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beneficium com·pe·ten·ti·ae | \ -ˌkäm-pə-ˈten-tē-ˌī, -ˈten-chē-ˌē \
Definition of beneficium competentiae
1 Roman law : the right of a defendant debtor bearing to plaintiff a special relationship (such as that of ascendant, patron, husband, former partner, or one who has promised but not delivered a gift or dowry) to a judgment that will not deprive the debtor of the means of existence
2a civil law : the right of a gratuitous grantor to reserve if indigent a competency to himself or herself out of the subject of his grant
b Scots law : this right extended to fathers and grandfathers with respect to provisions granted to their children
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