3,019. The Moribund

Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin 7:19

The preceding halachos (about a man who consecrates his property and has debts) refers to a healthy person. If a dying man consecrates all of his property and at that time he says that he owes 100 zuz to person X, we accept his word. This is because a person who is dying wouldn’t try to take advantage of the Temple for the benefit of others. Therefore, if he says to give person X what he is owed, person X can collect it without taking an oath. If the dying person doesn’t say to pay person X, then he isn’t paid without a promissory note that has been authenticated. If he has one, then he can collect what he’s owed from the Temple because of the deathbed statements of the one who consecrated the property. If he said to pay person X only after he consecrated his property (rather than at the same time), then we don’t listen to him. Rather, person X is treated like others to whom money may be owed. If his promissory note is authenticated, he must take an oath, after which he can recoup what he is owed from the one who redeems the property, but not from the Temple itself.

Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin 7:20

If a rumor circulates that someone declared all of his property ownerless, consecrated it or proscribed it, we don’t pay any attention to the rumor without clear proof.