Article 1. This Act shall be known as the "Civil Code of the Philippines.

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(n)
Art. 2. Laws shall take effect after fifteen days following the completion of
their publication in the Official a!ette" unless it is otherwise pro#ided. This
$ode shall take effect one year after such publication. (1a)
Art. %. &gnorance of the law e'cuses no one from compliance therewith. (2)
Art. (. Laws shall ha#e no retroacti#e effect" unless the contrary is pro#ided.
(%)
Art. ). Acts e'ecuted against the pro#isions of mandatory or prohibitory laws
shall be #oid" e'cept when the law itself authori!es their #alidity. ((a)
Art. *. +ights may be wai#ed" unless the wai#er is contrary to law" public
order" public policy" morals" or good customs" or pre,udicial to a third person
with a right recogni!ed by law. ((a)
Art. -. Laws are repealed only by subse.uent ones" and their #iolation or non/
obser#ance shall not be e'cused by disuse" or custom or practice to the
contrary.
0hen the courts declared a law to be inconsistent with the $onstitution" the
former shall be #oid and the latter shall go#ern.
Administrati#e or e'ecuti#e acts" orders and regulations shall be #alid only
when they are not contrary to the laws or the $onstitution. ()a)
Art. 1. 2udicial decisions applying or interpreting the laws or the $onstitution
shall form a part of the legal system of the 3hilippines. (n)
Art. 4. 5o ,udge or court shall decline to render ,udgment by reason of the
silence" obscurity or insufficiency of the laws. (*)
Art. 16. &n case of doubt in the interpretation or application of laws" it is
presumed that the lawmaking body intended right and ,ustice to pre#ail. (n)
Art. 11. $ustoms which are contrary to law" public order or public policy shall
not be countenanced. (n)
Art. 12. A custom must be pro#ed as a fact" according to the rules of e#idence.
(n)
Art. 1%. 0hen the laws speak of years" months" days or nights" it shall be
understood that years are of three hundred si'ty/fi#e days each7 months" of
thirty days7 days" of twenty/four hours7 and nights from sunset to sunrise.
&f months are designated by their name" they shall be computed by the
number of days which they respecti#ely ha#e.
&n computing a period" the first day shall be e'cluded" and the last day
included.(-a)
Art. 1(. 3enal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory
upon all who li#e or so,ourn in the 3hilippine territory" sub,ect to the principles
of public international law and to treaty stipulations. (1a)
Art. 1). Laws relating to family rights and duties" or to the status" condition
and legal capacity of persons are binding upon citi!ens of the 3hilippines"
e#en though li#ing abroad. (4a)
Art. 1*. +eal property as well as personal property is sub,ect to the law of the
country where it is stipulated.
8owe#er" intestate and testamentary successions" both with respect to the
order of succession and to the amount of successional rights and to the
intrinsic #alidity of testamentary pro#isions" shall be regulated by the national
law of the person whose succession is under consideration" whate#er may be
the nature of the property and regardless of the country wherein said property
may be found. (16a)
Art. 1-. The forms and solemnities of contracts" wills" and other public
instruments shall be go#erned by the laws of the country in which they are
e'ecuted.
0hen the acts referred to are e'ecuted before the diplomatic or consular
officials of the +epublic of the 3hilippines in a foreign country" the solemnities
established by 3hilippine laws shall be obser#ed in their e'ecution.
3rohibiti#e laws concerning persons" their acts or property" and those which
ha#e" for their ob,ect" public order" public policy and good customs shall not
be rendered ineffecti#e by laws or ,udgments promulgated" or by
determinations or con#entions agreed upon in a foreign country. (11a)
Art. 11. &n matters which are go#erned by the $ode of $ommerce and special
laws" their deficiency shall be supplied by the pro#isions of this $ode. (1*a)