Fides, bona fides, and bonus vir

This article investigates the link between the Roman notion of fides and the contemporary notion of fiduciary duties. Etymologically, the word “fiduciary” derives from fides . The Roman fides was a very complex concept, blending religious, social, and legal valences. The religious and social fides entered Roman law in a substantive form, as bona fides , and as a standard of judgment, in the form of bonus vir . It is submitted that a close analogy can be drawn between bonus vir and the contemporary fiduciary standards.