bonis interdictum
BOH-nis in-ter-DIK-tum
noun phrase
Literal translation
interdict concerning goods/property
Legal meaning
In Roman-Dutch and South African legal usage, bonis interdictum refers to an interdiction against a person's estate or property, historically restricting that person from administering or dealing with their assets. It is associated with the protection of the estate of a person regarded as incapable of managing their affairs, such as in cases of prodigality or incapacity. In modern South African law, the concept is largely of historical and doctrinal significance, with contemporary mechanisms such as curatorship and administration serving similar protective functions.
Examples
- Roman-Dutch writers described bonis interdictum as a remedy to prevent a prodigal from dissipating his estate.
- The historical notion of bonis interdictum informs modern discussions of curators appointed to manage the property of incapable persons.