Legal Definitions - beneficium inventarii

Definition: Beneficium inventarii is a Latin term that means "with the benefit of inventory." It refers to the right of an heir to take an inventory within a set time before deciding whether to accept an inheritance.

For example, if someone passes away and leaves an inheritance to their heirs, the heirs have the right to take an inventory of the assets and liabilities of the estate before deciding whether to accept or reject the inheritance. This allows them to assess the value of the estate and determine whether it is worth accepting, as they can disclaim responsibility for debts beyond the estate's value until the inventory is completed and the inheritance accepted or rejected.

This right was introduced by Justinian in Roman law and is also known as cum beneficio inventarii.