Legal Definitions - pro parte virili

Pro parte virili is a Latin phrase that historically referred to the concept of dividing something "in equal shares" or "for one's own proportion." It signifies that each individual involved receives an equal part of a whole, or their specific, rightful share based on a predetermined division.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Imagine a historical will from the 18th century stating that a deceased person's land and assets should be divided pro parte virili among their four children. This legal instruction would mean that each of the four children would receive exactly one-quarter of the estate, ensuring an equal distribution of the inheritance among them.

  This example demonstrates "in equal shares" as each heir receives an identical portion of the estate.

• Consider a group of three business partners who decide to form a new company and agree to contribute pro parte virili to the initial startup capital and future operating losses. This arrangement means that each partner is responsible for one-third of the financial contributions and liabilities, ensuring an equitable distribution of financial responsibility among them.

  This illustrates "for one's own proportion," where each partner's proportion is an equal share of the total financial commitment.

• In a medieval village, if a communal well needed repair and the village council decreed that each of the ten households must contribute pro parte virili to the labor and materials, it would mean every household was expected to provide an equal amount of work or resources (e.g., one-tenth of the total effort or materials) for the repair, ensuring the burden was shared fairly across the community.

  This demonstrates the concept of contributing an equal, proportional share of effort or resources to a common task.