard phrase 'as it is best and greatest' in property transactions guarantees that the estate is free from encumbrances, but does not imply that active servitudes are owed to it.

[IDEM libro quinto ad Sabinum. ] §50.16.169.prNon tantum in traditionibus, sed et in emptionibus et stipulationibus et testamentis adiectio haec 'uti optimus maximusque est' hoc significat, ut liberum praestetur praedium, non ut etiam seruitutes ei debeantur.
[THE SAME, in the fifth book on Sabinus.] Not only in deliveries, but also in purchases, stipulations, and testaments, this addition 'as it is best and greatest' means this, that the estate should be guaranteed as free from encumbrances, not that servitudes should also be owed to it.

Notes

  1. §50.16.169.pruti optimus maximusque est — An archaic formulaic expression used in real estate transactions. 'Optimus' indicates that the property is free from encumbrances (such as servitudes), and 'maximus' indicates that its boundaries are at their full extent. 'Uti' (a variant of 'ut') here means 'as' or 'in the state that'.
  2. §50.16.169.prhoc significat, ut liberum praestetur praedium — The 'ut' clause explains the specific content of the demonstrative pronoun 'hoc'. 'Praestare' means 'to guarantee' or 'to deliver (in a certain state)'. 'Liberum' indicates that the property is 'free' from legal encumbrances like servitudes.
  3. §50.16.169.prnon ut etiam seruitutes ei debeantur — This clause stands in parallel to the preceding 'ut' clause. 'Ei' is a dative pronoun referring to the antecedent 'praedium' (estate). 'Deberi' (passive of 'debere', to owe) here means that servitudes are owed by neighboring estates to this estate (ei) as a benefit, i.e., that the property enjoys active servitudes.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.16.169.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.16.169.pr

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