Latin translation.
Dying persons and their remains shall not be outraged by creditors.
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We ordain that if a man invades the house of his debtor while the latter is living and on his death bed and vexes him and his family, that is to say, his wife and children and his remaining household, and even puts the property under lock without any order of court and without waiting for orderly procedure after the death of the debtor, he shall lose his right of action, whether just or not, shall pay an amount equalling his debt to the heirs of the outraged deceased, shall be punished by the confiscation of a part of his property, as Marcus, the great philosopher-emperor mentioned in his laws, and shall become infamous. For a man who so disregards human nature is a fit subject to lose his property and his good name and to be otherwise punished. It behoves all the magistrates to avenge outrages upon human nature that affect all alike. These provisions shall apply not only in this fortunate city, but in all places which God put under our sway in the beginning or subsequently or, as one of the ancients said, which He shall put under our sway in the future, and shall be enforced by the magistrates.
Given 1 December 537.