Legal Definitions - datus bonis

datus bonis (day-tuh-s boh-nis) is a Latin term used in Scots law to refer to a person who is appointed to manage an estate.

When a person dies, their estate (which includes their property, money, and possessions) needs to be managed and distributed according to their wishes. If the person left a will, they may have appointed someone to be the datus bonis - this person is responsible for making sure that the estate is managed properly and that the assets are distributed to the correct beneficiaries.

For example, if John Smith dies and leaves a will appointing his brother James as the datus bonis, James will be responsible for managing John's estate. This might involve selling John's house, paying off any debts he had, and distributing his money and possessions to his heirs.

The term datus bonis is used in Scots law to describe a specific role - that of a person who is appointed to manage an estate. This person has a lot of responsibility and must ensure that the estate is managed properly and that the assets are distributed according to the wishes of the deceased. The examples illustrate how this works in practice - when someone dies and leaves a will, the datus bonis is appointed to manage their estate and ensure that everything is done correctly.