Inheritance by testament is, in addition to intestate succession, one of the two possible ways of inheritance where the testator's freedom to dispose of his own property is fully manifested. This concept, stemming from Roman legal tradition, exists nowadays in the contemporary Croatian Act on Inheritance, which regulates matters of inheritance. Testament is thus a formal, unilateral and revocable legal act mortis causa, i.e. it represents testaror’s distribution of his property effective on the moment of his death. This refers to modern testamentary law, which is largely based on the Roman legal tradition. This text analyses testaments from the island of Zlarin (near the city of Šibenik, Croatia), from the 17th century in the context of Roman legal tradition. The analysis deals with forty-seven glagolitic wills collected by the great connoisseur of past of the city of Šibenik and its surrounding area, don Krsto Stošić, and which were originally composed by glagolitic priests and notaries (don Mate Despot, don Matij Perošić, don Gustin Vidulin Černarić and don Jivan Oštarić) in the period from 1661 to 1683. These testaments consist of various elements such as the appointment of heirs, legatees, witnesses and procurators. The text essentially deals with a testament as a means of disposing with one’s property in a particular area and time period, in the context of Roman legal tradition. Additionally, it provides a unique insight into various aspects of social life and property of testators generally.