Legal Definitions - quorum bonorum

QUORUM BONORUM

Quorum bonorum is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers to a praetorian interdict that allowed a person to take possession of an estate.

bonorum possessio contra tabulas

Bonorum possessio contra tabulas is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers to an order that authorized the applicant to take possession of an estate contrary to the testament. Magistrates made such orders in certain cases, as where a testator passed over a daughter or an emancipated son who was not expressly disinherited.

For example, if a father passed away and did not include his son in his will, the son could apply for bonorum possessio contra tabulas to take possession of the estate. The legacies in the will remained valid, but if the testator passed over any male in the testator's power (patria potestas), the will was invalidated and intestacy resulted.

Another example is if a testator passed over a daughter or an emancipated son who was not expressly disinherited, the daughter or son could apply for bonorum possessio contra tabulas to take possession of the estate.

These examples illustrate how bonorum possessio contra tabulas was used to allow individuals to take possession of an estate even if they were not included in the will or testament.