Legal Definitions - privigna

The term privigna originates from Roman and civil law and refers to a stepdaughter. Specifically, it denotes the daughter of one's husband or wife from a previous marriage.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of this term:

• Example 1: Historical Roman Inheritance

  Imagine a wealthy Roman citizen named Lucius who marries a widow, Cornelia, who has a daughter named Flavia from her first marriage. Under Roman law, Flavia would be considered Lucius's privigna. This distinction was important because the legal rights and obligations, particularly concerning inheritance or family authority (patria potestas), could differ significantly for a stepdaughter compared to a biological daughter.

  This example illustrates how "privigna" was a specific legal term used to define a stepdaughter's relationship within a Roman family structure, impacting her legal standing.

• Example 2: Modern Civil Law Jurisdictions

  In a contemporary country whose legal system is deeply rooted in civil law traditions, a will might be drafted using precise, historically informed terminology. If a testator (the person making the will) specifies a bequest to "my privigna, Clara," this term would legally identify Clara as the testator's stepdaughter. This precise language ensures there is no ambiguity about the intended beneficiary, especially in complex family situations where multiple individuals might be referred to simply as "daughter" or "child."

  This example demonstrates that while less common today, "privigna" can still appear in legal documents within civil law systems to clearly and formally designate a stepdaughter, ensuring legal precision.