1Ad Dig. 37,1,1Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. I, § 42, Note 3.Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXIX. Prætorian possession transfers both the benefits and inconveniences attached to an estate, as well as the ownership of the property belonging to the same; for all these things are associated with it.

2Ad Dig. 37,1,2Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. I, § 42, Note 3.The Same, On the Edict, Book XIV. Prætorian possessors, in every respect, take the place of heirs.

3Ad Dig. 37,1,3Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. I, § 42, Note 3.The Same, On the Edict, Book XXXIX. The term “property” in this instance (as we generally accept the term), must be understood to mean everything belonging to an estate to which succession is granted under the rights of the deceased, all benefits and disadvantages connected with it being included. For the estate is either solvent or insolvent, and is liable to loss or gain, or the assets consist of things which are corporeal, or of rights of action; and, under these circumstances, they are very properly designated property. 1The possession of an estate, or prætorian possession (as Labeo says), should not be understood to be the actual possession of the property, for it is rather legal than real. Hence, where nothing corporeal belongs to the estate, Labeo holds that, nevertheless, prætorian possession may be acquired. 2Therefore, we define prætorian possession to be the right of recovering or retaining an estate, or the effects which belonged to someone at the time of his death. 3Prætorian possession of property is not acquired by anyone against his will. 4Prætorian possession can be acquired by municipalities, associations, decurite, and corporate bodies. Hence an agent of any of the said corporations can obtain it, or anyone else can do so in their name; and even if no one should demand or receive such possession in the name of a municipality, it still can acquire it under the Edict of the Prætor. 5Prætorian possession of property can be granted to the head of a household, as well as to a son under paternal control, provided the latter has the right of disposing of his peculium castrense or quasi castrense, by will. 6There is no doubt that prætorian possession of the estate of a person who has died in the hands of the enemy can be acquired, even though he may have died in a condition of slavery. 7Any person can obtain prætorian possession either himself or through the agency of another. If, however, someone should demand possession for me, when I have not directed this to be done, his act will not be legal until I have ratified it. Moreover, there is no doubt that if I should die before ratifying his act, I will not be entitled to the possession of the property, because I have not consented to what he has done, and my heir cannot do so, as the right to claim prætorian possession does not pass to him. 8Where prætorian possession is granted after proper cause has been shown, it shall not be granted anywhere else than in court, because the Prætor cannot render such a decree without ceremony; nor, after an investigation, can prætorian possession be granted anywhere else than in his tribunal. 9It should be remembered that the right of accrual applies to the prætorian possession of property. Hence, if there are several persons entitled to such possession, and one of them obtains it, the others are not included:

4Gaius, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book VIII. (For instance, where they have relinquished their right, or have been excluded from prætorian possession by lapse of time, or have died before demanding possession):

5Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXIX. For the shares to which the others would have been entitled, if they had claimed possession of the estate, will accrue to the one who did obtain possession.

6Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLI. But where the Prætor promises possession of a certain part of an estate to a patron, contrary to the provisions of the will, and promises possession of the remainder to the appointed heir, in accordance with the terms of the will, it is held that the right of accrual does not apply. Therefore, he promises possession of his share expressly to the patron, when the appointed heir does not claim his share under the will; as those entitled to the right of accrual must, at least once, demand possession of the estate. 1There are various advantages attaching to prætorian possession, for some kinds of possession are obtained contrary to the provisions of the will of the testator, and others in accordance with them; and sometimes the parties have a lawful right to it on the ground of intestacy, or they are not entitled to it because of having changed their civil status. For although, under the Civil Law, children are excluded from being direct heirs on account of their change of condition, still, the Prætor can, for equitable reasons, rescind this forfeiture of citizenship. He therefore grants possession of the property for the purpose of observing certain laws. 2Testamentary notes are not considered by the Edict as wills; for Pedius in the Twenty-fifth Book on the Edict says that notes are not letters.

7Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book I. A slave can legally be granted possession of an estate if the Prætor is certain of his civil condition. Possession can also be granted to a person who is absent and does not demand it, if the Prætor is not aware that this is the case. A woman, also, can apply for prætorian possession in behalf of another. 1A minor under the age of puberty cannot be granted possession of an estate by the Prætor, nor can he join issue in the case, without the authority of his guardian, because a guardian can demand possession for his ward, and a father can do so for his son. 2It has been decided that the time when possession must be demanded for a minor begins when the guardian or father became aware that the minor was entitled to it.

8Paulus, On Plautius, Book VIII. Moreover, a guardian cannot reject the prætorian possession of an estate to which his ward is entitled, because a guardian is permitted to claim it, but not to reject it.

9Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book III. Where there are several persons of different degrees of relationship entitled to prætorian possession, as long as it is uncertain whether one of them has the right to demand possession, or not, it has been settled that the time does not run against one of the last degree.

10Paulus, On Sabinus, Book II. Ignorance of the law is of no advantage in preventing the claim from being barred by lapse of time, in the case of prætorian possession of property. Hence, the time begins to run, so far as the appointed heir is concerned, even before the will has been opened; for it is enough for him to know that the testator is dead, and that he is his next of kin, and had access to persons of whom he could ask advice. For, in this instance, knowledge is not understood to be such as is possessed by persons learned in the law, but such as anyone whosoever may possess, or can acquire by applying to others who are more learned than himself.

11Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XIV. Where a guardian claims prætorian possession in behalf of his ward, and it is found to be of greater disadvantage than benefit to him, the guardian will be liable to an action on guardianship.

12Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVIII. There is no reason to doubt that persons can, very frequently, obtain prætorian possession against the Treasury, and against a municipality; as, for example, where an unborn child, a lunatic, or one who is a captive in the hands of the enemy, claims prætorian possession of property. 1Whenever a law, a Decree of the Senate, or an Imperial Constitution forbids an estate to be taken, prætorian possession of it will not apply.

13Africanus, Questions, Book XV. The possession of property by the Edict of the Prætor is refused to those who have been condemned for a capital crime, unless complete restitution has been granted them. A person is understood to have been condemned for a capital crime upon whom the penalty of death, or the interdiction of water and fire has been imposed. Anyone, however, who has been exiled, can be admitted to the prætorian possession of property.

14Papinianus, Questions, Book XIII. Where a near relative of the deceased alleges that his will was forged, and proves it after a long period of time, although the time for demanding possession is held to have elapsed, and the plaintiff, being certain of proving his allegations, may have claimed it, still, for the reason that he asserted his claim in order to preserve his rights, it is not unreasonable that he should be considered to have accepted the succession.

15Paulus, Opinions, Book XI. Paulus gave it as his opinion that the application of a mother, alone, could not acquire prætorian possession of an estate for her daughter, who was under the age of puberty, unless he who granted it evidently intended to give it to the minor child.

16The Same, Sentences, Book III. When the person for whom prætorian possession is demanded subsequently becomes insane, the better opinion is that he will be held to have ratified the act, for a ratification only means the confirmation of a former demand.