Roman Law, Slavery and Inheritance

Roman households could include enslaved workers, freedpeople, dependants and relatives with sharply different legal rights. A household's slaves could be interrogated collectively when an owner died violently.

Wills and manumission could transfer property and freedom but also create disputes over status, obligations and authenticity. Courts and professional advocates interpreted documents within a system shaped by social rank.

Enemies at Home, The Accusers and Fatal Legacy use these rules as central machinery for murder investigations rather than as background detail.