beneficium divisionis

noun

beneficium di·​vi·​si·​o·​nis

-də-ˌwē-sē-ˈō-nəs,

-də-ˌvi-zhē-ˈō-

Roman, civil, & Scots law

: the right of a surety sued by a creditor to compel the creditor also to sue the cosureties

also : the right of the surety to be liable only for his or her proportionate share of the debt

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, right of division

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