sous (or, par) bénéfice d'inventaire

e.g. Il faut croire ce conte sous bénéfice d’inventaire. The origin of the legal phrase arose from the fact that an inheritor is liable for the debts of the deceased only in proportion to his inheritance, which is verified by the inventory. Thus, if the debts are more than the inheritance, a sole heir would decline to inherit at all.\nCompare: “Un païen, qui sentait quelque peu le fagot Et qui croyait en Dieu, pour user de ce mot, Par bénéfice d’inventaire.” - La Fontaine , Fables, iv. 19.