Legal Definitions - rationabili parte bonorum

RATIONABILI PARTE BONORUM

Rationabili parte bonorum is a Latin term that means "of reasonable share of goods." In legal history, it refers to a writ that allowed the wife and children of a deceased man to recover a fair portion of his assets from his executors after his debts were paid. This writ was usually based on custom rather than general law.

An example of rationabili parte bonorum would be if a man died and left behind a wife and children. After his debts were paid, his wife and children could use this writ to claim a reasonable share of his remaining assets from his executors.

Another example would be if a man died without a will, and his assets were being distributed according to the laws of intestacy. If his wife and children felt that they were not receiving a fair share of his assets, they could use the writ of rationabili parte bonorum to claim a more reasonable portion.

These examples illustrate how the writ of rationabili parte bonorum was used to ensure that the family of a deceased man received a fair share of his assets. It was a way to prevent his executors or the laws of intestacy from unfairly distributing his assets and leaving his family without adequate support.