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Simple English definitions for legal terms
lex Furia testamentaria
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A quick definition of lex Furia testamentaria:
Lex Furia testamentaria was a law in ancient Rome that limited the amount of inheritance a person could leave in their will. It stated that no one could bequeath more than 1,000 copper coins or their equivalent. This law was passed between 204 and 169 B.C. and was one of the first to restrict legacies. If someone violated this law, they would have to pay a penalty of four times the amount, which could be recovered through a strict legal process. However, the law did allow a testator to leave nothing to their heir if they distributed their assets among other beneficiaries up to the limit.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Lex Furia testamentaria is a law in Roman law that restricts a testator from bequeathing more than 1,000 asses (722 pounds) of copper or its equivalent. This law was passed between 204 and 169 B.C. and was one of the first laws to limit legacies.
Example: The lex Furia testamentaria allowed a testator to leave nothing to their heir, as long as they made enough legatees up to the statutory limit of 1,000 asses. If a testator left more than 1,000 asses to someone who was not a close relative, that person would be penalized four times the amount and would have to pay it back through a strict legal process.
Explanation: This law was created to prevent wealthy individuals from leaving large sums of money to people who were not their close relatives. It was meant to ensure that wealth was distributed more evenly among family members and prevent the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few individuals. The penalty for violating this law was severe, which shows how seriously the Romans took the issue of inheritance and legacy distribution.