BOOK: Aleksander GREBIENIOW, Estate Planning by Agreement in the Sources of Roman Law [Warschauer Schriften zum römischen Recht und zur europäischen Rechtstradition, eds. Tomasz GIARO, Jakob FORTUNAT STAGL, Maria NOWAK, and Aleksander GREBENIOW; 2] (Boston/Paderborn: Brill/Schöningh, 2025), XX + 459 p. ISBN 978-3-506-79508-3 [OPEN ACCESS]

 

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Abstract:

The present book encompasses various legal phenomena pertaining to wealth transfer mortis causa in the world of Roman law. It demonstrates that succession in property rights could be realised by agreements of various kinds, which – though not building a coherent legal concept and being much different from the modern understanding of contractual succession – served as will-substitutes, i.e. functional equivalents to the Roman testament. The study goes back to the ancient sources in order to select and examine any testimonies of agreements aimed at regulating patrimonial relationships after death: agreements having immediate effect between the living, those enforceable only at the death of the deceased, and finally, settlements altering the order of succession mortis causa long after his passing away. It uncovers a series of societal patterns of behaviour staying behind legal institutions. The extent of the already ancient phenomenon of estate planning by agreement and the diversity of the dogmatic issues involved provides a notable starting point for discussions on the contemporary inheritance law dogmas.

Table of Contents:

Preface................................................................................................ 3

CONTENTS....................................................................................... 4

Abbreviations...................................................................................... 7

Introduction....................................................................................... 11

1 The Methodological Framework...................................................... 15

1.1 Objective, Objects of Research and Thesis................................. 15

1.1.1 The Notion of Estate Planning............................................. 15

1.1.2 Correspondent Concepts in Ancient Roman Law.................. 17

1.1.3 Additio: The Notion of Contractual Succession.................... 27

1.1.4 Thesis................................................................................ 30

1.2 The State of the Field................................................................ 31

1.2.1 Romanistic Scholarship on Contracts of Succession Mortis Causa........................................................................................ 31

1.2.2 Roman Law and Social Realities......................................... 37

1.3 Sources, Methods, and Research Plan........................................ 52

1.3.1 Sources.............................................................................. 52

1.3.2 Method.............................................................................. 56

1.3.3 Research Plan.................................................................... 60

2 The Institutions of Estate Planning................................................... 62

2.1 Successio anticipata: Juridical Acts Concluded and Executed During Life............................................................................................... 62

2.1.1 Divisio ab intestato............................................................ 66

2.1.2 Donationes...................................................................... 127

2.1.3 Dowries........................................................................... 180

2.1.4 Peculia............................................................................ 185

2.1.5 Specific Cases of Anticipated Succession........................... 192

2.1.6 Conclusions Concerning Anticipated Succession................ 197

2.2 Juridical Acts Mortis Causa Enforced at Death......................... 200

2.2.1 Mancipatio familiae.......................................................... 200

2.2.2 Stipulationes.................................................................... 209

2.2.3 Pacta............................................................................... 237

2.2.4. Pacta Dotalia Mortis Causa............................................. 259

2.2.5 Mandatum Post Mortem and Related Institutions................ 295

2.2.6 Conclusions on Wealth Transfers Enforced at Death........... 318

2.3 Agreements Concerning Succession Mortis Causa Concluded Post Mortem........................................................................................ 324

2.3.1 Venditio hereditatis.......................................................... 324

2.3.2 Postmortal Pacts and Transactiones................................... 327

2.3.3. Conclusions regarding Postmortal Arrangements............... 335

3 Conclusions.................................................................................. 337

3.1 General Observations.............................................................. 337

3.2 Specific Observations............................................................. 340

3.3 Final Observations.................................................................. 350

4 Bibliography................................................................................. 354

5 Index of Sources........................................................................... 389

Read more here (DOI 10.30965/9783657795086).