DE VENTRE INSPICIENDO

de ventre inspiciendo (dee ven-tree in-spish-ee-en-doh), n. [Law Latin “of (or for) inspecting

the  belly”]  1.  A  writ  allowing  a  presumptive  heir  to  summon  a  jury  of  matrons  to  verify  the

pregnancy  of a widow suspected  of feigning  the  pregnancy to  produce a supposed  heir. — Also

termed ad ventrem inspiciendum. See venire facias tot matronas under VENIRE FACIAS.

“And  this  gives  occasion  to  a  proceeding  at  common  law,  where  a  widow  is  suspected  to

feign herself with child, in order to  produce a supposititious heir to the estate: an attempt which

the rigor of the Gothic constitutions esteemed equivalent to the most atrocious theft, and therefore

punished  with  death.  In  this  case  with  us  the  heir  presumptive  may  have  a  writ  de  ventre

inspiciendo  to  examine  whether  she  be  with  child,  or  not  …  and,  if  the  widow  be  upon  due

examination  found  not  pregnant,  any  issue  she  may  afterwards  produce,  though  within  nine

months,  will  be  bastard.”  1  William  Blackstone,  Commentaries  on  the  Laws  of  England  444

(1765).

2.  A  writ  providing  a  temporary  stay  of  execution  if  a  jury  of  matrons  determines  that  a

woman  scheduled  for  execution  and  claiming  pregnancy  is “quick  with  child.”  •  The execution

would be postponed until after the birth, but if the woman became pregnant a second time before

execution, she had no remedy. — Sometimes shortened to ventre inspiciendo. — Also spelled de

ventre in spiciendo. [Blacks Law 8th]