Ad Quintum Mucium libri
Ex libro XXXV
Dig. 29,2,78Idem libro trigesimo quinto ad Quintum Mucium. Duo fratres fuerant, bona communia habuerant: eorum alter intestato mortuus suum heredem non reliquerat: frater qui supererat nolebat ei heres esse: consulebat, num ob eam rem, quod communibus, cum sciret eum mortuum esse, usus esset, hereditati se alligasset. respondit, nisi eo consilio usus esset, quod vellet se heredem esse, non adstringi. itaque cavere debet, ne qua in re plus sua parte dominationem interponeret.
The Same, on Quintus Mucius, Book XXXV. Two brothers held their property in common, one of them who died intestate did not leave any direct heir, and his brother, who survived him, refused to be his heir. The question was asked whether the latter rendered himself liable for the debts of the estate, because he had made use of the common property after he knew that his brother was dead. The answer was, that if he had not used said property because he wished to be the heir, he would not be liable. Therefore he should be careful not to exercise ownership upon any more of the property than he was entitled to as his share.