ebook Law of Succession. Roman Legal Framework and Comparative Law Perspective Franciszek Longchamps De Bérier

Wydawca: Wolters Kluwer

Rok wydania: 2011

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.

Spis treści ebooka Law of Succession. Roman Legal Framework and Comparative Law Perspective

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