Legal Definitions - contrahere

Definition: Contrahere is a Latin word that means "draw together." In Roman law, it refers to establishing a formal relationship between two parties by mutual agreement. This can include marriage, a creditor-debtor relationship, or accepting an inheritance. It can also refer to any act of legal significance.

• John and Jane decided to contrahere and get married.
• The bank and the borrower contrahere to establish a creditor-debtor relationship.
• After her grandfather passed away, Sarah had to contrahere and accept his inheritance.

These examples illustrate how contrahere is used to describe the formal establishment of a legal relationship between two parties. In each case, the parties agree to enter into a specific relationship, whether it be marriage, a creditor-debtor relationship, or accepting an inheritance. This agreement is legally binding and has significant legal consequences.