Unde vir et uxor
(Concerning prætorian possession with reference to husband and wife.)
1 Ulpianus libro quadragensimo septimo ad edictum. Ut bonorum possessio peti possit unde vir et uxor, iustum esse matrimonium oportet. ceterum si iniustum fuerit matrimonium, nequaquam bonorum possessio peti poterit, quemadmodum nec ex testamento adiri hereditas vel secundum tabulas peti bonorum possessio potest: nihil enim capi propter iniustum matrimonium potest. 1Ut autem haec bonorum possessio locum habeat, uxorem esse oportet mortis tempore. sed si divortium quidem secutum sit, verumtamen iure durat matrimonium, haec successio locum non habet. hoc autem in huiusmodi speciebus procedit. liberta ab invito patrono divortit: lex Iulia de maritandis ordinibus retinet istam in matrimonio, dum eam prohiberet alii nubere invito patrono. item Iulia de adulteriis, nisi certo modo divortium factum sit, pro infecto habet.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVII. In order that prætorian possession of an estate may be demanded in case of the intestacy of either the husband or the wife, there must be a lawful marriage. On the other hand, if the marriage is unlawful, prætorian possession of the estate cannot be demanded. In like manner, the estate cannot be entered upon under the will, nor can prætorian possession, in accordance with the terms of the will be claimed; for nothing can be acquired where a marriage is illegal. 1In order that prætorian possession of this kind may be obtained, the woman must be the wife of her husband at the time of his death. If a divorce has occurred, even though the marriage still exists according to law, this succession will not take place. This may happen in certain instances; for example, where a freedwoman is divorced without the consent of her patron; as the Lex Julia relating to the marriages of different orders still retains the woman in the matrimonial condition, and forbids her to marry another against the consent of her patron. The Lex Julia with reference to adultery renders a divorce void if it is not obtained in a certain way.