Jus Devolutum

Jus Devolutum, a phrase of ecclesiastical law used to denote the right of a church to present a minister to a vacant parish if the patron neglect to exercise his right within the legal time. In the Established Church of Scotland, if a cure be vacant by death or otherwise, a fit person must be presented to the presbytery to supply the cure within six months after the occurrence of the vacancy. If no appointment is made in this time by the congregation the right of presentation accrues to the presbytery, and is called jus devolutum.