Legal Definitions - brevia judicialia

Definition: Brevia judicialia refers to short writs used in legal proceedings. The word "brevis" means "short," and brevia were shorter than charters. They were used to initiate legal action or to request a court order.

Examples:

• Album breve: A blank writ with a blank or omission in it.
• Apertum breve: An open, unsealed writ.
• Breve de bono et malo: A writ used to inquire into a person's character and conduct.
• Breve de conventione: A writ used to enforce a contract.

The examples illustrate the different types of brevia that were used in legal proceedings. For instance, an album breve was a blank writ that could be filled in later, while an apertum breve was an open writ that did not need to be sealed. The breve de bono et malo was used to investigate a person's character and conduct, while the breve de conventione was used to enforce a contract. These examples show how brevia were used in different legal contexts to initiate legal action or to request a court order.