The value of contract in customary legal regulation of guardianship by the Don Cossacks in the second half of XIXth century

In this article the author studies the value of contract in Don Cossacks Communities in the second half of the XIXth century, using the examples of the conclusion of contracts on establishment and implementation of guardianship with sons-in-law, foster-sons and other adopted children. The author draws a conclusion that such contracts were always secondary and derivational from those rights and responsibilities which were authorized to application by the Don Cossack communities. This data have not been the subject of scientific research neither in historical and legal, nor in historical and ethnological sciences.