BŎNŌRUM EMTĬO ET EMTOR

The expre ion bonorum emtio applies to a sale of the property either of a living or of a dead person. It was in effect, as to a living debtor, an execution. In the case of a dead person, his property was sold when it was ascertained that there was neither heres nor bonorum po e or, nor any other person entitled to succeed to it. In the case of the property of a living person being sold, the praetor, on the application of the creditors, ordered it to be po e ed ( po ideri ) by the creditors for thirty succe ive days, and notice to be given of the sale. This explains the expre ion in Livy (ii. 24): “ ne quis militis, donec in castris e et, bona po ideret aut venderet. ”