Legal Definitions - titulo singulari

Titulo singulari is a historical legal term, originating from Latin, that describes the acquisition of a specific piece of property or a particular right through an individual act, rather than through universal succession (such as inheriting an entire estate or all the assets of a deceased person). In essence, it refers to how someone came to own a particular item or right directly, often through a transaction, a gift, or a specific grant, rather than as part of a broader inheritance.

• Example 1: Purchasing a Specific Asset

  Imagine a baker who decides to expand their business by buying a new, specialized oven directly from a manufacturer. The baker pays for this specific oven, and ownership is transferred to them through this individual purchase agreement.

  This illustrates titulo singulari because the baker acquired ownership of that particular oven through a distinct, individual transaction (a sale), not by inheriting it as part of a larger estate from a deceased relative or through any form of universal succession.

• Example 2: Receiving a Specific Gift

  Consider a situation where an art collector donates a unique sculpture to a public museum. The museum accepts the gift, and the sculpture becomes part of its collection.

  This is an example of acquiring property titulo singulari because the museum gained ownership of that specific sculpture through a direct, individual act of donation from the living collector. It was not inherited as part of a general estate, but rather a targeted transfer of a single item.

• Example 3: Obtaining a Specific Grant or Right

  Historically, a monarch might grant a specific parcel of land or a particular title to a loyal subject in recognition of their service. This grant would be for that individual piece of land or title only.

  This demonstrates titulo singulari because the subject acquired ownership of that particular land or title through a distinct, individual act of grant from the sovereign. It was a specific transfer of a defined asset, separate from any inheritance or universal succession.