De inpensis in res dotales factis
(Concerning expenses incurred with reference to dotal property.)
1 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. Impensarum quaedam sunt necessariae, quaedam utiles, quaedam vero voluptariae. 1Necessariae hae dicuntur, quae habent in se necessitatem inpendendi: ceterum si nulla fuit necessitas, alio iure habentur. 2In necessariis impensis hoc sciendum est eas demum inpensas dotem minuere, quae in dotem factae sunt: ceterum si in dotem factae non sint, non habent in se reputationem. 3Inter necessarias inpensas esse Labeo ait moles in mare vel flumen proiectas. sed et si pistrinum vel horreum necessario factum sit, in necessariis impensis habendum ait. proinde Fulcinius inquit, si aedificium ruens quod habere mulieri utile erat refecerit, aut si oliveta reiecta restauraverit, vel ex stipulatione damni infecti ne committatur praestiterit,
1 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXIX. Expenses are either necessary, useful, or incurred for purposes of pleasure. 1Those expenses are called necessary which are made through necessity. Where, however, no necessity exists, they come under another head. 2With reference to necessary expenses, it must be remembered that they only decrease the dowry when they are incurred on account of it. When, however, they are not incurred with reference to the dowry, they cannot be taken out of it. 3Labeo says that dikes built in the sea or river come under the head of necessary expenses. Where a mill or a granary, which is required, is built, it should be included among necessary expenses. Hence Falcinius says that if the husband should rebuild a house which was useful to his wife, and which was falling into ruin; or if he should replant an olive-orchard, where the trees had blown down; or if he should enter into a stipulation providing against the occurrence of threatened injury:
2 Paulus libro septimo ad Sabinum. vel in valetudinem servorum impenderit,
2 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book VII. Or should expend money for the cure of slaves who are ill;
3 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. vel si vites propagaverit vel arbores curaverit vel seminaria pro utilitate agri fecerit, necessarias inpensas fecisse videbitur. 1Nos generaliter definiemus multum interesse, ad perpetuam utilitatem agri vel ad eam quae non ad praesentis temporis pertineat, an vero ad praesentis anni fructum: si in praesentis, cum fructibus hoc compensandum: si vero non fuit ad praesens tantum apta erogatio, necessariis inpensis computandum.
3 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVI. Or if he should plant vines, or takes care of trees or nurseries for the benefit of the land, he will be held to have incurred necessary expenses. 1Generally speaking, we make a distinction, and in fact there is much difference where expenses are incurred to the permanent advantage of the land, and where this is done only for the present time, or on account of the crop for the present year. In the latter instance, the expenses ought to be set off against the crop, but where they have not been incurred temporarily, they should be reckoned among those that are necessary.
4 Paulus libro trigesimo sexto ad edictum. Et in totum id videtur necessariis impensis contineri, quod si a marito omissum sit, iudex tanti eum damnabit, quanti mulieris interfuerit eas impensas fieri. sed hoc differt, quod factarum ratio habetur, etsi res male gesta est, non factarum ita, si ob id res male gesta est: itaque si fulserit insulam ruentem eaque exusta sit, inpensas consequitur, si non fecerit, deusta ea nihil praestabit.
4 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXXVI. Upon the whole the judge shall hold the husband responsible for whatever was omitted by him, to the extent that it was to the interest of his wife to have such expenses incurred, as they are included in those that are necessary, but with this difference, namely: an account of the expenses will be allowed, if the property has not been preserved, and he will not be responsible where they were not incurred, unless the property was destroyed in consequence. Therefore, if he should support a house which is about to fall, and it is burned, he can recover the expenses; but if he did not do this, and the house should be burned, he will not be liable for anything.
5 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. Quod dicitur necessarias impensas dotem minuere, sic erit accipiendum, ut et Pomponius ait, non ut ipsae res corporaliter deminuantur, ut puta fundus vel quodcumque aliud corpus: etenim absurdum est deminutionem corporis fieri propter pecuniam. ceterum haec [ed. maior res faciet] <ed. minor efficiet> desinere esse fundum dotalem vel partem eius. manebit igitur maritus in rerum detentationem, donec ei satisfiat: non enim ipso iure corporum, sed dotis fit deminutio. ubi ergo admittimus deminutionem dotis ipso iure fieri? ubi non sunt corpora, sed pecunia: nam in pecunia ratio admittit deminutionem fieri. proinde si aestimata corpora in dotem data sint, ipso iure dos deminuetur per inpensas necessarias. hoc de his inpensis dictum est, quae in dotem ipsam factae sint: ceterum si extrinsecus, non imminuent dotem. 1Sed si inpensis necessariis mulier satisfecerit, utrum dos crescat an vero dicimus ex integro videri dotem? et ego, ubi pecunia est, non dubito dotem videri crevisse. 2Si dos tota soluta sit non habita ratione inpensarum, videndum est, an condici possit id, quod pro impensis necessariis compensari solet. et Marcellus admittit condictioni esse locum: sed etsi plerique negent, tamen propter aequitatem Marcelli sententia admittenda est. 3Utiles autem impensae sunt, quas maritus utiliter fecit, remque meliorem uxoris fecerit, hoc est dotem,
5 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVI. Where it is stated that necessary expenses diminish the dowry, this (as Pomponius says) must be understood to mean not that the property itself is actually diminished, as for instance, land or any other dotal property, for it is absurd to hold that any diminution of the same can occur on account of money expended; but it signifies that the said property ceases to become dotal either wholly, or in part. Hence the husband will remain in possession of it until his claim is satisfied, for no diminution of the same is effected, by operation of law, but merely a diminution of the dowry takes place. When, therefore, shall we admit that a diminution of the dowry occurs by operation of law? This will be the case where the dowry consists of other property than money, for it is reasonable to admit that a diminution of money can take place. Hence, if certain property, after being appraised, is given by way of dowry, the dowry will be diminished by operation of law to the amount of the necessary expenses incurred. This is said to be applicable to expenses incurred with reference to the dowry itself, but if they are made with reference to other matters they do not diminish the dowry. 1Where the wife pays such necessary expenses, can we say that the dowry is increased, or should it be held to remain unimpaired? Where the dowry consists of money, I have no doubt that it should be held to have increased. 2Where the entire dowry is paid without any account having been taken of expenses, it must be considered whether the amount which it is customary to set off against necessary expenses can be recovered by a personal action. Marcellus holds that there is ground for such action, and although many authorities deny that this is the case, still, on account of equity, the opinion of Marcellus should be upheld. 3Useful expenses are those which the husband incurs for the benefit of the property, and which improve the property of the wife, that is to say, her dowry.
6 Paulus libro septimo ad Sabinum. veluti si novelletum in fundo factum sit, aut si in domo pistrinum aut tabernam adiecerit, si servos artes docuerit.
6 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book VII. For instance, where a new plantation is made on the land, or where the husband adds a bakery or a shop to the house, or teaches the slaves some trade.
7 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. Voluptariae autem inpensae sunt, quas maritus ad voluptatem fecit et quae species exornant. quarum utiles non quidem minuunt ipso iure dotem, verumtamen habent exactionem.
7 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVI. Expenses for the purpose of pleasure are those which the husband incurs to that end, and which are an ornament to the property. Such expenses do not diminish the dowry by operation of law, as those which are useful do, nevertheless, they can be demanded.
8 Paulus libro septimo ad Sabinum. Utilium nomine ita faciendam deductionem quidam dicunt, si voluntate mulieris factae sint: iniquum enim esse compelli mulierem rem vendere, ut impensas in eam factas solveret, si aliunde solvere non potest: quod summam habet aequitatis rationem.
8 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book VII. Certain authorities hold that a deduction should be made on the ground of useful expenses only where they are incurred with the consent of the wife; for it would be unjust for her to be compelled to sell the property in order to pay the expenses incurred with reference to it, if she is unable to meet them otherwise. This opinion is based upon the highest principles of justice.
9 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. Pro voluptariis impensis, nisi parata sit mulier pati maritum tollentem, exactionem patitur. nam si vult habere mulier, reddere ea quae impensa sunt debet marito: aut si non vult, pati debet tollentem, si modo recipiant separationem: ceterum si non recipiant, relinquendae sunt: ita enim permittendum est marito auferre ornatum quem posuit, si futurum est eius quod abstulit.
9 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVI. The husband is permitted to demand from his wife expenses incurred for pleasure, if she does not permit him to remove what caused them. For, if the wife desires to retain such improvements, she should refund the amount expended by her husband; or if she does not wish to retain them, she should permit him to remove them, provided they admit of separation. If, however, they cannot be separated, they should be left; for the husband is not allowed to take away any ornaments which he has added to the property, unless by doing so he can make them his own.
10 Paulus libro trigesimo sexto ad edictum. Quod si hae res, in quibus impensae factae sunt, promercales fuerint, tales impensae non voluptariae, sed utiles sunt.
10 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXXVI. If the property on account of which the expenses were incurred is for sale, such expenses are not classed under the head of pleasure, but of utility.
11 Ulpianus libro trigesimo sexto ad Sabinum. In voluptariis autem Aristo scribit nec si voluntate mulieris factae sunt, exactionem parere. 1Donationem inter virum et uxorem circa impensas quoque inhibitam vere Sabinus scribit.
11 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXVI. Aristo, however, says with reference to expenses incurred for pleasure, that the husband cannot demand them, even if they have been made with the consent of his wife. 1Sabinus very properly holds that gifts which are prohibited between husband and wife also extend to expenses incurred on account of the dowry.
12 Paulus libro septimo ad Sabinum. Omnino et in aedificandis aedibus et in reponendis propagandisque vineis et in valetudine mancipiorum modicas impensas non debet arbiter curare: alioquin negotiorum gestorum potius quam de dote iudicium videbitur.
12 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book VII. A judge should not pay any attention to moderate expenses incurred for the purpose of building houses, or for planting and cultivating vines, or for the treatment of slaves who are ill; otherwise a judicial decision would rather seem to have reference to the transaction of business than to matters connected with the dowry.
13 Idem libro septimo brevium. Neque stipendium neque tributum ob dotalem fundum praestita exigere vir a muliere potest: onus enim fructuum haec impendia sunt.
13 The Same, Abridgments, Book VII. A husband cannot collect from his wife any tax or tribute paid on account of dotal lands, for these charges should be paid out of the crops.
14 Ulpianus libro quinto regularum. Impensae necessariae sunt, quibus non factis dos imminuitur, veluti aggeres facere, flumina avertere, aedificia vetera fulcire itemque reficere, arbores in locum mortuarum reponere. 1Utiles sunt veluti pecora praediis imponere, id est stercorare. 2Voluptuosae sunt balinea exstruere.
14 Ulpianus, Rules, Book V. Necessary expenses are those through which the dowry is diminished, as, for instance, those incurred for the building of dikes, the diversion of streams, the supporting and repairing of old houses, and the replacing of trees where others have died. 1Useful expenses are, for example, such as placing cattle in fields for the purpose of manuring them. 2Expenses incurred for pleasure are, for instance, the construction of baths.
15 Neratius libro secundo membranarum. Quod dicitur impensas, quae in res dotales necessario factae sunt, dotem deminuere, ita interpretandum est, ut, si quid extra tutelam necessariam in res dotales impensum est, id in ea causa sit: nam tueri res dotales vir suo sumptu debet. alioquin tam cibaria dotalibus mancipiis data et quaevis modica aedificiorum dotalium refectio et agrorum quoque cultura dotem minuent: omnia enim haec in specie necessariarum inpensarum sunt. sed ipsae res ita praestare intelleguntur, ut non tam inpendas in eas, quam deducto eo minus ex his percepisse videaris. quae autem impendia secundum eam distinctionem ex dote deduci debeant, non tam facile in universum definiri, quam per singula ex genere et magnitudine inpendiorum aestimari possunt.
15 Neratius, Parchments, Book II. Where it is stated that necessary expenses incurred with reference to dotal property diminish the dowry, this must be understood to mean where anything is expended on such property over and above what is necessary for its preservation, that is to say, for its benefit. For a man should preserve dotal property at his own expense; otherwise, provisions furnished to dotal slaves, and any moderate repairs of buildings, or even the cultivation of the soil, would diminish the dowry; for all these things are included under the head of necessary expenses. The property itself, however, is understood to yield a certain income, so that you appear not to have expended money upon it, but, after having deducted the expenses, you have received a smaller return therefrom. It is not easy, generally speaking, to decide in accordance with this distinction what expenses should be deducted from the dowry, but they can be estimated in detail according to their nature and amount.
16 Idem libro sexto membranarum. Et ante omnia quaecumque inpensae quaerendorum fructuum causa factae erunt, quamquam eaedem etiam colendi causa fiant ideoque non solum ad percipiendos fructus, sed etiam ad conservandam ipsam rem speciemque eius necessariae sint, eas vir ex suo facit nec ullam habet eo nomine ex dote deductionem.
16 The Same, Parchments, Book VI. And, by all means, any expenses incurred by the husband in harvesting the crops must be paid by him out of his own purse, even though these expenses may have been incurred for the purpose of cultivating the land; and therefore not only those made in gathering the crops are included but also such as are necessary for preserving the property itself, and the husband is entitled to no deduction from the dowry on this account.