Family Structure In Roman Law
In Roman law, the family is similar to the state, and the father of the family is the head of the state. Pater familias means “father of the family” in Latin. pater familias has unlimited authority over family members, whatever he says goes. This unlimited authority is called patria potestas. patria potestas is exercised in cases of birth, adoption (adoptio) and the correction of descent. patria potestas is terminated when the pater familias dies and his children become sui iuris. patria potestas is also terminated by emancipatio (emancipation) and the removal of a married woman from the manus.