Legal Definitions - per venditionis, donationis, cessionis, vel commutationis titulum

The Latin phrase per venditionis, donationis, cessionis, vel commutationis titulum historically refers to the acquisition of property through a specific type of transaction, rather than by inheritance or a feudal grant. It translates to "by the title of sale, donation, cession, or barter."

In modern legal terms, this concept is often referred to as acquiring property by "singular title." This means the property is obtained through a direct, voluntary transfer from one party to another, distinguishing it from "universal title," where property is acquired as part of a larger estate (such as through inheritance or a will).

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: Purchase of a Business
  A restaurateur decides to expand their business by buying an existing restaurant building and its associated equipment from its current owner. They negotiate a price, sign a contract, and complete the transaction. The restaurateur acquires the property and assets through a direct purchase.

  This illustrates acquisition per venditionis titulum because the property (the restaurant building and equipment) was obtained through a voluntary sale transaction between two parties.

• Example 2: Charitable Gift of Land
  An elderly philanthropist, wanting to support local conservation efforts, formally deeds a large tract of undeveloped land they own to a nature conservancy organization. The organization accepts the gift and plans to preserve the land.

  This demonstrates acquisition per donationis titulum because the nature conservancy organization received the land as a voluntary gift, a direct transfer without any monetary exchange.

• Example 3: Land Swap for Public Infrastructure
  A city government needs a specific parcel of private land to build a new public park. Instead of purchasing it, they agree with the landowner to exchange that parcel for another piece of city-owned land of equivalent value located elsewhere, which the landowner intends to develop.

  This exemplifies acquisition per commutationis titulum (or cessionis) because both the city and the landowner acquired new property through a direct, negotiated exchange or barter, rather than through inheritance or a general grant.