Legal Definitions - antiqua et nova

Term: Antiqua et nova
Definition: Antiqua et nova is a Latin term that means "old and new." In legal terms, it refers to the distinction between two types of property rights: heritage and conquest. Heritage (antiqua) refers to an estate that is inherited, while conquest (nova) refers to an estate that is acquired through purchase, gift, or other means.
Example: If someone inherits a house from their parents, that is considered heritage (antiqua). But if they buy a new house, that is considered conquest (nova). The distinction between these two types of property rights used to be important in the law, but it has been abolished in many places.