Law of Succession. Roman Legal Framework and Comparative Law Perspective

The experience of comparative law extends the experience of Roman law, verifies it and points to the dead-end alleys into which one can be led if the precepts of Roman law are slavishly followed. Roman law should, however, be included in analyses of comparative law. If these analyses are thorough and based on an understanding of the law and its mechanisms, aims, values and principles, and do not simply involve comparing clauses or consist in arguing to prove a hypothesis that has been formulated in advance – then they are aware of and they prove the great value of the experience of Roman law. The Roman law of succession, which was so well developed and dogmatically rich, evolved over many centuries thus constituting a jurisprudential framework of concepts. This framework can be treated as the language that is used for talking about the law of succession in general, irrespective even of which legal tradition the binding regulations derive from. Knowledge of the Roman law of succession allows any law of succession to be described. The Roman law of succession also creates the framework for discussion about the law of succession and regulations adopted by particular countries: about reforms, in the case of some countries, and building from scratch in the case of others. Furthermore, on account of the legal experience and specifically as a language of understanding, it creates excellent opportunities for the debate on the unification of the law of succession in Europe.

INTRODUCTION str. 9 PART I THE LAW str. 21 CHAPTER 1 General notions str. 23 § 1. Law of succession and other branches of private law str. 23 § 2. Means of protection under the law of succession str. 26 1. Hereditatis petitio str. 27 2. Quorum bonorum interdictum str. 34 3. Cognitiones extra ordinem str. 38 § 3. Individuals and succession str. 40 1. Testamenti factio activa str. 41 2. Testamenti factio passiva str. 44 3. Capacitas str. 48 4. Indignitas str. 49 CHAPTER 2 Values and principles of the Roman law of succession str. 52 § 4. Values of the law of succession str. 53 § 5. Principles of the law of succession str. 54 1. Nemo pro parte testatus, pro parte intestatus decedere potest str. 54 2. Freedom of testation str. 58 3. Principle of family solidarity str. 65 4. Respect for a dead person's wishes str. 78 5. Semel heres semper heres str. 80 6. Nasciturus pro iam nato habetur quotiens de commodis eius agitur str. 83 CHAPTER 3 Intestate succession str. 88 § 6. Order of succession in civil law str. 89 § 7. Order of succession in praetorian law str. 95 § 8. Order of succession in Justinian's Novels str. 102 § 9. Applying the Roman law framework in intestate succession str. 109 CHAPTER 4 After the death of the de cuius str. 113 § 10. Succession against the will str. 113 § 11. From entitlement to succession str. 123 1. The various groups of individuals str. 123 2. Death of the testator vs. acquisition of the inheritance str. 125 3. Transmission str. 127 4. Accruals str. 130 § 12. Acquisition of the inheritance str. 133 1. Acquisition of the inheritance ipso iure str. 133 2. Modes of accepting the succession str. 135 § 13. Issues infl uencing decisions about inheritance str. 138 1. Usucaption str. 138 2. Liability for the debts of the deceased str. 139 3. Benefi t of inventory str. 142 4. Protection of creditors str. 145 5. Inheritance tax str. 146 PART II THE TESTATOR str. 149 CHAPTER 5 External formalities pertaining to the will str. 151 § 14. Archaic law - the calatis comitiis will and the in procinctu will str. 152 § 15. From mancipatio familiae to the mancipatory will str. 153 § 16. The praetorian will str. 158 § 17. Later forms of wills str. 163 § 18. Emergency wills and special cases str. 168 § 19. Military wills str. 170 CHAPTER 6 Contents of the will str. 176 § 20. Appointment of the successor str. 176 1. Instituting an heir str. 176 2. Heirs by substitution str. 183 § 21. Disinherison - exheredatio str. 190 § 22. Gifts out of the inheritance str. 193 1. Legacies str. 193 2. Fideicommissa str. 203 § 23. Other testamentary decisions str. 210 1. Manumissions str. 210 2. Appointment of a guardian str. 211 3. Instructions str. 212 § 24. Dispositions not necessarily made in the will str. 215 1. Codicillary clauses and codicils str. 215 2. Deathbed gifts str. 220 CHAPTER 7 Interpretation of wills str. 228 § 25. The testator's intentions vs. the form and contents of the will str. 228 § 26. Favor testamenti str. 231 ABBREVIATIONS str. 249 INDEX OF SOURCES str. 253