Legal Definitions - debitum fructuum

Definition: Debitum fructuum (pronounced deb-i-tum fruhk-choo-um) is a Latin term used in law to refer to a debt that is owed from the fruits of the land, rather than from the land itself.

Examples: One example of debitum fructuum is tithes, which were traditionally payable from the crops or livestock produced by a farm, rather than from the land itself. Another example might be a loan that is secured by the income generated by a particular asset, such as a rental property or a business.

Explanation: In both of these examples, the debt is tied to the income or produce generated by a particular asset, rather than to the asset itself. This means that if the asset were to be sold or destroyed, the debt would not necessarily be discharged. Instead, the creditor would still have a claim on the income or produce generated by the asset, even if it were owned by someone else.