Legal Definitions - in dote aestimata

Term: in dote aestimata
Definition: In Roman and civil law, this term refers to the valuation of a dowry. Once the dowry was valued, the husband was required to pay a sum of money equal to its value. The husband could then dispose of the specific items that made up the dowry.
Example: In ancient Rome, a woman's family would provide a dowry to her husband upon marriage. If the dowry was in dote aestimata, the husband would have to pay the value of the dowry to the wife's family. For example, if the dowry was valued at 100 coins, the husband would owe the wife's family 100 coins. This ensured that the wife's family was compensated for the loss of their daughter's labor and property.