Legal Definitions - cum beneficio inventarii

Definition: Cum beneficio inventarii is a Latin term that means "with the benefit of inventory." In Roman law, it refers to the right of an heir to take an inventory within a set time before deciding whether to accept an inheritance. This right was introduced by Justinian.

Example: If a person inherits property from a deceased relative, they have the right to take an inventory of the estate's assets and liabilities before deciding whether to accept the inheritance. This means that they can provisionally take the succession and disclaim responsibility for debts beyond the estate's value until the inventory is completed and the inheritance accepted or rejected.

The example illustrates how cum beneficio inventarii protects heirs from being held responsible for debts that exceed the value of the estate. By taking an inventory first, heirs can make an informed decision about whether to accept the inheritance and avoid being burdened with debts they cannot afford to pay.