SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4

th
Year : 2008-2009
WILLS & SUCCESSION Case Digests
Based on the syllabus of Atty. Lielanie Yangyang
Ese!o" C#A
Su$$ession in %ene&al
'A(I'E) *s. 'A(I'E)
111 SCRA 82
+AC,S- Jose Ramirez a Filipino, died in Spain leaving
only his widow Marcelle Ramirez, a French.
n !he pro"ec! par!i!ion, !he proper!y was divided in!o 2
par!s# 1
s!
par! !o !he widow, and 2
nd
par! !o !he
grandnephews !he na$ed ownership. F%r!hermore, as !o
!he %s%&r%c! o& !he 2
nd
par!, 1'( was given !o !he widow
and 2'( !o )anda de )ro*les$i, an A%s!rian.
+he grandnephews opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! %s%&r%c!
!o )anda is void *eca%se i! viola!es !he cons!i!%!ional
prohi*i!ion agains! !he ac,%isi!ion o& lands *y aliens.
ISSUE- )-. !he gro%nd &or !he opposi!ion is correc!.
.ELD- .o, i! is no! correc!.
+he SC held !ha! the Constitutional &o*ision /hi$h
enables aliens to a$0ui&e &i*ate lands does not
e1tend to testa2enta&y su$$ession &or o!herwise !he
prohi*i!ion will *e &or na%gh! and meaningless.
+he SC %pheld !he %s%&r%c! in &avor o& )anda *eca%se
al!ho%gh i! is a real righ!, i! does no! ves! !i!le !o !he land in
!he %s%&r%c!%ary and i! is !he ves!ing o& !i!le !o land in
&avor o& aliens which is proscri*ed *y !he Cons!i!%!ion.
A',ICLE 345. /ona!ions which are !o !a$e e&&ec! %pon
!he dea!h o& !he donor par!a$e o& !he na!%re o&
!es!amen!ary provisions, and shall *e governed *y !he
r%les es!a*lished in !he +i!le on S%ccession. 01223
6U,IC *s. CA
A%g%s! 24, 1584
+AC,S- Arsenio Seville e6ec%!ed an a&&idavi! in &avor o&
his *ro!her Mel,%iades. ! was s!ip%la!ed !herein !ha! in
case !he &ormer dies, he wo%ld assign all his righ!s,
in!eres! and par!icipa!ion over all his proper!y !o
Mel,%iades.
Arsenio died in!es!a!e and s%rvived *y Mel,%iades, 2
*ro!hers and 2 sis!ers.
7e!i!ioners, children o& Arsenio, are now claiming
e6cl%sive ownership o& !he proper!ies o& Arsenio on !he
*asis o& !he a&&idavi!. 7riva!e responden!s &iled a
complain! &or par!i!ion and acco%n!ing as rela!ives also o&
Arsenio.
ISSUE# )-. !he a&&idavi! was a deed o& dona!ion in!er
vivos in order !o validly convey !he proper!y !o
Mel,%iades.
.ELD# .o, i! is no! an ins!r%men! o& dona!ion in!er vivos.
+here was no in!en!ion !o !rans&er ownership &rom
Arsenio !o Mel,%iades a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he
a&&idavi!. 8%! i! is !he in!en!ion !o assign i! in case Arsenio
wo%ld die. +h%s, A&ti$le 345 of the Ci*il Code is
ali$able.
%ANUELAS *s. CAWED
April 29, 222(
+AC,S- Celes!ina :an%elas e6ec%!ed a deed o&
dona!ion o& real proper!y in &avor o& her niece ;rs%lina
which provides !ha! i! wo%ld !a$e e&&ec! %pon her dea!h.
<owever, !he deed was revo$ed.
+herea&!er, Celes!ina died wi!ho%! iss%e and any
s%rviving ascendan!s and si*lings. A&!er Celes!ina=s
dea!h, ;rs%lina had *een sharing !he prod%ce o& !he
proper!y wi!h priva!e responden!s, o!her nieces.
A&!er 29 years &rom !he e6ec%!ion o& !he deed, ;rs%lina
sec%red a !a6 declara!ion in her name and re&%sed !o
share !he prod%ce !o responden!s. +h%s, !hey &iled an
ac!ion !o re!%rn !he possession and ownership o& !he
proper!y con!ending !ha! !he ins!r%men! was void *eca%se
i! was a dona!ion mor!is ca%sa and i! &ailed !o comply wi!h !he
&ormali!ies o& a will.
ISSUE- )-. !he dona!ion is mor!is ca%sa.
.ELD- >es, i! is a dona!ion mor!is ca%sa
+here is no!hing in !he s%*"ec! deed which indica!es !ha!
any righ!, !i!le or in!eres! in !he dona!ed proper!ies was !o *e
!rans&erred !o ;rs%lina prior !o !he dea!h o& Celes!ina. n &ac!,
i! was s!ip%la!ed !ha! i! wo%ld !a$e e&&ec! a&!er her dea!h.
As the sub!e$t deed /as in the natu&e of a 2o&tis
$ausa disosition" the fo&2alities of a /ill should ha*e
been $o2lied /ith, &ailing which !he dona!ion is void and
wi!ho%! e&&ec!.
(A%LASAN% *s. CABA,IN%AN
J%ne ?, 2222
+AC,S- Conchi!a Ca*a!ingan e6ec%!ed deed o& dona!ion
over a ho%se and lo! in &avor o& his *ro!her. Also, she
e6ec%!ed 9 o!her deeds o& dona!ion in &avor o& !he pe!i!ioners.
+he deeds provided !ha! i! shall !a$e e&&ec! %pon !he donor=s
dea!h.
Conchi!a died. Responden!s &iled an ac!ion !o ann%l !he 9
deeds on !he gro%nd !ha! i! is void &or &ail%re !o comply wi!h
!he &ormali!ies o& a will.
ISSUE- )-. !he deed is a dona!ion mor!is ca%sa.
.ELD- >es, i! is.
+he na!%re o& !he dona!ions as mor!is ca%sa is con&irmed
*y !he &ac! !ha! !he dona!ions do no! con!ain any clear
provision !ha! in!ends !o pass proprie!ary righ!s !o pe!i!ioners
prior !o Conchi!a=s dea!h.
Donations 2o&tis $ausa 2ust be e1e$uted in
a$$o&dan$e /ith the &e0uisites on sole2nities of /ills
and testa2ents.
+ho%gh !he deeds were ac$nowledge *e&ore a no!ary
p%*lic, !hey were no! e6ec%!ed in !he manner provided &or
%nder Ar!icle 82?@821 o& !he Civil Code, !h%s i! is void.
,I,LE I7
Su$$ession
C.A#,E' 8
%ene&al #&o*isions
A',ICLE 339. Su$$ession is a mode o& ac,%isi!ion *y
vir!%e o& which !he proper!y, righ!s and o*liga!ions !o !he
e6!en! o& !he val%e o& !he inheri!ance, o& a person are
!ransmi!!ed !hro%gh his dea!h !o ano!her or o!hers ei!her *y
his will or *y opera!ion o& law. 0n3
A',ICLE 33:. n !his +i!le, Ade$edentA is !he general !erm
applied !o !he person whose proper!y is !ransmi!!ed !hro%gh
s%ccession, whe!her or no! he le&! a will. & he le&! a will, he is
also called !he !es!a!or. 0n3
A',ICLE 33;. +he inheri!ance incl%des all !he proper!y,
righ!s and o*liga!ions o& a person which are no! e6!ing%ished
*y his dea!h. 01?53
CONDE *s. ABAYA
1( 7<B 292
+AC,S- Casiano A*aya, %nmarried, died in!es!a!e. 7a%la
Conde alleged !ha! she is !he mo!her o& Jose and +eopis!a,
who are na!%ral children o& Casiano and she moved &or !he
se!!lemen! o& Casiano=s es!a!e.
Roman A*aya on !he o!her hand moved !ha! he *e
declared as !he sole heir o& Casiano.
+rial co%r! r%led !ha! Roman sho%ld recognized Jose and
+eopis!a as *eing na!%ral children o& Casiano, and 7a%la
sho%ld s%cceed as !he mo!her o& !he deceased na!%ral
children.
ISSUE- )-. 7a%la may *ring an ac!ion &or ac$nowledgmen!
o& !he na!%ral &ilia!ion o& !he children.
1
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
th
Year : 2008-2009
.ELD- .o, she canno!.
Ar!icle 441 o& !he Civil Code applies. +he righ! o& ac!ion
!ha! devolves %pon !he child !o claim his legi!imacy las!s
d%ring his whole li&e, while !he righ! !o claim
ac$nowledgmen! o& a na!%ral child las!s only d%ring !he
li&e o& his pres%med paren!s. +he &ight of a$tion /hi$h
the la/ $on$edes to this natu&al $hild is not
t&ans2itted to his des$endants o& as$endants.
Since !he pres%med paren!s as well as !he na!%ral
children are already dead, !he mo!her o& !ha! na!%ral
children can no longer *ring an ac!ion &or
ac$nowledgmen!.
LA .U NIU *s. COLLEC,O'
(1 7<B 9((
.ELD- +he &ight of $hild&en of &esident fo&eigne& to
gain ent&an$e is a u&ely e&sonal &ight. +h%s, i! is
e6!ing%ished *y dea!h and canno! *e !rans&erred.
%'E#ALI+E *s. CA
-c!o*er 1(, 1555
.ELD- #&oe&ty &ight in an insu&an$e oli$y is not
e1tinguished by death only /hen the designation is
i&&e*o$able. +he *ene&iciary has a ves!ed righ! !o !he li&e
ins%rance %nless o!herwise provided in !he policy.
'OBLES *s. BA,ACAN
1?9 SCRA 199
+AC,S- Severino :eronimo wor$ed &or 22 years in
pe!i!ioner=s land. A&!er his dea!h an e"ec!men! s%i! was
&iled agains! his 2 sons.
A!anacio, one o& !he 2 sons averred !ha! he was en!i!led
!o s%cceed his &a!her as agric%l!%ral !enan!.
ISSUE- )-. a son has !he righ! !o s%cceed agric%l!%ral
!enency o& his deceased &a!her.
.ELD- Atana$io had the &ight to ta<e o*e& as
ag&i$ultu&al tenant in the etitione&=s land in
accordance wi!h RA 1155 and RA (899.
SAN A%US,IN *s. CA
/ecem*er 9, 2221
+AC,S- :SS sold !o Macaria Cai,%ep, parcel o&
residen!ial land. A +C+ was iss%ed and a provision was
provided !ha! !he vendee is prohi*i!ed !o !rans&er or sell
!he land wi!hin ? years &rom !he &inal da!e o& a*sol%!e
ownership.
A day a&!er !he iss%ance o& !he +C+, Macaria sold !he
land !o Ma6imo Menez, Jr. +herea&!er !he pe!i!ioner,
nephew o& Macaria, received a copy o& !he decision
gran!ing !he iss%ance o& owner=s d%plica!e copy which
Menez &iled.
7e!i!ioner con!ends !ha! !he sale in &avor o& Menez is
void as i! is viola!ive o& !he ?@year prohi*i!ory period %nder
!he 7%*lic Band Ac!.
ISSUE- )-. !he sale is valid as !o *ind pe!i!ioner as
Macaria=s heir.
.ELD- As &ar as !he ?@year res!ric!ive condi!ion imposed
*y :SS, i! is !he la!!er and no! !he pe!i!ioner who had a
ca%se o& ac!ion agains! priva!e responden!.
+he con!rac! o& sale is valid *e!ween !he par!ies, %nless
ann%lled. +h%s, i! is *inding %pon !he heirs o& Macaria,
incl%ding pe!i!ioner who alleges !o *e one o& her heirs, in
line wi!h !he r%le !ha! hei&s a&e bound by $ont&a$ts
ente&ed into by thei& &ede$esso&s>in>inte&est.
'ABADILLA *s. CA
J%ne 25, 2222
+AC,S- n a Codicil appended !o !he Bas! )ill and
+es!amen! o& !es!a!ri6 Ale"a 8elleza, /r. Jorge Ra*adilla,
predecessor@in@in!eres! o& !he herein pe!i!ioner, Johnny S.
Ra*adilla, was ins!i!%!ed as a devisee o& parcel o& land. +he
Codicil provides !ha! Jorge Ra*adilla shall have !he
o*liga!ion %n!il he dies, every year !o give Maria Marlina
Coscoll%ela y 8elleza, 04?3 0sic3 pic%ls o& C6por! s%gar and
02?3 pic%ls o& /omes!ic s%gar, %n!il !he said Maria Marlina
Coscoll%ela y 8elleza dies.
/r. Jorge Ra*adilla died. 7riva!e responden! *ro%gh! a
complain!, !o en&orce !he provisions o& s%*"ec! Codicil.
ISSUE- )-. !he o*liga!ions o& Jorge Ra*adilla %nder !he
Codicil are inheri!ed *y his heirs.
.ELD- ;nder Ar!icle 441 o& !he .CC, inheri!ance incl%des
all !he proper!y, righ!s and o*liga!ions o& a person, no!
e6!ing%ished *y his dea!h. Con&orma*ly, wha!ever righ!s /r.
Jorge Ra*adilla had *y vir!%e o& s%*"ec! Codicil were
!ransmi!!ed !o his &orced heirs, a! !he !ime o& his dea!h. And
since obligations not e1tinguished by death also fo&2
a&t of the estate of the de$edentD corollarily, !he
o*liga!ions imposed *y !he Codicil on !he deceased /r. Jorge
Ra*adilla, were li$ewise !ransmi!!ed !o his comp%lsory heirs
%pon his dea!h.
AL7A'E) *s. IAC
May 4, 1552
+AC,S- Anice!o >anes owned 2 parcels o& land Bo! 44(@A
and Bo! 44(@8.
Anice!o >anes was s%rvived *y his children, R%&ino, Felipe
and +eodora. <erein priva!e responden!s, Cs!eli!a, l%minado
and Jes%s, are !he children o& R%&ino who died in 1512 while
!he o!her priva!e responden!s, An!onio and Rosario >anes,
are children o& Felipe. +eodora was s%rvived *y her child,
Jovi!a 0Jovi!o3 Al*i*.
! is es!a*lished !ha! R%&ino and his children le&! !he
province !o se!!le in o!her places as a res%l! o& !he o%!*rea$
o& )orld )ar . According !o Cs!eli!a, &rom !he AJapanese
!ime %p !o peace !imeA, !hey did no! visi! !he parcels o& land in
,%es!ion *%! Aa&!er li*era!ionA, when her *ro!her wen! !here !o
ge! !heir share o& !he s%gar prod%ced !herein, he was
in&ormed !ha! For!%na!o San!iago, F%en!e*ella 07%en!evella3
and Alvarez were in possession o& Bo! 44(. A&!er
F%en!e*ellaEs dea!h, Arsenia Fda. de F%en!e*ella sold said
lo!s &or 71,222.22 !o Rosendo Alvarez.
-n May 21, 1512, +eodora >anes and !he children o& her
*ro!her R%&ino &iled a complain! agains! For!%na!o San!iago,
Arsenia Fda. de F%en!e*ella, Alvarez and !he Regis!er o&
/eeds o& .egros -cciden!al &or !he Are!%rnA o& !he ownership
and possession o& Bo!s 44( and 82(.
/%ring !he pendency o& said case, Alvarez sold !he Bo!s
&or 72?,222.22 !o /r. Rodol&o Siason.
CF rendered "%dgmen! ordering de&endan! Rosendo
Alvarez !o reconvey !o plain!i&&s !he lo!s.
ISSUE- )'. !he lia*ili!y o& Rosendo Alvarez arising &rom !he
sale o& Bo!s .os. 44(@A and 44(@8 co%ld *e legally passed or
!ransmi!!ed *y opera!ion o& law !o !he pe!i!ioners wi!ho%!
viola!ion o& law and d%e process.
'ULIN%- +he doc!rine o*!aining in !his "%risdic!ion is on !he
gene&al t&ans2issibility of the &ights and obligations of
the de$eased to his legiti2ate $hild&en and hei&s.
+he *inding e&&ec! o& con!rac!s %pon !he heirs o& !he
deceased par!y is no! al!ered *y !he provision o& o%r R%les o&
Co%r! !ha! money de*!s o& a deceased m%s! *e li,%ida!ed
and paid &rom his es!a!e *e&ore !he resid%e is dis!ri*%!ed
among said heirs 0R%le 853. +he reason is !ha! wha!ever
paymen! is !h%s made &rom !he es!a!e is %l!ima!ely a paymen!
*y !he heirs or dis!ri*%!ees, since !he amo%n! o& !he paid
claim in &ac! diminishes or red%ces !he shares !ha! !he heirs
wo%ld have *een en!i!led !o receive.
A;nder o%r law, !here&ore, !he general r%le is !ha! a par!yEs
con!rac!%al righ!s and o*liga!ions are !ransmissi*le !o !he
s%ccessors. +he r%le is a conse,%ence o& !he progressive
Edepersonaliza!ionE o& pa!rimonial righ!s and d%!ies. From !he
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SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
th
Year : 2008-2009
Roman concep! o& a rela!ion &rom person !o person, !he
o*liga!ion has evolved in!o a rela!ion &rom pa!rimony !o
pa!rimony, wi!h !he persons occ%pying only a
represen!a!ive posi!ion, *arring !hose rare cases where
!he o*liga!ion is s!ric!ly personal, in considera!ion o& i!s
per&ormance *y a speci&ic person and *y no o!her. . . .A
7e!i!ioners *eing !he heirs o& !he la!e Rosendo Alvarez,
!hey canno! escape !he legal conse,%ences o& !heir
&a!herEs !ransac!ion, which gave rise !o !he presen! claim
&or damages.
#A(#LONA *s. (O'E,O
51 SCRA 44?
+AC,S- Flaviano More!o and Monica Maniega were
h%s*and and wi&e wi!h 1 children. /%ring !heir marriage,
!hey ac,%ired ad"acen! lo!s .os. 195?, 9?9?, and 1951.
Monica Maniega died in!es!a!e. more !han 013 years
a&!er, Flaviano More!o, wi!ho%! !he consen! o& !he heirs o&
his said deceased wi&e, and *e&ore any li,%ida!ion o& !he
con"%gal par!nership, e6ec%!ed in &avor o& :eminiano
7amplona, !he deed o& a*sol%!e sale covering lo! .o.
195? &or 7522.22.
+he spo%ses :eminiano 7amplona and Apolonia -n!e
cons!r%c!ed !heir ho%se on !he eas!ern par! o& lo! 1951 as
Flaviano More!o, a! !he !ime o& !he sale, poin!ed !o i! as
!he land which he sold !o :eminiano 7amplona.
Flaviano More!o died in!es!a!e. n 1511, !he plain!i&&s
demanded on !he de&endan!s !o vaca!e !he premises on
!he gro%nd !ha! Flaviano More!o had no righ! !o sell !he lo!
which he sold !o :eminiano 7amplona as !he same
*elongs !o !he con"%gal par!nership o& Flaviano and his
deceased wi&e.
+he spo%ses 7amplona re&%sed !o vaca!e hence, !his
s%i! was ins!i!%!ed see$ing &or !he declara!ion o& !he n%lli!y
o& !he deed o& sale as regards one@hal& o& !he proper!y
s%*"ec! ma!!er o& said deed.

ISSUE- )he!her pe!i!ioners are en!i!led !o !he &%ll
ownership o& !he proper!y in li!iga!ion, or only one@hal& o&
!he same.
'ULIN%- +he !hree lo!s have a !o!al area o& 2,(91 s,.
me!ers. ! is !here&ore, clear !ha! !he !hree lo!s cons!i!%!e
one *ig land. +hey are no! separa!e proper!ies loca!ed in
di&&eren! places *%! !hey a*%! each o!her. And since
Flaviano More!o was en!i!led !o one@hal& pro@indiviso o&
!he en!ire land area or 1,14( s,. me!ers as his share, he
had a per&ec! legal and law&%l righ! !o dispose o& 481 s,.
me!ers o& his share !o !he 7amplona spo%ses.
Moreover, priva!e responden!s, as heirs are d%!y@
*o%nd !o comply wi!h !he provisions o& Ar!icles 19?8 and
195?, Civil Code, which is !he o*liga!ion o& !he vendor o&
!he proper!y o& delivering and !rans&erring !he ownership
o& !he whole proper!y sold, which is !ransmi!!ed on his
dea!h !o his heirs, !he herein priva!e responden!s.
;nder Ar!icle 441, .ew Civil Code, the inhe&itan$e
/hi$h &i*ate &esondents &e$ei*ed f&o2 thei&
de$eased a&ents and?o& &ede$esso&s>in>inte&est
in$luded all the &oe&ty &ights and obligations /hi$h
/e&e not e1tinguished by thei& a&ents@ death.
LEDES(A *s. (CLAC.LIN
11 7<B ?94
+AC,S- Borenzo Mclachlin is inde*!ed !o (
rd
person. 8%!
Borenzo *e&ore he was a*le !o pay !he de*!, he died.
8%! when he died, he had no proper!y. +heore!ically,
!here sho%ld have *een s%ccession *e!ween Borenzo
and Anna. So Anna sho%ld have inheri!ed &rom Borenzo.
8%! *eca%se Borenzo had no proper!ies, Anna did no!
inheri! any!hing &rom Borenzo.
ISSUE- Can !he (
rd
person claim &rom AnnaG
'ULIN%- .o. <e canno! *eca%se Borenzo did no!
!ransmi! any!hing !o Anna and !he inheri!ance is only !o
!he e6!en! o& !he val%e. So, &or e6ample, Borenzo had
de*!s. +he *alue of the inhe&itan$e should only be to
the *alue of the debts. 8%! !here was no proper!y le&!.
So !he val%e o& !he inheri!ance is zero. +he de*!s canno! *e
en&orced agains! Anna *eca%se Anna inheri!ed no!hing.
A',ICLE 333. +he righ!s !o !he s%ccession are
!ransmi!!ed &rom !he momen! o& !he dea!h o& !he deceden!.
01?4a3
'IO+E'IO *s. CA
Jan%ary 1(, 2229
+AC,S- Al&onso 7. -r&inada, Jr. died wi!ho%! a will leaving
several personal and real proper!ies.
<e also le&! a widow, responden! Csperanza 7. -r&inada,
whom he had seven children who are !he herein
responden!s.
Also, !he deceden! also le&! his paramo%r and !heir
children. +hey are pe!i!ioner +eodora Rio&ero and co@
pe!i!ioners Feronica, Al*er!o and Rowena.
Responden!s Al&onso James and Bo%rdes 0legi!ima!e
children o& !he deceased3 discovered !ha! pe!i!ioner +eodora
and her children e6ec%!ed an C6!ra"%dicial Se!!lemen! o&
Cs!a!e o& a /eceased 7erson wi!h H%i!claim involving !he
proper!ies o& !he es!a!e o& !he deceden! loca!ed in /ag%pan
Ci!y.
Responden! Al&onso &iled a 7e!i!ion &or Be!!ers o&
Adminis!ra!ion. Responden!s &iled a Complain! &or !he
Ann%lmen!'Rescission o& C6!ra J%dicial Se!!lemen! o& Cs!a!e.
7e!i!ioners raised !he a&&irma!ive de&ense !ha!
responden!s are no! !he real par!ies@in@in!eres! *%! ra!her !he
Cs!a!e o& Al&onso -. -r&inada, Jr. in view o& !he pendency o&
!he adminis!ra!ion proceedings.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! !he heirs may *ring s%i! !o recover
proper!y o& !he es!a!e pending !he appoin!men! o& an
adminis!ra!or.
.ELD- 7ending !he &iling o& adminis!ra!ion proceedings, !he
hei&s /ithout doubt ha*e legal e&sonality to b&ing suit
in behalf of the estate of the de$edent in accordance wi!h
!he provision o& Ar!icle 444 o& !he .ew Civil Code A!ha! 0!3he
righ!s !o s%ccession are !ransmi!!ed &rom !he momen! o& !he
dea!h o& !he deceden!.A +he provision in !%rn is !he
&o%nda!ion o& !he principle !ha! !he proper!y, righ!s and
o*liga!ions !o !he e6!en! and val%e o& !he inheri!ance o& a
person are !ransmi!!ed !hro%gh his dea!h !o ano!her or o!hers
*y his will or *y opera!ion o& law.
Cven i& adminis!ra!ion proceedings have already *een
commenced, !he heirs may s!ill *ring !he s%i! i& an
adminis!ra!or has no! ye! *een appoin!ed. +his is !he proper
modali!y despi!e !he !o!al lac$ o& adver!ence !o !he heirs in
!he r%les on par!y represen!a!ion.
.EI'S O+ CAL#A,U'A" S' *s. #'ADO
Jan%ary 22, 2229
+AC,S- Spo%ses 7a!ricio 7rado Sr. and .arcisa 7rado
owned a residen!ial land. S%*se,%en!ly, 7a!ricio died.
.arcisa s%*se,%en!ly married 8oni&acio Calpa!%ra. n order
!o s%ppor! her minor children wi!h her &irs! h%s*and, .arcisa
sold !o her *ro!her@in@law, +omas Calpa!%ra, Sr., !he nor!hern
hal& por!ion o& !he said proper!y.
-n April 8, 1551, responden!s, 7rado, e! al, &iled a
complain! &or declara!ion o& n%lli!y o& sale and delivery o&
possession o& !he nor!hern hal& por!ion o& !he s%*"ec! proper!y
agains! pe!i!ioners Calpa!%ra, e! al. Responden!s alleged
among o!hers !ha! .arcisa, as na!%ral g%ardian o& her
children, had no a%!hori!y !o sell !he nor!hern hal& por!ion o&
!he proper!y which she and her children co@owned.

ISSUE- )-. !he sale o& .arcisa=s con"%gal share is valid.

'ULIN%- >CS. +he proper!y *eing con"%gal, %pon !he dea!h
o& 7a!ricio 7rado, Sr., one@hal& o& !he s%*"ec! proper!y was
a%!oma!ically reserved !o !he s%rviving spo%se, .arcisa, as
her share in !he con"%gal par!nership. #at&i$io=s &ights to
the othe& half" in tu&n" /e&e t&ans2itted uon his death to
his hei&s" /hi$h in$ludes his /ido/ Na&$isa" /ho is
entitled to the sa2e sha&e as that of ea$h of the
legiti2ate $hild&en.
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nasm%ch as .arcisa inheri!ed one@seven!h 01'43 o& her
h%s*andEs con"%gal share in !he said proper!y and is !he
owner o& one@hal& 01'23 !hereo& as her con"%gal share, she
owns a !o!al o& 5'19 o& !he s%*"ec! proper!y. <ence,
.arcisa co%ld validly convey her !o!al %ndivided share in
!he en!ire proper!y !o +omas. .arcisa and her children
are deemed co@owners o& !he s%*"ec! proper!y.
)hile .arcisa co%ld validly sell one hal& o& !he s%*"ec!
proper!y, her share *eing 5'19 o& !he same, she co%ld no!
have par!ic%larly conveyed !he nor!hern por!ion !hereo&
*e&ore !he par!i!ion, !he !erms o& which was s!ill !o *e
de!ermined *y !he par!ies *e&ore !he !rial co%r!.
+ELI#E *s. .EI'S O+ ALDON
Fe*r%ary 11, 158(
+AC,S- Ma6imo Aldon married :imena Almosara in
15(1. +he spo%ses *o%gh! several o& pieces o& land
some!ime *e!ween 1598 and 15?2.
n 15?1, :imena Almosara sold !he lo!s !o !he spo%ses
Cd%ardo Felipe and <ermogena Felipe. +he sale was
wi!ho%! !he consen! o& her h%s*and, Ma6imo.
-n 1541, !he heirs o& Ma6imo Aldon &iled a complain!
agains! !he Felipes.
+he de&endan!s asser!ed !ha! !hey had ac,%ired !he lo!s
&rom !he plain!i&&s *y p%rchase and s%*se,%en! delivery !o
!hem.

ISSUES- )-. !he wi&e who sold con"%gal lands wi!ho%!
her h%s*and=s consen! can *ring an ac!ion &or ann%lmen!
o& !he sale even a&!er her h%s*and=s dea!h.
)-. !he children@heirs can *ring an ac!ion &or
ann%lmen! o& !he sale o& !he lo!s in ,%es!ion even a&!er
!heir &a!her=s dea!h.

.ELD- Anen! !he &irs! iss%e, !he S%preme Co%r! r%led in
!he nega!ive. +he !ermina!ion o& !he marriage and !he
dissol%!ion o& !he con"%gal par!nership *y !he dea!h o&
Ma6imo Aldon did no! improve !he si!%a!ion o& :imena.
)ha! she co%ld no! do d%ring !he marriage, she canno! do
!herea&!er. +he case o& So&ia and Salvador Aldon is
di&&eren!. A&!er !he dea!h o& Ma6imo !hey a$0ui&ed the
&ight to 0uestion the defe$ti*e $ont&a$t insofa& as it
de&i*ed the2 of thei& he&edita&y &ights in thei&
+athe&=s sha&e in the lands. +he &a!her=s share is one@
hal& o& !he lands and !heir share is !wo@!hirds !hereo&, one@
!hird per!aining !o !he widow.
EAS,E'N *s. LUCE'O
129 SCRA (21
+AC,S- Cap!. J%lio J. B%cero, Jr. was appoin!ed *y
pe!i!ioner Cas!ern Shipping Bines as mas!er'cap!ain !o i!s
vessel M'F Cas!ern Minicon. ;nder !he con!rac!, his
employmen! was good &or 013 ro%nd !rip only, !he con!rac!
wo%ld a%!oma!ically !ermina!e %pon arrival o& !he vessel a!
!he 7or! o& Manila, %nless renewed. ! was &%r!her agreed
!ha! par! o& !he cap!ainEs salary, while a*road, sho%ld *e
paid !o Mrs. Josephine B%cero, his wi&e, in Manila.
+herea&!er, while !he vessel was enro%!e &rom
<ong$ong !o Manila, !he vessels enco%n!ered si!%a!ion
which has di&&ic%l!y !o &%r!her con!in%e i!s voyage.
+herea&!er, !he Company paid !he corresponding dea!h
*ene&i!s !o !he heirs o& !he crew mem*ers, e6cep!
responden! Josephine B%cero, who re&%sed !o accep! !he
same.
Mrs. B%cero &iled a complain! wi!h !he .a!ional Seamen
8oard, &or paymen! o& her accr%ed mon!hly allo!men!
since March 1582 and &or con!in%ed paymen! o& said
allo!men!s %n!il !he M'F Minicon shall have re!%rned !o !he
por! o& Manila.
+he Boa&d r%led in &avor o& Mrs. Josephine B%cero and
agains! pe!i!ioner Company. +ha! !he pres%mp!ion o&
dea!h co%ld no! *e applied
ISSUE- )-. Ar!icle (5013 o& !he CC is applica*le in !he
case a! *ar.
.ELD- )e are %na*le !o agree wi!h !he reasoning and
concl%sion o& !he responden! .BRC.
+here is !h%s eno%gh evidence !o show !he
circ%ms!ances a!!ending !he loss and disappearance o& !he
M'F Cas!ern Minicon and i!s crew. +he &oregoing &ac!s, ,%i!e
logically, are s%&&icien! !o lead %s !o a moral cer!ain!y !ha! !he
vessel had s%n$ and !ha! !he persons a*oard had perished
wi!h i!. ;pon !his premise, !he &ule on &esu2tion of
death unde& A&ti$le AB8C8D of the Ci*il Code 2ust yield to
the &ule of &eonde&an$e of e*iden$e.
E(NACE *s. CA
.ovem*er 2(, 2221
+AC,S- Cmilio Cmnace, Ficen!e +a*anao and Jacin!o
/ivinagracia were par!ners in a *%siness concern $nown as
Ma. .elma Fishing nd%s!ry. Some!ime in Jan%ary o& 1581,
!hey decided !o dissolve !heir par!nership and e6ec%!ed an
agreemen! o& par!i!ion and dis!ri*%!ion o& !he par!nership
proper!ies among !hem.
7e!i!ioner &ailed !o s%*mi! !o +a*anaoEs heirs any s!a!emen!
o& asse!s and lia*ili!ies o& !he par!nership, and !o render an
acco%n!ing o& !he par!nershipEs &inances. 7e!i!ioner also
reneged on his promise !o !%rn over !o +a*anaoEs heirs !he
deceasedEs 1'( share in !he !o!al asse!s o& !he par!nership.
+a*anaoEs &iled agains! pe!i!ioner an ac!ion &or acco%n!ing,
paymen! o& shares, division o& asse!s and damages.
ISSUE- )-. !he heirs o& Ficen!e +a*anao Bac$s !he
capaci!y !o s%e !he pe!i!ioner.
.ELD- .o. +he s%rviving spo%se does no! need !o *e
appoin!ed as e6ec%!ri6 or adminis!ra!ri6 o& !he es!a!e *e&ore
she can &ile !he ac!ion. She and her children are
complainan!s in !heir own righ! as s%ccessors o& Ficen!e
+a*anao. From !he very momen! o& Ficen!e +a*anaoEs
dea!h, his righ!s inso&ar as !he par!nership was concerned
were !ransmi!!ed !o his heirs, &or &ights to the su$$ession
a&e t&ans2itted f&o2 the 2o2ent of death of the
de$edent.
)ha!ever claims and righ!s Ficen!e +a*anao had agains!
!he par!nership and pe!i!ioner were !ransmi!!ed !o
responden!s *y opera!ion o& law, more par!ic%larly *y
s%ccession, which is a mode o& ac,%isi!ion *y vir!%e o& which
!he proper!y, righ!s and o*liga!ions !o !he e6!en! o& !he val%e
o& !he inheri!ance o& a person are !ransmi!!ed. Moreover,
responden!s *ecame owners o& !heir respec!ive heredi!ary
shares &rom !he momen! Ficen!e +a*anao died.
IN ,.E (A,,E' O+ %UA'DIANS.I# O+ ,.E LA7IDES
*s. CI,Y COU', O+ LUCENA
May (1, 1582
+AC,S- ;pon !he dea!h o& his wi&e, pe!i!ioner Al*er!o
Bavides ins!i!%!ed a g%ardianship proceeding wi!h respec! !o
!he person and proper!y o& !heir 4 minor children. Said
pe!i!ion alleged !ha! !he es!a!e le&! *y !he deceased wi&e and
mo!her o& !he minors has a !o!al val%e o& 7(?,222.22 or an
amo%n! o& 7?,222.22 per!aining !o each minor wherein
pe!i!ioner was appoin!ed and ,%ali&ied as "%dicial g%ardian.
+he Ci!y Co%r! a%!horized pe!i!ioner !o se!!le !he es!a!e
e6!ra"%dicially and !o sell a por!ion !hereo& consis!ing o&
shares o& s!oc$s.
7e!i!ioner &iled a mo!ion &or con&irma!ion and approval o&E a
/eed o& C6change Agreemen!. )hile !his la!!er mo!ion was
s!ill pending considera!ion, !he responden! co%r!, reviewed
!he records o& !he case and &inding !ha! !he %ndivided es!a!e
le&! *y !he deceased was wor!h a! leas! 7(?,222.22,
dismissed !he case &or lac$ o& "%risdic!ion, revo$ed !he
appoin!men! o& pe!i!ioner as g%ardian and ann%lled all
proceedings !a$en prior !o !he iss%ance o& !he said order.
<ence pe!i!ioner &iled a mo!ion &or reconsidera!ion.
ISSUE- )-. responden! ci!y co%r!Es "%risdic!ion over a
pe!i!ion &or general g%ardianship is *ased on !he !o!al val%e
o& !he es!a!e or on !he val%e o& !he individ%al share o& !he
minors in !he es!a!e o& !heir deceased mo!herG
.ELD- Responden! ci!y co%r! has "%risdic!ion over !he case.
Cach o& !he 4 minor children *ecame owner o& a 1'4 share
or an amo%n! o& 7?,222 &rom !he es!a!e le&! *y !he deceased
mo!her val%ed a! 7(?,222.22 %pon !he dea!h o& !he la!!er &or
A&ti$le 333 of the Ne/ Ci*il Code e1&essly &o*ides that
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Ethe &ights to the su$$ession a&e t&ans2itted f&o2 the
2o2ent of death of the de$edent,A and &rom !hen on,
!he heir *ecomes !he a*sol%!e owner o& !he deceden!Es
proper!y, s%*"ec! !o !he righ!s and o*liga!ions o& !he
deceden! and he canno! *e deprived o& s%ch righ! e6cep!
*y me!hods provided &or *y law.
For wha! is decisive is no! !he !o!al val%e o& !he es!a!e o&
!he deceden!, *%! !he val%e o& !he individ%al share o& each
o& !he minor heirs &or whom a g%ardian is so%gh! !o *e
appoin!ed individ%ally no! collec!ively.
BONILLA *s. BA'CENA
+AC,S- -n March (1, 154? For!%na!a 8arcena, mo!her
o& minors Rosalio and Salvacion and wi&e o& 7onciano
8onilla, ins!i!%!ed a civil ac!ion, !o ,%ie! !i!le over cer!ain
parcels o& land loca!ed in A*ra.
-n A%g%s! 9, 154?, !he de&endan!s &iled a mo!ion !o
dismiss on !he gro%nd !ha! For!%na!a 8arcena is dead
and, !here&ore, has no legal capaci!y !o s%e. Said mo!ion
!o dismiss was heard on A%g%s! 19, 154?. n said hearing,
co%nsel &or !he plain!i&& con&irmed !he dea!h o& For!%na!a
8arcena, and as$ed &or s%*s!i!%!ion *y her minor children
and her h%s*and, !he pe!i!ioners hereinD *%! !he co%r!
a&!er !he hearing immedia!ely dismissed !he case on !he
gro%nd !ha! a dead person canno! *e a real par!y in
in!eres! and has no legal personali!y !o s%e.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! a dead person can *e a real par!y
in in!eres! and has legal personali!y !o s%e
'ULIN%- )hile i! is !r%e !ha! a person who is dead
canno! s%e in co%r!, ye! he can *e s%*s!i!%!ed *y his heirs
in p%rs%ing !he case %p !o i!s comple!ion. +he records o&
!his case show !ha! !he dea!h o& For!%na!a 8arcena !oo$
place on J%ly 5, 154? while !he complain! was &iled on
March (1, 154?. +his means !ha! when !he complain! was
&iled on March (1, 154?, For!%na!a 8arcena was s!ill alive,
and !here&ore, !he co%r! had ac,%ired "%risdic!ion over her
person.
Ar!icle 444 o& !he Civil Code provides A!ha! !he righ!s !o
!he s%ccession are !ransmi!!ed &rom !he momen! o& !he
dea!h o& !he deceden!.A +&o2 the 2o2ent of the death
of the de$edent" the hei&s be$o2e the absolute
o/ne&s of his &oe&ty" sub!e$t to the &ights and
obligations of the de$edent" and they $annot be
de&i*ed of thei& &ights the&eto e1$et by the 2ethods
&o*ided fo& by la/.
)hen For!%na!a 8arcena died, her claim or righ! !o !he
parcels o& land in li!iga!ion in !he civil case was no!
e6!ing%ished *y her dea!h *%! was !ransmi!!ed !o her heirs
%pon her dea!h. <er heirs have !h%s ac,%ired in!eres! in
!he proper!ies in li!iga!ion and *ecame par!ies in in!eres!
in !he case.
BO''O(EO>.E''E'A *s. BO''O(EO
1?2 SCRA 142
+AC,S- Fi!o 8orromeo, a widower died wi!ho%! &orced heirs
*%! leaving e6!ensive proper!ies in !he province o& Ce*%.
Jose J%n,%era &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& a one page
doc%men! as !he las! will and !es!amen! le&! *y !he said
deceased. +he pro*a!e co%r! held !ha! !he doc%men!
presen!ed as !he will was a &orgery.
+he !es!a!e proceeding was conver!ed in!o an in!es!a!e
proceeding. Several par!ies came *e&ore !he co%r! &iling
claims .
For!%na!o 8orromeo, &iled a mo!ion *e&ore !he !rial co%r!
praying !ha! he *e declared as one o& !he heirs. <e asser!ed
and incorpora!ed a )aiver o& <eredi!ary Righ!s. n !he
waiver, &ive o& !he nine heirs relin,%ished !o For!%na!o !heir
shares in !he disp%!ed es!a!e.
+he pe!i!ioner see$s !o ann%l and se! aside !he !rial co%r!Es
order declaring responden! For!%na!o 8orromeo en!i!led !o
?'5 o& !he es!a!e o& Fi!o 8orromeo.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! !he waiver o& heredi!ary righ! is valid.
.ELD- .o. +he prevailing "%rispr%dence on waiver o&
heredi!ary righ!s is !ha! A!he proper!ies incl%ded in an e6is!ing
inheri!ance canno! *e considered as *elonging !o !hird
persons wi!h respec! !o !he heirs, who *y &ic!ion o& law
con!in%e !he personali!y o& !he &ormer. .or do s%ch proper!ies
have !he charac!er o& &%!%re proper!y, *eca%se !he heirs
ac,%ire a righ! !o s%ccession &rom !he momen! o& !he dea!h o&
!he deceased. +he heirs, !here&ore, co%ld waive !heir
heredi!ary righ!s in 1514 even i& !he order !o par!i!ion !he
es!a!e was iss%ed only in 1515.
In this $ase" ho/e*e&" the u&o&ted EWai*e& of
.e&edita&y 'ightsE $annot be $onside&ed to be effe$ti*e.
For a waiver !o e6is!, !hree elemen!s are essen!ial# 013 !he
e6is!ence o& a righ!D 023 !he $nowledge o& !he e6is!ence
!hereo&D and 0(3 an in!en!ion !o relin,%ish s%ch righ!.
+he circ%ms!ances o& !his case show !ha! !he signa!ories !o
!he waiver doc%men! did no! have !he clear and convincing
in!en!ion !o relin,%ish !heir righ!s. +h%s For!%na!o, +omas,
and Amelia 8orromeo &iled a pleading en!i!led AComplianceA
wherein !hey s%*mi!!ed a proposal &or !he amica*le
se!!lemen! o& !he case. +his shows !ha! !he A)aiver o&
<eredi!ary Righ!sA was never mean! !o *e wha! !he
responden! now p%rpor!s i! !o *e.
DELA (E'CED *s. DELA (E'CED
Fe*r%ary 2?, 1555
+AC,S- Cvaris!a M. dela Merced died in!es!a!e, wi!ho%!
iss%e and le&! 0?3 parcels o& land. A! !he !ime o& her dea!h,
Cvaris!a was s%rvived *y !hree se!s o& heirs.
-n April 22, 1585, !he !hree se!s o& heirs o& !he deceden!,
e6ec%!ed an e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!, ad"%dica!ing !he
proper!ies o& Cvaris!a !o !hem, each se! wi!h a share o& 01'(3
pro@indiviso.
Joseli!o 7. /ela Merced, illegi!ima!e son o& !he la!e
Francisco, &iled a A7e!i!ion &or Ann%lmen! o& !he C6!ra"%dicial
and prayed !ha! he *e incl%ded !o share in !he 01'(3 pro@
indiviso share in !he es!a!e o& corresponding !o !he heirs o&
Francisco.

ISSUE- )-. Joseli!o as an illegi!ima!e child is *arred &rom
inheri!ing &rom Cvaris!a=s es!a!e.
.ELD- .o. A&ti$le BB4 of the NCC is not ali$able
be$ause in*ol*ed he&e is not a situation /he&e an
illegiti2ate $hild /ould inhe&it ab intestato f&o2 a
legiti2ate siste& of his fathe&" /hi$h is &ohibited by the
afo&esaid &o*ision of la/. Ra!her, i! is a scenario where
an illegi!ima!e child inheri!s &rom his &a!her, !he la!!erEs share
in or por!ion o&, wha! !he la!!er already inheri!ed &rom !he
deceased sis!er, Cvaris!a.
As opined *y !he Co%r! o& Appeals, !he law in poin! in !he
presen! case is Ar!icle 444 o& !he .CC, which provides !ha!
!he righ!s !o s%ccession are !ransmi!!ed &rom !he momen! o&
dea!h o& !he deceden!.
Since Cvaris!a died ahead o& her *ro!her Francisco, !he
la!!er inheri!ed a por!ion o& !he es!a!e o& !he &ormer as one o&
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her heirs. S%*se,%en!ly, when Francisco died, his heirs
inheri!ed his 0FranciscoEs3 share in !he es!a!e o& Cvaris!a.
%AYON *s. %AYON
.ovem*er 21, 1542
+AC,S- 7edro :ayon &iled said complain! agains! !he
spo%ses Silves!re and :enoveva de :ayon, alleging !ha!
said spo%ses e6ec%!ed a deedI where*y !hey sold !o
7edro :elera, &or !he s%m o& 7?22.22, a parcel o&
%nregis!ered land.
+ha!, said righ! o& redemp!ion had no! *een e6ercised
*y !he spo%ses or any o& !heir heirs or s%ccessors despi!e
!he e6pira!ion o& !he period.
+ha!, said 7edro :elera and his wi&e Cs!eli!a /amaso
had, *y vir!%e o& a deed o& sale sold !he a&oremen!ioned
land !o plain!i&& 7edro :ayon.
7edro prays !ha! an order *e iss%ed in plain!i&&Es &avor
&or !he consolida!ion o& ownership in and !o !he
a&oremen!ioned proper!y.

ISSUE- )-. +he heirs canno! represen! !he de&endan!
%nless !here is a declara!ion o& heirship.
.ELD- .-. Mrs. :ayon as !he widow o& Silves!re
:ayon, she is one o& his comp%lsory heirs

and has,
accordingly, an in!eres! in !he proper!y in ,%es!ion.
Su$$ession ta<es la$e" by oe&ation of la/" Ef&o2
the 2o2ent of the death of the de$edentE

and ECtDhe
inhe&itan$e in$ludes all the &oe&ty" &ights and
obligations of a e&son /hi$h a&e not e1tinguished by
his death.E <ence, !hey may *e s%ed wi!ho%! a previo%s
declara!ion o& heirship, provided !here is no pending
special proceeding &or !he se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e o& !he
deceden!.
#ALIC,E *s. 'A(OLE,E
Sep!em*er 21, 1584
+AC,S- 7alic!e is among !he declared heirs on Spl.
7roc. .o. 2421@R. <owever, !he lower co%r! r%led !ha! she
does no! ,%ali&y as a s%ccessor@in@in!eres! who may
redeem !he real proper!ies sold a! p%*lic a%c!ion on J%ly
?, 1545 &or !he sa!is&ac!ion o& !he "%dgmen! in !he amo%n!
o& 742?, 245.22.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! 7alic!e is a s%ccessor@in@in!eres!
who may *e a*le !o redeem !he said proper!ies sold a!
p%*ic a%c!ionG
'ULIN%- >CS. ,he te&2 su$$esso&>in>inte&est
in$ludes one /ho su$$eeds to the inte&est of the
debto& by oe&ation of la/.
n !his case, 7alic!e is !he da%gh!er o& !he la!e /on
Filemon So!!o whose es!a!e was levied %pon on e6ec%!ion
!o sa!is&y !he money "%dgmen!. As a legi!ima!e heir, she
,%ali&ies as a s%ccessor@in@in!eres!. +h%s !he law
provides, Ar!. 444 o& !he .ew Civil Code, J+he righ!s !o
!he s%ccession are !ransmi!!ed &rom !he momen! o& !he
dea!h o& !he deceden!.K
n !he case o& /irec!or o& Bands vs. Bagni!on, !he
Co%r! has r%led !ha!# J!he righ! o& a son, wi!h respec! !o
!he proper!y o& a &a!her or mo!her, is also an inchoa!e or
con!ingen! in!eres!, *eca%se, %pon !he dea!h o& !he &a!her
or !he mo!her or *o!h, he will have a righ! !o inheri! said
con"%gal proper!y. & any holder o& an inchoa!e in!eres! is a
s%ccessor@in@in!eres! wi!h righ! !o redeem a proper!y sold
on e6ec%!ion, !hen s%ch son is s%ch a s%ccessor@in@
in!eres!, as he has an inchoa!e righ! !o !he proper!y o& his
&a!her.K
A',ICLE 335. S%ccession may *e#
013 +es!amen!aryD
023 Begal or in!es!a!eD or
0(3 Mi6ed. 0n3
A',ICLE 33B. +es!amen!ary s%ccession is !ha! which
res%l!s &rom !he designa!ion o& an heir, made in a will
e6ec%!ed in !he &orm prescri*ed *y law. 0n3
'OD'I%UE) *s. BO'6A
14 SCRA 91
+AC,S- n !his case, !here were 2 proceedings. Firs! was
an in!es!a!e proceeding ins!i!%!ed meaning, a proceeding !o
se!!le !he es!a!e o& a deceased person who died wi!ho%! a
will. 8%! s%*se,%en!ly, a will was &o%nd and again ano!her
proceeding was ins!i!%!ed, !his !ime, !es!a!e proceeding
wherein !he es!a!e o& !he deceased person is se!!led i& !ha!
person has le&! a will. )e are con&ron!ed here o& 2
proceedings, one was ins!i!%!ed ahead o& !he o!her.
ISSUE- )hich proceeding sho%ld *e pre&erredG
'ULIN%- As long as the&e is a /ill" e*en if that /ill is
found late& and e*en if the &o$eeding fo& the settle2ent
of the estate of a e&son /ith a /ill is filed late&" that
should be &efe&&ed. +he will sho%ld *e pro*a!ed. +he will
sho%ld *e given e&&ec! as m%ch as possi*le in order !o give
e&&ec! !o !he wishes o& !he !es!a!or. +he wishes o& !he !es!a!or
m%s! *e given s%ch pre&erence &irs!. 7ro*a!e o& !he will is
needed in order !o de!ermine whe!her or no! !he will was
indeed valid, whe!her or no! !he will was e6ec%!ed in
o*servance wi!h !he &ormali!ies re,%ired *y law and whe!her
or no! !he !es!a!or e6ec%!ed i! wi!h a so%nd mind.
& la!er on in !he pro*a!e proceeding, !he will is &o%nd no! !o
have validly e6ec%!ed, !hen yo% go !o in!es!a!e proceeding.
8%! &irs! yo% go !o !es!a!e.
BALANAY" 6'. *s. (A',INE)
19 SCRA 9?2
+AC,S- Beodegaria J%lian died. She was s%rvived *y her
h%s*and, Feli6 8alanay, Sr., and si6 legi!ima!e children.
Feli6 8alanay, Jr. &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& his
mo!her=s no!arial will, which was wri!!en in Cnglish. n !ha!
will, Beodegaria declared !ha! i! was her desire her proper!ies
sho%ld no! *e divided among her heirs d%ring her h%s*andEs
li&e!ime and !ha! !heir legi!imes sho%ld *e sa!is&ied o%! o& !he
&r%i!s o& her proper!ies. She devised and par!i!ioned !he
con"%gal lands as i& !hey were all owned *y her. She
disposed o& in !he will her h%s*andEs one@hal& share o& !he
con"%gal asse!s.
Feli6 8alanay, Sr. and Avelina 8. An!onio opposed !he
pro*a!e o& !he will.
+herea&!er, Feli6 8alanay, Sr. signed an ins!r%men!
waiving and reno%ncing his righ! in Beodegaria=s es!a!e in
&avor o& !heir 1 children.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! !he pro*a!e co%r! erred in passing
%pon !he in!rinsic validi!y o& !he will, *e&ore r%ling on i!s
allowance or &ormal validi!y, and in declaring i! void.
'ULIN%- ,he t&ial $ou&t a$ted $o&&e$tly in assing uon
the /ill@s int&insi$ *alidity e*en befo&e its fo&2al *alidity
had been established. ,he &obate of a /ill 2ight
be$o2e an idle $e&e2ony if on its fa$e it aea&s to be
int&insi$ally *oid.
8%! !he pro*a!e co%r! erred in declaring !ha! !he will was
void and in conver!ing !he !es!a!e proceeding in!o an
in!es!a!e proceeding.
+he will is in!rinsically valid and !he par!i!ion !herein may *e
given e&&ec! i& i! does no! pre"%dice !he credi!ors and impair
!he legi!imes. +he dis!ri*%!ion and par!i!ion wo%ld *ecome
e&&ec!ive %pon !he dea!h o& Feli6 8alanay, Sr. n !he
mean!ime, !he ne! income sho%ld *e e,%i!a*ly divided among
!he children and !he s%rviving spo%se.
0Relate to Articles 779 and 780 : In this case, there is
testamentary succession because it resulted from the
designation of heirs by the testatrix, made in a will executed
in the form prescribed by law It can be considered as a
mixed succession because there is partly by will !execution
of the will and execution of the wai"er# and by operation of
law !as to the share of the husband of the con$ugal party of
which he e"entually wai"ed % buot buot ni na answer ha #
A',ICLE 35F. Mi6ed s%ccession is !ha! e&&ec!ed par!ly *y
will and par!ly *y opera!ion o& law. 0n3
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A',ICLE 358. +he inheri!ance o& a person incl%des no!
only !he proper!y and !he !ransmissi*le righ!s and
o*liga!ions e6is!ing a! !he !ime o& his dea!h, *%! also !hose
which have accr%ed !here!o since !he opening o& !he
s%ccession. 0n3
A',ICLE 354. An heir is a person called !o !he
s%ccession ei!her *y !he provision o& a will or *y opera!ion
o& law.
/evisees and lega!ees are persons !o whom gi&!s o&
real and personal proper!y are respec!ively given *y vir!%e
o& a will. 0n3
C.A#,E' 4
,esta2enta&y Su$$ession
SEC,ION 8
Wills
SUBSEC,ION 8
Wills in %ene&al
A',ICLE 35A. A will is an ac! where*y a person is
permi!!ed, wi!h !he &ormali!ies prescri*ed *y law, !o con!rol
!o a cer!ain degree !he disposi!ion o& his es!a!e, !o !a$e
e&&ec! a&!er his dea!h. 0114a3
'ABADILLA *s. CA
J%ne 25, 2222
.ELD- A will is a personal, solemn, revoca*le and &ree
ac! *y which a person disposes o& his proper!y, !o !a$e
e&&ec! a&!er his dea!h.
Since !he will e6presses !he manner in which a
person in!ends how his proper!ies *e disposed, !he
wishes and desires o& !he !es!a!or m%s! *e s!ric!ly
&ollowed. +h%s, a will canno! *e !he s%*"ec! o& a
compromise agreemen! which wo%ld !here*y de&ea! !he
very p%rpose o& ma$ing a will.
.E''E'OS *s. %IL
88 7<B 212
'ULIN%- )ill@ma$ing is no! an inheren! ac!, no! an
inheren! righ!. ! is merely a privilege as eviden! *y !he
cla%se J7ermi!!ed 666 !o con!rol !o cer!ain degree !he
disposi!ion o& his es!a!e.K
(ON,INOLA *s. .E'BOSA
ISSUE- s !he poem JMi ;l!imo AdiosK a willG
'ULIN%- +he poem *y Rizal is no! a will. 8eca%se when
he made !ha! poem, he did no! !hin$ o& ma$ing a will.
,he&e /as no ani2us testandi. It /as 2e&ely an
e1&ession of a&ting. Ac!%ally, he was no! giving
any!hing !o any*ody *eca%se a! !he !ime when he was
e6ec%!ed he has no proper!ies. So wha! was !here !o
giveG Ano!her !hing, !here was an erroneo%s !ransla!ion.
! was no! ac!%ally J+o give.K J give all my paren!s, my
rela!ives.K Can yo% give yo%r paren!s, yo%r rela!ivesG Are
!hey proper!iesG .o. So !he poem is no! a will.
(E')A *s. #O''AS
5( 7<B 192
+AC,S- +his case ill%s!ra!es an indirec! disposi!ion o&
proper!ies. So !here was only a disinheri!ance.
ISSUE- s a will con!aining only disinheri!ance, a valid
willG
'ULIN%- >es. When you disinhe&it a e&son you
a$tually disosed of you& &oe&ty by not letting that
e&son a&ti$iate in you& &oe&ty. S!ill, i! yo% who will
de!ermine who will ge! yo%r proper!y and who will no! ge!
yo%r proper!y *y !he ac! o& disinheri!ance.
7I,U% *s. CA
18( SCRA 4??
+AC,S- /olores Fi!%g, deceased, d%ring her li&e!ime
!oge!her wi!h her h%s*and Romarico Fi!%g, e6ec%!ed a
s%rvivorship agreemen! wi!h !he *an$. ! provides !ha! a&!er
!he dea!h o& ei!her o& !hem, !he &%nd shall *elong e6cl%sively
!o !he s%rvivor.
ISSUES- )-. !he s%rvivorship agreemen! is a will.
)-. i! is valid.
'ULIN%- 8eca%se !he acco%n! was a "oin! acco%n! and !hey
made a will while !hey were married, so na!%rally !he cash
wo%ld *e !heir a*sol%!e comm%ni!y or con"%gal proper!y. +he
cash is owned in@common *y !hem. )hen !he spo%ses
opened savings acco%n!, !hey merely p%! wha! righ!ly
*elonged !o !hem in a money@ma$ing ven!%re. +hey did no!
dispose o& i! in &avor o& !he o!her. Sin$e the /ife
&ede$eased he& husband" the latte& a$0ui&ed uon he&
death a *ested &ight o*e& the a2ount unde& the sa*ings
a$$ount.
A',ICLE 359. +he ma$ing o& a will is a s!ric!ly personal
ac!D i! canno! *e le&! in whole or in par! !o !he discre!ion o& a
!hird person, or accomplished !hro%gh !he ins!r%men!ali!y o&
an agen! or a!!orney. 0142a3
CAS,ANEDA *s. ALE(ANY
( 7<B 921
+AC,S- +he appellan! con!ends !ha! !he co%r! erred in
holding !ha! all legal &ormali!ies had *een complied wi!h in !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he will o& /ona J%ana as !he proo& shows !ha!
!he said will was no! wri!!en *y !he !es!a!ri6.
ISSUE- )-. !he will is valid.
.ELD- ,he 2e$hani$al a$t of d&afting the /ill $an be left
to a thi&d e&son. )ha! is impor!an! is !he !es!a!or signs !he
will or he le! ano!her person !o sign *%! %nder his direc!ion.
A',ICLE 35:. +he d%ra!ion or e&&icacy o& !he designa!ion
o& heirs, devisees or lega!ees, or !he de!ermina!ion o& !he
por!ions which !hey are !o !a$e, when re&erred !o *y name,
canno! *e le&! !o !he discre!ion o& a !hird person. 0142a3
A',ICLE 35;. +he !es!a!or may en!r%s! !o a !hird person
!he dis!ri*%!ion o& speci&ic proper!y or s%ms o& money !ha! he
may leave in general !o speci&ied classes or ca%ses, and also
!he designa!ion o& !he persons, ins!i!%!ions or es!a*lishmen!s
!o which s%ch proper!y or s%ms are !o *e given or applied.
0141a3
A',ICLE 353. +he !es!a!or may no! ma$e a !es!amen!ary
disposi!ion in s%ch manner !ha! ano!her person has !o
de!ermine whe!her or no! i! is !o *e opera!ive. 0n3
A',ICLE 355. & a !es!amen!ary disposi!ion admi!s o&
di&&eren! in!erpre!a!ions, in case o& do%*!, !ha! in!erpre!a!ion
*y which !he disposi!ion is !o *e opera!ive shall *e pre&erred.
0n3
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DI)ON>'I7E'A *s. DI)ON
(( SCRA ??9
+AC,S- +he !es!a!ri6 dis!ri*%!ed her proper!ies !o her
heirs. ! !%rns o%! !ha! some o& !he heirs were pre"%diced
o& !heir legi!ime *eca%se !he proper!y ac!%ally given !o
!hem were no! appro6ima!e !o !heir correc! legi!ime. So
!hese heirs wan!ed !ha! !o comple!e !heir righ!&%l share
cer!ain o!her proper!ies sho%ld *e given !o !hem.
'ULIN%- 8%! i! is very clear in !he will o& !he !es!a!ri6 !ha!
she wan!ed !o give cer!ain proper!ies !o cer!ain persons
and !hose disposi!ions or !hose persons sho%ld *e
respec!ed. If the legiti2e o& the &ightful sha&es of the
othe& hei&s a&e &e!udi$ed" then that should be
$o2leted by the deli*e&y of $ash in a$$o&dan$e /ith
the /ishes of the testato&.
7DA. DE 7ILLANUE7A *s. 6UICO
9 SCRA ??2
+AC,S- /on .icolas Filla&lor e6ec%!ed a will in Spanish
in his own handwri!ing, devising and *e,%ea!hing in &avor
o& his wi&e, /ona Fa%s!ina L o& all his real and personal
proper!ies giving !he o!her hal& !o his *ro!her /on Fa%s!o.
7e!i!ioner &iled an ac!ion agains! !he adminis!ra!or
con!ending !ha! %pon !he widow=s dea!h, she *ecame
ves!ed wi!h !he ownership o& !he proper!ies *e,%ea!hed
%nder cla%se 4 p%rs%an! !o i!s 8
!h
cla%se o& !he will.
ISSUE- )-. !he pe!i!ioner is en!i!led !o !he ownership o&
!he proper!ies %pon !he dea!h o& /ona Fa%s!ina.
.ELD- +he in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or here was !o merely
give %s%&r%c!%ary righ! !o his wi&e /oMa Fa%s!a *eca%se in
his will he provided !ha! /oMa Fa%s!a shall &or&ei! !he
proper!ies i& she &ails !o *ear a child and *eca%se she
died wi!ho%! having *ego!!en any children wi!h !he
deceased !hen i! means !ha! /oMa Fa%s!a never ac,%ired
ownership over !he proper!y. ;pon her dea!h, *eca%se
she never ac,%ired ownership over !he proper!y, !he said
proper!ies are no! incl%ded in her es!a!e. +hose
proper!ies ac!%ally *elong !o Filla&lor. +ha! was !he
in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or. Othe&/ise" if the testato&
/anted to gi*e the &oe&ties to DoGa +austa then he
should ha*e se$ifi$ally stated in his /ill that
o/ne&shi should belong to DoGa +austa /ithout
2entioning any $ondition.
A',ICLE 35B. )hen !here is an imper&ec! descrip!ion,
or when no person or proper!y e6ac!ly answers !he
descrip!ion, mis!a$es and omissions m%s! *e correc!ed, i&
!he error appears &rom !he con!e6! o& !he will or &rom
e6!rinsic evidence, e6cl%ding !he oral declara!ions o& !he
!es!a!or as !o his in!en!ionD and when an %ncer!ain!y
arises %pon !he &ace o& !he will, as !o !he applica!ion o&
any o& i!s provisions, !he !es!a!orEs in!en!ion is !o *e
ascer!ained &rom !he words o& !he will, !a$ing in!o
considera!ion !he circ%ms!ances %nder which i! was
made, e6cl%ding s%ch oral declara!ions. 0n3
ES,A,E O+ 'I%O' *s. 'I%O'
85 SCRA 95(
+AC,S- Fa!her 7asc%al Rigor died. n his will he devised
99@hec!ares o& Riceland !o his neares! male rela!ive who
wo%ld s!%dy &or !he pries!hood. nasm%ch as no neares!
male rela!ive o& !he !es!a!or claimed !he devise, !he parish
pries! o& Fic!oria claimed !he Riceland.
ISSUE- <ow sho%ld yo% in!erpre! !he s!a!emen! in !he will,
sho%ld i! re&er only !o !he neares! male rela!ive a! !he !ime
when !he !es!a!or died or sho%ld i! *e cons!r%ed !o mean
all neares! male rela!ive who wo%ld s!%dy &or pries!hood
and yo% have !o wai! &orever %n!il !ha! male rela!ive
occ%rsG
'ULIN%- ! sho%ld *e cons!r%ed !o re&er !o !he neares!
male rela!ive living a! !he momen! o& dea!h o& !he
deceden! *eca%se !ha! is !he !ime when !ransmission
occ%rs. >o% canno! wai! %n!il !he neares! male rela!ive who
wo%ld s!%dy &or !he pries!hood occ%rs long a&!er !he pries!
died. ,he 2ost &easonable $onst&u$tion is the nea&est
2ale &elati*e li*ing at the ti2e of the death of the
testato&.
DEL 'OSA'IO *. DEL 'OSA'IO
2 7<B (21
'ULIN%- +he child even i& he is no! a na!%ral child wo%ld s!ill
ge! !he proper!y. ,he fa$t that he is designated as the
natu&al $hild is not a $ondition but 2e&ely a des$&ition.
A',ICLE 3BF. +he words o& a will are !o *e !a$en in !heir
ordinary and gramma!ical sense, %nless a clear in!en!ion !o
%se !hem in ano!her sense can *e ga!hered, and !ha! o!her
can *e ascer!ained.
+echnical words in a will are !o *e !a$en in !heir
!echnical sense, %nless !he con!e6! clearly indica!es a
con!rary in!en!ion, or %nless i! sa!is&ac!orily appears !ha! !he
will was drawn solely *y !he !es!a!or, and !ha! he was
%nac,%ain!ed wi!h s%ch !echnical sense. 014?a3
A',ICLE 3B8. +he words o& a will are !o receive an
in!erpre!a!ion which will give !o every e6pression some e&&ec!,
ra!her !han one which will render any o& !he e6pressions
inopera!iveD and o& !wo modes o& in!erpre!ing a will, !ha! is !o
*e pre&erred which will preven! in!es!acy. 0n3
YA(BAO *s. %ON)ALES
1 SCRA 11?4
+AC,S- Maria :onzales e6ec%!ed a will *e,%ea!hing !o
appellees all her proper!ies.
>am*ao wen! !o appellees !o re,%es! !ha! he *e placed as
!enan! o& !he Riceland %nder !he e6press provision o& !he said
will. +he appellees re&%sed as !he will merely imposes a
moral and no! a legal o*liga!ion.
ISSUE- )-. >am*ao is en!i!led !o *e employed as !enan!
p%rs%an! !o !he will.
.ELD- Analyzing !he will, i! con!ains a clear direc!ive !o
employ >am*ao as !enan!.
,he /o&ds Htung<ulin o ga2ananI 2ean to do o& to
$a&&y out as a 2andate o& di&e$ti*e and i2oses a duty
uon aellees.
A',ICLE 3B4. +he invalidi!y o& one o& several disposi!ions
con!ained in a will does no! res%l! in !he invalidi!y o& !he o!her
disposi!ions, %nless i! is !o *e pres%med !ha! !he !es!a!or
wo%ld no! have made s%ch o!her disposi!ions i& !he &irs!
invalid disposi!ion had no! *een made. 0n3
A',ICLE 3BA. 7roper!y ac,%ired a&!er !he ma$ing o& a will
shall only pass !here*y, as i& !he !es!a!or had possessed i! a!
!he !ime o& ma$ing !he will, sho%ld i! e6pressly appear *y !he
will !ha! s%ch was his in!en!ion. 0n3
A',ICLE 3B9. Cvery devise or legacy shall convey all !he
in!eres! which !he !es!a!or co%ld devise or *e,%ea!h in !he
proper!y disposed o&, %nless i! clearly appears &rom !he will
!ha! he in!ended !o convey a less in!eres!. 0n3
A',ICLE 3B:. +he validi!y o& a will as !o i!s &orm depends
%pon !he o*servance o& !he law in &orce a! !he !ime i! is
made. 0n3
IN 'E- WILL O+ 'IOSA
(5 7<B 2(
+AC,S- +he !es!a!or e6ec%!ed a will in 1528 in accordance
wi!h !he laws en&orced a! !ha! !ime wherein !here was no
re,%iremen! o& signing and a!!es!a!ion o& !he will. n 1514 !he
!es!a!or died wherein !he laws en&orced a! !ha! !ime already
re,%ired !ha! !he will m%s! *e signed *y !he !es!a!or and
a!!es!ed.
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.ELD- ! does no! ma!!er !ha! when he died, !he laws
re,%ired signing and a!!es!a!ion *eca%se !he e1t&insi$
*alidity of his /ill should be 2easu&ed by the la/s
enfo&$ed at the ti2e of the e1e$ution of the /ill no! a!
!he !ime o& !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or. So !he legisla!%re *y
providing cer!ain &ormali!ies CA..-+ .FAB/A+C A
)BB FAB/B> MA/C a! !he !ime when !he !es!a!or
e6ec%!ed his will.
EN'IJUE) *s. ABADIA
A%g%s! 5, 15?9
+AC,S- n 152(, when holographic wills were no!
allowed, A*adia e6ec%!ed a holographic will. ! was
presen!ed in 1591. n 15?2, !he !rial co%r! allowed !he will
on !he gro%nd !ha! %nder !he new Civil Code, holographic
wills are now allowed.
.ELD- +he will sho%ld no! *e allowed *eca%se %nder
Ar!icle 45?, !he e6!rinsic validi!y o& a will sho%ld *e "%dged
no! *y !he law e6is!ing a! !he !ime o& !he !es!a!or=s dea!h
nor !he law a! !he !ime o& pro*a!e, *%! *y !he la/ e1isting
at the ti2e of the e1e$ution of the inst&u2ent.
Al!ho%gh !he will *ecomes opera!ive only a&!er !he
!es!a!or=s dea!h, s!ill his wishes are given e6pression a!
!he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion.
IBA'LE *s. #O
Fe*r%ary 24, 15?(
0no! rela!ed %nder !his provision3
+AC,S- Beonard died in J%ne 1591 leaving his s%rviving
spo%se, Ca!alina, and some minor children as his heirs.
Ca!alina sold an en!ire parcel o& land, which is a con"%gal
proper!y, !o spo%ses Canoy. ! was !hen sold !o *arle.
+he /eeds o& Sale were no! regis!ered.
n 1598, Ca!alina sold L o& !he said land !o 7o, which
por!ion *elongs !o !he children.
.ELD- +he momen! o& dea!h is !he de!ermining &ac!or
when !he heirs ac,%ire a de&ini!e righ! !o !he inheri!ance,
whe!her s%ch righ! *e p%re or con!ingen!. ! is imma!erial
whe!her a shor! or long period o& !ime lapses *e!ween !he
dea!h o& !he predecessor and !he en!ry in!o possession o&
!he proper!y o& !he inheri!ance *eca%se !he righ! is always
deemed !o *e re!roac!ive &rom !he momen! o& dea!h.
)hen Ca!alina sold !he en!ire parcel o& land !o !he
Canoy spo%ses, L o& i! already *elongs !o !he children.
+h%s, !he &irs! sale was n%ll and void in so &ar as i!
incl%ded !he children=s share.
-n !he o!her hand, !he sale !o !he 7o having *een
made *y a%!hori!y o& !he compe!en! co%r! was %ndenia*ly
legal and e&&ec!ive.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ ABADA *s. ABA6A
Jan%ary (1, 222?
+AC,S- A*ada e6ec%!ed his will in 15(2. A*ada died in
1592. ! was asser!ed !ha! !he will o& A*ada does no!
indica!e !ha! i! was wri!!en in a lang%age or dialec! $nown
!o !he !es!a!or and !ha! !he will was no! ac$nowledged
*e&ore a no!ary p%*lic, ci!ing Ar!icles 829 and 821 o& !he
.ew Civil Code.
.ELD # +he law !ha! governs !he validi!y o& !he will o&
A*ada is !he Code o& Civil 7roced%re. Al!ho%gh !he laws
in &orce a! !ha! !ime are !he Civil Code o& 1885 and Ac!
.o. 152 or !he Code o& Civil 7roced%re 0which governed
!he e6ec%!ion o& wills *e&ore !he enac!men! o& !he .ew
Civil Code3, !he Code o& Civil 7roced%re repealed Ar!icle
18? o& !he -ld Civil Code. ;nder !he Code o& Civil
7roced%re, !he in!erven!ion o& a no!ary is no! necessary in
!he e6ec%!ion o& any will. A*ada=s will does no! re,%ire
ac$nowledgemen! *e&ore a no!ary p%*lic.
;nder Ar!icle 45?, !he validi!y o& a will as !o i!s &orm
depends %pon !he obse&*an$e of the la/ in fo&$e at the
ti2e it is 2ade.
A',ICLE 8;. Real proper!y as well as
personal proper!y is s%*"ec! !o !he law o& !he
co%n!ry where i! is si!%a!ed. ia!dc222?
<owever, in!es!a!e and !es!amen!ary
s%ccessions, *o!h wi!h respec! !o !he order o&
s%ccession and !o !he amo%n! o& s%ccessional
righ!s and !o !he in!rinsic validi!y o& !es!amen!ary
provisions, shall *e reg%la!ed *y !he na!ional law o&
!he person whose s%ccession is %nder
considera!ion, wha!ever may *e !he na!%re o& !he
proper!y and regardless o& !he co%n!ry wherein said
proper!y may *e &o%nd. 012a3
(ICIANO *s. B'I(O
?2 7<B 814
+AC,S- A will o& an American !es!a!or provided !ha! his
es!a!e sho%ld *e disposed o& in accordance wi!h !he
7hilippine law. +he !es!a!or &%r!her provided !ha! whoever
wo%ld oppose his wishes !ha! his es!a!e sho%ld *e dis!ri*%!ed
in accordance wi!h 7hilippine laws wo%ld &or&ei! !heir
inheri!ance
.ELD- Cven i& !he !es!a!or=s wishes m%s! *e given
paramo%n! impor!ance, if the /ishes of the testato&
$ont&a*ene a se$ifi$ &o*ision of la/" then that
&o*ision in a /ill should not be gi*en effe$t. A person=s
will is merely an ins!r%men! which is 7CRM++C/, so his
righ! is no! a*sol%!e. ! sho%ld *e s%*"ec! !o !he provisions o&
!he 7hilippine laws.
,he estate of a de$edent shall be dist&ibuted in
a$$o&dan$e /ith his national la/. <e canno! provide
o!herwise.
+he SC held !ha! !hose who opposed wo%ld no! &or&ei!
!heir inheri!ance *eca%se !ha! provision is no! legal.
BELLIS *s. BELLIS
J%ne 1, 1514
+AC,S- A +e6an provided in his will !ha! his proper!ies in
!he 7hilippines sho%ld *e dis!ri*%!ed in accordance wi!h !he
7hilippine law on s%ccession.
.ELD- +he provision is !o *e regarded as void *eca%se i!
con!ravenes Ar!icle 11, paragraph 2 provides !ha! wi!h
respec! !o !he int&insi$ *alidity of testa2enta&y and
intestate su$$ession" the national la/ of the de$edent
shall &e*ail.
& !he +e6an, %nder !he +e6an law, has no comp%lsory
heirs, !he 7hilippines law on !he legi!imes o& comp%lsory
heirs canno! *e applied.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ C.'IS,ENSEN
Jan%ary (1, 151(
+AC,S- Chris!ensen is a ;S ci!izen and a ci!izen o&
Cali&ornia *%! was domiciled in !he 7hilippines. n his will, he
gave !o <elen 7(,122 who was adop!ed *y him. +he res! o&
his es!a!e was !o *e given !o his da%gh!er B%cy. <elen
con!ended !ha! she is deprived o& her legi!ime as an
ac$nowledged na!%ral child as decreed *y !he ;S Co%r!.
+he Cali&ornia Civil Code re,%ires !ha! !he domicile o& !he
deceden! sho%ld apply.
.ELD- 7hilippine law sho%ld govern. +he na!ional law
men!ioned in Ar!icle 11 o& o%r Civil Code is !he law on con&lic!
o& laws in !he Cali&ornia Civil Code, which a%!horizes !he
re&erence o& !he ,%es!ion !o !he law o& !he !es!a!or=s domicile.
+he con&lic! o& law r%le in Cali&ornia re&ers *ac$ !he case
when a deceden! is no! domiciled in Cali&ornia !o !he law o&
his domicile, !he 7hilippine law in !his case.
+his is !he proper applica!ion o& !he do$t&ine of &en*oi
0re&erring *ac$3.
CAYE,ANO *s. LEONIDAS
May (2, 1589
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+AC,S- Adoracion was a ci!izen and residen! o& ;S *%!
died in !he Manila. A repro*a!e o& her will was allowed.
<ermogenes, her &a!her, con!ended !ha! he was deprived
o& his legi!ime as a res%l! o& !he repro*a!e o& !he will.
.ELD- +he law which governs Adoracion=s will is !he law
o& 7ennsylvania, ;SA, which is !he na!ional law o& !he
deceden!. )hile i! wo%ld seem !ha! 7hilippine laws wo%ld
ma$e !he will invalid *eca%se !here seems !o *e an
omission o& a comp%lsory heir, s!ill, the /ill /as
$onside&ed to be *alid be$ause it /as 2easu&ed in
a$$o&dan$e /ith la/ of the US /he&ein no legiti2es
a&e &e$ogniKed. & !here are no legi!mes, !here co%ld *e
no case o& pre!eri!ion. +he will in !his case is valid.
#CIB *s. ESCOLIN
?1 SCRA 211
+AC,S- Binnie, a ci!izen o& +e6as, died and le&! a will
leaving her es!a!e !o her h%s*and Charles.
.ELD- ,he dist&ibution of he& estate should be
go*e&ned by the la/s of ,e1as. Foreign laws may no!
*e !a$en "%dicial no!ice and have !o *e proven li$e any
o!her &ac! in disp%!e *e!ween !he par!ies in any
proceeding wi!h !he rare e6cep!ion in ins!ances when said
laws are already wi!hin !he ac!%al $nowledge o& !he co%r!.
& yo% allege !ha! !his cer!ain provision is wha! is
provided in !he na!ional law o& !he deceden!, !hen yo%
m%s! prove !ha! law as a &ac! li$e yo% prove any o!her &ac!
in disp%!e. C6cep!ion#
1. & !he &oreign laws are wi!hin !he ac!%al
$nowledge o& !he co%r!D or
2. )hen !hese laws have *een considered
*e&ore *y !he co%r! in a previo%s case and !he
par!ies do no! oppose as !o !he considera!ion o&
!he co%r! as !o !he e6is!ence o& !he &oreign law.
7C8=s represen!a!ion in regards !o !he law o& +e6as
vir!%ally cons!i!%!es admissions o& &ac! which o!her par!ies
and !he co%r! are *eing made !o rely and ac! %pon. 7C8
is no! permi!!ed !o con!radic! !hem or s%*se,%en!ly !a$e
posi!ion con!radic!ory !o or inconsis!en! wi!h !hem.
IN 'E- ES,A,E O+ 6O.NSON
.ovem*er 11, 1518
+AC,S- Johnson was a na!ive o& Sweden and
na!%ralized ;S ci!izen. <e died in Manila. <e e6ec%!ed a
will in !he 7hilippines *%! wi!h !he &ormali!ies prescri*ed *y
!he laws o& llinois, in which 2 wi!nesses are allowed. +he
7hilippine laws re,%ire ( wi!nesses. 7e!i!ioner also
asser!ed !ha! she is a legi!ima!e heir o& !he !es!a!or and
!h%s, she canno! *e deprived o& !he legi!ime !o which she
is en!i!led %nder !he law governing !es!amen!ary
s%ccessions here in !he 7hilippines.
.ELD- +his case is an e6ample o& an alien !es!a!or who
e6ec%!ed his will in !he 7hilippines. ;nder Ar!icle 814, he
may o*serve !he laws en&orced in his co%n!ry o&
na!ionali!y. -r, %nder Ar!icle 14, !he laws o& !he place
where he e6ec%!es his will, which in !his case is !he
7hilippines. +he will o& Johnson was ad2itted to
&obate be$ause e*en if it did not $onfo&2 /ith the
la/s of the #hiliines" it still $onfo&2s /ith the la/s
of his nationality.
As !o !he alleged depriva!ion o& legi!ime, i! is s%&&icien!
!o say !ha! !he &obate of the /ill does not affe$t the
int&insi$ *alidity of its &o*isions, !he decree o& pro*a!e
*eing concl%sive only as regards !he d%e e6ec%!ion o& !he
will.
.ever!heless, !he int&insi$ *alidity of the
&o*isions of this /ill 2ust be dete&2ined by the la/
of Illinois and not by the gene&al &o*isions he&e
ali$able in su$h 2atte&s. +he in!rinsic validi!y o& !he
provisions o& !he will o& a ;S ci!izen is governed *y !he
laws o& !he s!a!e o& which he is a ci!izen.
(ALAN% *s. (OSON
A%g%s! 22, 2222
+AC,S- A*d%la con!rac!ed marriage wi!h Aida and had (
sons wi!h her. Ad*%la !hen married &or a second !ime wi!h
J%*aida and no child was *orn o%! o& !ha! marriage.
A*d%la divorced Aida. A*d%la !hen married .ayo and !hey
also had no child. +herea&!er, he con!rac!ed ano!her
marriage wi!h Ma*ay and had a da%gh!er wi!h her. .o! long
a&!er, A*d%la married ( o!her M%slim women *%! even!%ally
divorced !hem. A*d%la !hen married his 9
!h
wi&e .eng,
e6cl%ding !he wives he divorced. +hey were childless.
A*d%la died wi!ho%! leaving a will.
.ELD- A*d%la died in!es!a!e on /ecem*er 155(. ! is !he
(usli2 Code /hi$h should dete&2ine the identifi$ation
of the hei&s in the o&de& of intestate su$$ession and the
&ese$ti*e sha&es of the hei&s. +he M%slim Code !oo$
e&&ec! on Fe*r%ary 9, 1544. & a M%slim died *e&ore !he
e&&ec!ivi!y o& !he M%slim Code, !he order o& s%ccession shall
*e governed *y !he Civil Code.
+he status and $aa$ity to su$$eed on the a&t of
the indi*idual a&ties /ho ente&ed into ea$h and e*e&y
2a&&iage $e&e2ony /ill deend uon the la/ in fo&$e at
the ti2e of the e&fo&2an$e of the 2a&&iage &ite. & !he
M%slim marriage !oo$ place d%ring !he e&&ec!ivi!y o& !he Civil
Code and *e&ore !he e&&ec!ivi!y o& !he M%slim Code, he
canno! marry again *eca%se %nder !he Civil Code, only one
marriage is valid. 8%! when !he marriage !oo$ place when
!he M%slim Code has !a$en e&&ec!, s%*se,%en! marriages are
allowed and valid. +he righ! o& !he spo%ses !o inheri! will
depend on whe!her or no! !hey have *een validly married. &
!hey are no! validly married, !hen !hey do no! have
s%ccessional righ!s over !heir par!ner.
+he status and $aa$ity to su$$eed of the $hild&en
/ill deend uon the la/ in fo&$e at the ti2e of
$on$etion o& bi&th o& !he child.
As !o proper!y rela!ions, i! is !he Ci*il Code that
dete&2ines and go*e&ns the &oe&ty &elations of the
2a&&iages in this $ase, &or !he reason !ha! a! !he !ime o& !he
cele*ra!ion o& !he marriages in ,%es!ion, !he Civil Code was
!he only on marriage rela!ions, incl%ding proper!y rela!ions
*e!ween spo%ses, whe!her M%slim or non@M%slim.
LLO'EN,E *s. CA
.ovem*er 2(, 2222
+AC,S- Bloren!e, enlis!ed as a serviceman o& !he ;S navy,
was married !o a Filipina. <e was la!er on admi!!ed as a ;S
ci!izen. )hen he wen! !o *ac$ !o !he 7hilippines, he &iled &or
divorce since he &o%nd o%! !ha! his wi&e was having an
ad%l!ero%s rela!ionship wi!h his *ro!her. +herea&!er, he
married his 2
nd
wi&e. n 1581, Borenzo e6ec%!ed a will and
*e,%ea!hed all his proper!y !o Alicia and !heir ( children.
.ELD- )he!her !he will is in!rinsically valid and who shall
inheri! &rom Borenzo are iss%ed *es! proved *y &oreign law
which m%s! *e pleaded and proved. )he!her !he will was
e6ec%!ed in accordance wi!h !he &ormali!ies re,%ired is
answered *y re&erring !o 7hilippine law. +he will was d%ly
pro*a!ed.
+he clear in!en! o& Borenzo !o *e,%ea!h his proper!y !o
his second wi&e and children is glaringly shown in !he will he
e6ec%!ed. +he SC does no! wish !o &r%s!ra!e his wishes,
since he was a &oreigner, no! covered *y o%r laws on &amily
righ!s and d%!ies, s!a!%s, condi!ion and legal capaci!y.
&': In this case, it must be noted that (lorente was already
an American citi)en ***
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SUBSEC,ION 4
,esta2enta&y Caa$ity and Intent
A',ICLE 3B;. All persons who are no! e6pressly
prohi*i!ed *y law may ma$e a will.
A',ICLE 3B3. 7ersons o& ei!her se6 %nder eigh!een
years o& age canno! ma$e a will. 0n3
A',ICLE 3B5. n order !o ma$e a will i! is essen!ial !ha!
!he !es!a!or *e o& so%nd mind a! !he !ime o& i!s e6ec%!ion.
DO'O,.EO *s. CA
(22 SCRA 12
+AC,S- 7riva!e responden!s were !he legi!ima!e children
o& Ale"andro and Anice!a. Anice!a died in 1515 wi!ho%!
her es!a!e *eing se!!led. Ale"andro died !herea&!er.
Bo%rdes, claiming !o have !a$en care o& Ale"andro *e&ore
he died, &iled a pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o& Ale"andro=s will.
n1581, !he will was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e *%! priva!e
responden!s did no! appeal &rom !he said order. n 158(,
%pon mo!ion o& !he priva!e responden!s, !he !rial co%r!
r%led !ha! !he will was in!rinsically void and declared
priva!e responden!s as !he only heirs o& !he la!e spo%ses.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e proceedings deal generally wi!h !he
e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he will so%gh! !o *e pro*a!ed
par!ic%larly on !hese aspec!s#
)he!her !he will s%*mi!!ed is indeed !he
deceden!=s las! will and !es!amen!
Compliance wi!h !he prescri*ed &ormali!ies &or
!he e6ec%!ion o& wills
+he !es!amen!ary capaci!y o& !he !es!a!or
And !he d%e e6ec%!ion o& !he las! will and
!es!amen!
;nder !he Civil Code, d%e e6ec%!ion incl%des a
de!ermina!ion o& whe!her !he !es!a!or was o& so%nd and
disposing mind a! !he !ime o& i!s e6ec%!ion.
+he in!rinsic validi!y is ano!her ma!!er and ,%es!ions
regarding !he same may s!ill *e raised even a&!er !he will
has *een a%!hen!ica!ed. It does not ne$essa&ily follo/
that an e1t&insi$ally *alid last /ill and testa2ents is
al/ays int&insi$ally *alid.
A',ICLE 3BB. +o *e o& so%nd mind, i! is no! necessary
!ha! !he !es!a!or *e in &%ll possession o& all his reasoning
&ac%l!ies, or !ha! his mind *e wholly %n*ro$en, %nimpaired,
or %nsha!!ered *y disease, in"%ry or o!her ca%se.
! shall *e s%&&icien! i& !he !es!a!or was a*le a! !he !ime
o& ma$ing !he will !o $now !he na!%re o& !he es!a!e !o *e
disposed o&, !he proper o*"ec!s o& his *o%n!y, and !he
charac!er o& !he !es!amen!ary ac!. 0n3
BA%,AS *s. #A%UIO
March 19, 1512
+AC,S- 7ag%io s%&&ered &rom paralysis o& !he le&! side o&
his *ody %n!il his dea!h. n !he pro*a!ion o& his will, i! was
con!ended !ha! he was no! in &%ll en"oymen! and %se o& his
men!al &ac%l!ies and was wi!ho%! !he men!al capaci!y
necessary !o e6ec%!e a will
.ELD- n !his "%risdic!ion, !here is a pres%mp!ion in &avor
o& men!al capaci!y o& !he !es!a!or and !he *%rden is %pon
!he con!es!an!s o& !he will !o prove !he lac$ o& !he
!es!amen!ary capaci!y a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he
will. n !his case, !he !es!a!or has never *een ad"%dged
insane. #a&alysis is not e0ui*alent to 2ental
in$aa$ity.
! is no! necessary !ha! a person m%s! *e in &%ll
possession o& his men!al and reasoning &ac%l!ies !o *e
a*le !o *e considered o& so%nd mind. ! is no! necessary
!ha! his mind *e %n*ro$en, %nsha!!ered *y disease, in"%ry
or o!her ca%se.
BU%NAO *s. UBA%
Sep!em*er 18, 1525
.ELD- +he &ollowing re,%isi!e m%s! *e presen! &or one !o *e
a*le !o *e considered as having so%ndness o& mind or having
!es!amen!ary capaci!y#
1. +now the nature of the estate to be disposed of
, -he proper ob$ects of his bounty
3. .e must /now the character of the testamentary act.
! is !r%e !ha! !he !es!imony discloses !he &ac! !ha! !he
!es!a!or a! !ha! !ime o& e6ec%!ion o& !he will was e6!remely ill, in
an advanced s!age o& tube&$ulosis complica!ed wi!h severe
a!!ac$s o& asth2a. But all the e*iden$e of hysi$al
/ea<ness in no /ise establishes his 2ental in$aa$ity o&
a la$< of testa2enta&y $aa$ity. Mere wea$ness o& mind or
par!ial im*ecili!y &rom disease o& *ody, or &rom age, will no!
render a person incapa*le o& ma$ing a will, a wea$ or &ee*le
minded person may ma$e a valid will, provided he has
%nders!anding and memory s%&&icien! !o ena*le him !o $now
wha! i! is a*o%! and how or !o whom he is disposing o& his
proper!y.
,O''ES" LO#E) DE BUENO *s. LO#E)
Fe*r%ary 21, 1521
+AC,S- ! was con!ended !ha! !he !es!a!or lac$ed men!al
capaci!y *eca%se a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will, he
had senile de2entia and /as unde& gua&dianshi.
.ELD- +he !es!a!or may have *een o& advanced years, may
have *een physically decrepi!, may have *een wea$ in
in!ellec!, may have s%&&ered a loss o& memory, may have had a
g%ardian, and may have *een e6!remely eccen!ric, *%! he still
ossessed the sa&< of &eason and of life" that st&ength of
2ind to fo&2 a fi1ed intention and to su22on his
enfeebled thoughts to enfo&$e that intention" which !he law
!erms J!es!amen!ary capaci!y.K Only $o2ete senile
de2entia /ill &esult to testa2enta&y in$aa$ity.
SANC.O *s. ABELLA
.ovem*er 1(, 15((
+AC,S- +he opponen! claims !ha!, inasm%ch as !he !es!a!ri6
was 88 years o& age when she made her will, she was already
s%&&ering &rom senile de*ili!y and !here&ore her men!al &ac%l!ies
were no! &%nc!ioning normally anymore and !ha! she was no!
&%lly aware o& her ac!s. As an indica!ion o& her senile de*ili!y,
she a!!emp!ed !o prove !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 had very poor
eyesigh! and sense o& hearingD !ha! she %rina!ed wi!ho%! *eing
aware o& i!D !ha! she had a very poor memory in connec!ion
wi!h her proper!ies and in!eres!sD !ha! she co%ld no! go
downs!airs wi!ho%! assis!ance, and !ha! she co%ld no! recall
her recen! ac!s.
.ELD- Neithe& senile debility" no& deafness" no&
blindness" no& oo& 2e2o&y" is by itself suffi$ient to
establish the &esu2tion that the e&son suffe&ing
the&ef&o2 is not in the full en!oy2ent of his 2ental
fa$ulties, when !here is s%&&icien! evidence o& his men!al sani!y
a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will and !ha! nei!her !he &ac!
o& her *eing given accommoda!ions in a conven!, nor !he
presence o& !he parish pries!, nor a pries! ac!ing as a wi!ness,
cons!i!%!es %nd%e in&l%ence s%&&icien! !o "%s!i&y !he ann%lmen!
o& a legacy in &avor o& !he *ishop o& a diocese made in her will
*y a !es!a!ri6 88 years o& age, s%&&ering &rom de&ec!ive eyesigh!
and hearing, while she is s!opping a! a conven! wi!hin !he
a&ores!a!ed diocese.
ALSUA>BE,,S" et al *s. CA
J%ly (2, 1545
+AC,S- A&!er e6ec%!ing a holographic will which was la!er
pro*a!ed d%ring his li&e!ime, !he deceased e6ec%!ed ano!her
will, *%! !his second will he did no! s%*mi! !o !he co%r! &or
pro*a!e while s!ill alive.
.ELD- +he &ac! o& non>sub2ission to &obate du&ing his
lifeti2e of the se$ond /ill does not indi$ate any defe$t in
the &e0uisite testa2enta&y $aa$ity. 8esides, a will is
revoca*le a! any !ime *y !he !es!a!or was s!ill alive.
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A7ELINO *s. DELA C'U)
Fe*r%ary 21, 1512
+AC,S- ! was con!ended !ha! !he will sho%ld no! have
*een valida!ed *eca%se a! !he !ime o& !he ma$ing o& !he will,
!he deceden! was blind fo& a nu2be& of yea&s *e&orehand
and !h%s was incompe!en! !o ma$e !he will in ,%es!ion.
.ELD- A *lind !es!a!or may *e compe!en! !o ma$e a will.
(e&e fa$t of blindness does not &ende& hi2
in$o2etent. .o pres%mp!ion o& incapaci!y can arise &rom
!he mere &ac! !ha! he was *lind. +he only re,%iremen! o&
!he law as !o !he capaci!y !o ma$e a will is !ha! !he person
shall *e o& age and o& so%nd mind and memory. 8lind
persons are prohi*i!ed &rom ac!ing as wi!nesses in !he
e6ec%!ion o& wills, *%! no limi!a!ion is placed %pon
!es!amen!ary capaci!y, e6cep! age and so%ndness o& mind.
6OCSON *s. 6OCSON
J%ne 8, 1522
.ELD- +ailu&e of 2e2o&y is not suffi$ient unless it be
total o& e1tends to the i22ediate fa2ily o& &oe&ty.
CUYU%AN *s. BA'ON
Jan%ary 11, 15(1
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will o& Silves!ra 8aron was
opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o&
!he alleged will, Silves!ra was men!ally and physically
incapaci!a!ed &or !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will.
+he evidence shows !ha! 013 !he same morning when
Silves!ra signed !he alleged will, she s%&&ered a physical
collapse o& s%ch a serio%s na!%re !ha! a physician and a
n%rse were immedia!ely called in. 8y reason o& her
advanced age and !he gravi!y o& her illness, she was %na*le
!o do any!hing &or hersel&. 023 As !he doc!or and !he n%rse
were leaving, C%y%gan 0!he appoin!ed e6ec%!or o& !he will3,
an a!!orney and ( wi!nesses, en!ered !he ho%se and
prepared !o o*!ain !he will o& Silves!ra. .ei!her !he doc!or
and !he n%rse were presen!ed as wi!nesses *y !he
proponen!.
.ELD- Sil*est&a /as not of sound 2ind at the ti2e of
the e1e$ution of the /ill. +he opposi!or was a*le !o
presen! evidence showing !ha! !he deceased was o&
%nso%nd a! !he !imes o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will. Since
C%y%gan &ailed in a&&irma!ively es!a*lishing !he
!es!amen!ary capaci!y o& !he deceased, !hen, !he la!!er was
no! o& so%nd mind a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will as
approved *y !he opposi!or.
CA%UIOA *s. CALDE'ON
22 7<B 922
.ELD- Inso2nia by itself if not indi$ati*e that the
testato& /as of unsound 2ind at the ti2e of the
e1e$ution of the /ill.
YA# ,UA *s. YA# CA LUAN
Sep!em*er 1, 1519
+AC,S- A wi!ness !es!i&ied !ha! !ha! !he !es!a!or was sic$
wi!h !%*erc%losis and was lying in her *ed *%! sa! %p !o sign
!he will. ! was also men!ioned !ha! !he !es!a!or signed !he
will wi!h grea! di&&ic%l!y.
.ELD- ,ube&$ulosis by itself if not indi$ati*e that the
testato& /as of unsound 2ind at the ti2e of the
e1e$ution of the /ill. +he !es!imony o& !he doc!or as !o
!he men!al condi!ion o& !he deceased was 29 ho%rs *e&ore
!he e6ec%!ion o& !he will. Several wi!nesses !es!i&ied !ha! a!
!he !ime !he will was presen!ed !o her &or her signa!%re, she
was o& so%nd mind and memory and as$ed &or a pen and
in$ and $ep! !he will in her possession &or !en or &i&!een
min%!es and &inally signed i!. +he !es!a!or was o& so%nd
mind and memory and in !he possession o& her &ac%l!ies a!
!he !ime she signed !his will.
SA(SON *s. CO''ALES ,AN JUIN,IN
99 7<B ?4(
+AC,S- ! was alleged *y !he a!!ending physician, as a
wi!ness &or !he opposi!ion, !ha! !he deceased was s%&&ering
&rom dia*e!es and !ha! he had *een in coma!ose &or several
days prior !o his dea!h. ! was arg%ed !ha! coma!ose implies a
comple!e %nconscio%sness and !ha! !he !es!a!or !here&ore
co%ld no! a! !ha! !ime, have e6ec%!ed a will. <owever, all !he
wi!nesses presen!ed *y pe!i!ioner !es!i&ied !ha! !he deceased
was conscio%s, co%ld hear and %nders!and wha! was said !o
him and he was a*le !o indica!e his desires.
.ELD- +he pro&essional spec%la!ions o& a physician as !o
men!al capaci!y o& !he !es!a!or canno! prevail over !he posi!ive
s!a!emen!s o& ? apparen!ly credi*le wi!nesses whose !es!imony
does no! in i!sel& seem %nreasona*le. +an was o& so%nd mind,
which renders !he will and !es!amen! valid.
+here are varying degrees o& coma!ose. n i!s ligh!er
&orms, !he pa!ien! may *e aro%sed and have l%cid in!ervals.
S%ch seems !o have *een in !his case.
,he testi2ony of the do$to& /as not gi*en $&edit
be$ause he /as not &esent /hen the /ill /as e1e$uted.
%AL7E) *s. %AL7E)
21 7<B 29(
.ELD- Al!ho%gh !he !es!a!or was ill wi!h C<-BCRA, since he
demons!ra!ed !ha! he had suffi$ient ene&gy and $lea&
intelligen$e to e1e$ute his last /ill in accordance wi!h !he
re,%iremen!s o& !he law, his case m%s! *e an e1$etion to the
gene&al &ule that $hole&a atients in 2a!o&ity of $ases
be$o2e in$aa$itated.
CA''ILLO *. 6AOCOCO
March 29, 1529
.ELD- +he &ac! !ha! !he vendor, having *een de$la&ed
2entally in$aa$itated afte& the e1e$ution of the do$u2ent
of sale" does not &o*e $on$lusi*ely that she /as
in$aa$itated /hen the $ont&a$t /as e1e$uted.
.E'NAE) *s. .E'NAE)
1 7<B 418
.ELD- OLD A%E is not suffi$ient to establish la$< of
testa2enta&y $aa$ity.
NEY'A *s. NEY'A
41 7<B (((
.ELD- +he men!al &ac%l!ies o& persons s%&&ering &rom
ADDISON=S DISEASE &e2ain uni2ai&ed, par!ly d%e !o
!he &ac! !ha! on acco%n! o& !he sleep !hey en"oy, !hey
necessarily receive !he *ene&i! o& physical and men!al res!.
Bi$e pa!ien!s s%&&ering &rom +;8CRC;B-SS, .S-M.A or
/A8C+CS, !hey preserve !heir men!al &ac%l!ies %n!il !he
momen! o& !heir dea!h.
E*en if the testato& is ill and his hand is guided in
signing /ill" lying do/n and unable to 2o*e o& stand u
unassisted" the testato& is not $onside&ed to of unsound
2ind.
/eliri%m when i! *eclo%ds !he mind so as no! !o
%nders!and !he na!%re o& ac!, e6!en! o& proper!y, and o*"ec!s
o& *o%n!y is an indica!ion o& an %nso%nd mind.
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ALBO'NO) *s. ALBO'NO)
41 7<B 919
.ELD- Bac$ o& memory and %nders!anding and pre@
senile demen!ia is an ins!ance where a !es!a!or is
considered as o& %nso%nd mind.
0ummary of cases with regard to soundness of mind:
INDICA,IONS O+ AN
UNSOUND (IND
NO, INDICA,I7E O+ AN
UNSOUND (IND
Albo&noK 7S.
Albo&noK C38 #hil 989D
@ Bac$ o& memory and
%nders!anding and pre@
senile demen!ia
Ney&a 7S. Ney&a
C3; #hil AAAD @ /eliri%m
when i! *eclo%ds !he
mind so as no! !o
%nders!and !he na!%re o&
ac!, e6!en! o& proper!y,
o*"ec!s o& *o%n!y
,o&&es 7S. LoeK
de Bueno C95 #hil 334D
@ comple!e senile
demen!ia will res%l! !o
!es!amen!ary incapaci!y
Sa2son 7S.
Co&&ales ,an C99 #hil
:3AD @ !he posi!ive
!es!imony o& a!!es!ing
wi!nesses which does
no! in i!sel& seem
%nreasona*le as !o !he
men!al condi!ion o& !he
!es!a!or m%s! prevail
over !he pro&essional
spec%la!ions o& a non@
a!!ending physician
,o&&es 7S. LoeK
de Bueno C95 #hil 334D @
Senili!y, Senile /emen!ia
when no! comple!e
San$ho 7S. Abella
C:5 #hil 345D @Senile
de*ili!y, dea&ness, poor
memory.
Alsua>Betts 7S.
CA C6uly AF" 8B3BD @
)ea$ness o& mind or
par!ial im*ecili!y &rom
disease o& *ody or &rom
age
A*elino 7S. Dela
C&uK C48 #hil :48D N
8lindness
Bagtas 7S. #aguio"
6o$son 7S. 6o$son C9;
#hil 3F8D" Cuyugan *s.
Ba&on @ Fail%re o&
memory
Caguioa 7S.
Calde&on C4F #hil 9FFD N
nsomnia
Ya ,ua FS. Ya
Ca Luan C43 #hil :3BD N
+%*erc%losis
Sa2son 7S.
Co&&ales ,an Juintin
C99 #hil :3AD N /ia*e!es
%al*eK 7S. %al*eK
C4; #hil 49AD N Cholera
Bagtas 7S. #aguio
@ 7aralysis and loss o&
speech
Ca&ilio 7S. 6ao!o$o
C9; #hil B:3D @ Cere*ral
<emorrhage wi!h
hemiplegia
.e&naeK 7S.
.e&naeK C8 #hil ;5AD >
-ld age
Ney&a 7S. Ney&a
C3; #hil AAAD @ /eliri%mD
Sleeping Sic$ness
0AddisonEs disease3
Bugnao 7S. Ubag
C89 #hil 8;AD > As!hma
A',ICLE 5FF. +he law pres%mes !ha! every person is
o& so%nd mind, in !he a*sence o& proo& !o !he con!rary.
+he *%rden o& proo& !ha! !he !es!a!or was no! o&
so%nd mind a! !he !ime o& ma$ing his disposi!ions is on
!he person who opposes !he pro*a!e o& !he willD *%! i& !he
!es!a!or, one mon!h, or less, *e&ore ma$ing his will was
p%*licly $nown !o *e insane, !he person who main!ains
!he validi!y o& !he will m%s! prove !ha! !he !es!a!or made i!
d%ring a l%cid in!erval. 0n3
,O''ES" LO#E) DE BUENO *s. LO#E)
Fe*r%ary 21, 1521
.ELD- If the testato& 2ade the /ill afte& he had been
!udi$ially de$la&ed insane" and befo&e su$h !udi$ial o&de&
had been set aside" the testato& is &esu2ed insane.
+he law re,%ires !ha! proponen!s o& !he will shall have
!he *%rden o& proo& !o show !ha! !he !es!a!or had so%ndness
o& mind i& !he !es!a!or made !he will a&!er a "%dicial
de!ermina!ion o& his insani!y.
'A(I'E) *s. 'A(I'E)
(5 SCRA 194
.ELD- )here !he s!a!emen!s o& !he no!ary p%*lic were &ar
&rom sa!is&ac!ory, vag%e, evasive and !end !o *eg !he very
iss%e, as where he co%ld no! say, *%! merely s%pposed !ha!
!he !es!a!ri6 had a recollec!ion o& her proper!ies, or o& !he
rela!ives who wo%ld logically inheri! &rom her and when as$ed
!o e6plain his answer !o !he ,%es!ion concerning her men!al
s!a!e, he simply re&erred !o !he cer!i&ica!ion in !he will on !ha!
poin!, and so declined !o &%lly commi! himsel&, su$h
testi2ony fails to establish testa2enta&y $aa$ity.
+he evidence showed !he de&ini!e concl%sion !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6 was indeed men!ally incapaci!a!ed !o ma$e a will.
As early as 15??, she was already s%&&ering &rom &e>senile
de2entia, a degenera!ive men!al in&irmi!y !ha! was descri*ed
as a progressive and irreversi*le process.
6UNJUE'A *s. BO''O(EO
March (2, 1584
+AC,S- +here were wi!nesses who !es!i&ied !ha! !he
signa!%res p%rpor!ing !o *e !ha! o& !he !es!a!or were &orgeries,
!ha! !hey were !oo good and !oo per&ec! signa!%res and ,%i!e
impossi*le &or !he deceased, an ailing man already 82 years
old, !o wri!e and !he he was &o%nd posi!ive &or *acill%s
leprosy.
.ELD- n !his "%risdic!ion, !he s%*scri*ing wi!nesses !o a
con!es!ed will are regarded as *es! wi!nesses in connec!ion
wi!h i!s d%e e6ec%!ion. +o deserve &%ll credi!, !heir !es!imony
m%s! *e reasona*le and %n*iased and !ha! !heir !es!imony
may *e overcome *y any compe!en! evidence N direc! or
circ%ms!an!ial.
Subs$&ibing /itnesses 2ay fo&get o& e1agge&ate
/hat they &eally <no/" sa/" hea&d o& didM they 2ay be
biased" and the&efo&e" tell only half>t&uths to 2islead the
$ou&t o& fa*o& one a&ty to the &e!udi$e of the $ou&t.
+his can no! *e said o& !he condi!ion and physical
appearance o& !he ,%es!ioned doc%men! i!sel&. +he SC has
care&%lly e6amined and considered !he physical appearance
and condi!ion o& !he original and 2 copies o& !he ,%es!ioned
will, par!ic%larly !he signa!%res a!!ri*%!ed !o !he !es!a!or, and
!he SC has come !o !he concl%sion !ha! !he la!!er co%ld no!
have *een wri!!en *y !he !es!a!or.
CUYU%AN *s. BA'ON
Jan%ary 11, 15(1
.ELD- An ins!r%men! p%rpor!ing !o *e a will e6ec%!ed and
wi!nessed in accordance wi!h !he &ormali!ies re,%ired *y !he
s!a!%!e is en!i!led !o pres%mp!ion o& reg%lari!y.
8%! !he *%rden o& evidence passes !o !he proponen!
when !he opposi!ors s%*mi! credi*le evidence !ending !o
show !ha! !he s%pposed !es!a!or did no! possess
!es!amen!ary capaci!y a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will
or !ha! !he doc%men! was no! !he &ree and vol%n!ary
e6pression o& !he alleged !es!a!or o& !he will, &or any o!her
reason, is void law.
n !his case, !he opposi!or was a*le !o presen! evidence
showing !ha! !he deceased was o& %nso%nd mind a! !he !ime
o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will. <ence, !he *%rden o& proo&
passes !o !he proponen! C%y%gan. Sin$e Cuyugan failed in
affi&2ati*ely establishing the testa2enta&y $aa$ity of
the de$eased" then" the latte& /as not of unsound 2ind
at the ti2e of the e1e$ution of the /ill as &o*ed by the
oosito&.
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%ON)ALES *s. %ON)ALES
.ovem*er 25, 15?1
+AC,S- +wo separa!e pe!i!ions &or pro*a!e o& !he will
were &iled. -ne will was e6ec%!ed in 1592. +he o!her was
e6ec%!ed in 159?. +he la!!er was !he *asis o& !he pe!i!ion
o& Manoli!a. Man%el moved &or !he revoca!ion presen!ed
*y Manoli!a alleging !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 lac$ed !es!amen!ary
capaci!y when she allegedly e6ec%!ed !he ins!r%men! o&
revoca!ion.
A!!es!ing wi!nesses o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will
!es!i&ied !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 was o& so%nd mind a! !he !ime
!he alleged ins!r%men! o& revoca!ion was e6ec%!ed.
8%! said !es!imony was con!radic!ed *y !he a!!ending
physician saying !ha! &or more !han 12 years prior !o her
dea!h, !he !es!a!ri6 was s%&&ering &rom hyper!ension and
la!er on, had aphasia.
7riva!e responden! con!ended !ha! !he !es!imony o&
!he a!!es!ing wi!nesses sho%ld *e given more credence
!han !he opinion o& an e6per! wi!ness.
.ELD- +he doc!or=s !es!imony shall prevail.
)here !he &amily physician a!!ended !he !es!a!ri6
d%ring her las! illness and saw her on !he day when !he
alleged doc%men! o& revoca!ion was e6ec%!ed, !he
!es!imony o& !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses !ending !o imply !ha!
!he !es!a!ri6 was o& so%nd mind a! !he !ime said doc%men!
was e6ec%!ed, canno! prevail over !he con!rary !es!imony
o& !he a!!ending physician.
,he hysi$ian=s testi2ony should be belie*ed
be$ause he /as $onstantly nea& the testato& and he
a$tually sa/ the latte& on the date of e1e$ution.
A',ICLE 5F8. S%pervening incapaci!y does no!
invalida!e an e&&ec!ive will, nor is !he will o& an incapa*le
valida!ed *y !he s%pervening o& capaci!y. 0n3
A',ICLE 5F4. A married woman may ma$e a will
wi!ho%! !he consen! o& her h%s*and, and wi!ho%! !he
a%!hori!y o& !he co%r!. 0n3
A',ICLE 5FA. A married woman may dispose *y will
o& all her separa!e proper!y as well as her share o& !he
con"%gal par!nership or a*sol%!e comm%ni!y proper!y. 0n3
A',ICLE 5F9. Cvery will m%s! *e in wri!ing and
e6ec%!ed in a lang%age or dialec! $nown !o !he !es!a!or.
0n3
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ ABADA *s. ABA6A
Jan%ary (1, 222?
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he
gro%nd !ha! nowhere in !he will can one discern !ha!
A*ada, !he !es!a!or, $new !he Spanish lang%age.
.ELD- ,he&e is no statuto&y &e0ui&e2ent to state in
the /ill itself that the testato& <ne/ the language o&
diale$t used in the /ill. +his is a ma!!er !ha! a par!y may
es!a*lish *y proo& ali%nde.
LO#E) *s. LIBO'O
A%g%s! 24, 1598
+AC,S- Bopez e6ec%!ed a will in Spanish. +he pro*a!e
o& his will was opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! !he will is silen!
on !he !es!a!or=s %nders!anding o& !he lang%age %sed in
!he !es!amen!.
.ELD- +here is no s!a!%!ory re,%iremen! !ha! !he
!es!a!or=s %nders!anding o& !he lang%age %sed in !he will
*e e6pressed !herein. It is a 2atte& that 2ay be
established by &oof aliunde.
ABAN%AN *s. ABAN%AN
.ovem*er 12, 1515
+AC,S- ! is alleged !ha! !he records do no! show !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6 $new !he dialec! in which !he will is wri!!en. She
e6ec%!ed her will in Ce*%.
.ELD- +he circ%ms!ances appearing in !he will i!sel& !ha! !he
same was e1e$uted in Cebu and in the diale$t of this
lo$ality /he&e the testat&i1 /as a neighbo& is enough, in
!he a*sence o& any proo& !o !he con!rary, to &esu2e that
she <ne/ this diale$t in /hi$h he& /ill /as /&itten.
ACO# *s. #I'ASO
Jan%ary 11, 1525
+AC,S- Si6!o alleged on appeal !ha! !he lower co%r! erred in
saying !ha! in order !o *e valid, !he will in ,%es!ion sho%ld
have *een drawn %p in !he locano dialec!.
+he evidence shows !ha! 7iraso $new how !o spea$ !he
locano dialec!, al!ho%gh imper&ec!ly, and co%ld ma$e himsel&
%nders!ood in !ha! dialec!.
! has *een proved !ha! !he deceased 7iraso did no!
$now Cnglish.
.ELD- +he will is no! valid.
+he deceden!=s alleged /ill" being /&itten in English" a
language un<no/n to the de$edent" $annot be &obated
be$ause it is &ohibited by the la/" /hi$h $lea&ly
&e0ui&es that the /ill be /&itten in the language o& diale$t
<no/n the testato&.
.or can !he pres%mp!ion in &avor o& a will es!a*lished *y
!he SC in !he case o& Abangan "s Abangan !o !he e&&ec! !ha!
!he !es!a!or is pres%med !o $now !he dialec! o& !he locali!y
where he resides, %nless !here is proo& !o !he con!rary.
Firs!, i! was no! proven !ha! Cnglish is !he lang%age o&
8ag%io where !he deceased lived and where !he will was
drawn.
+he record con!ains posi!ive proo& !ha! !he !es!a!or $new
no o!her lang%age o!her !han !he gorro!e dialec!, wi!h a
sma!!ering o& locano. <e did no! $now !he Cnglish lang%age
in which !he will was wri!!en.
'EYES *s. 7IDAL
April 21, 15?2
+AC,S- +here was no!hing in !he !es!imony o& !he wi!nesses
presen!ed *y J%an which indica!ed !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 $new
and spo$e !he Spanish lang%age %sed in !he prepara!ion o&
!he will in ,%es!ion. +he opposi!ors s%*mi!!ed as evidence
le!!ers wri!!en in Spanish *y !he deceased in her own
handwri!ing.
.ELD- +he will can *e admi!!ed.
+he &ail%re o& !he pe!i!ioner=s wi!nesses !o !es!i&y !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6 $new and spo$e Spanish does no! i!sel& alone
s%&&ice !o concl%de !ha! !his re,%iremen! o& law has no! *een
complied wi!h when !here is eno%gh evidence o& record
which s%pplies !his !echnical omission.
)here !he evidence o& !he opposi!or !o !he pro*a!e o& a
will shows !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 possessed !he Spanish lang%age,
!he opposi!or canno! la!er on *e allowed !o allege !he
con!rary.
+he &ac! !ha! !he testat&i1 /as a 2estiKa esaNola"
/as 2a&&ied to a Sania&d" 2ade se*e&al t&i to Sain
and so2e of he& lette&s sub2itted as e*iden$e by the
oosito& /e&e /&itten in Sanish by the testat&i1 in he&
o/n /&iting gi*e &ise to the &esu2tion that the
testat&i1 <ne/ the language in /hi$h the testa2ent has
been /&itten, which pres%mp!ion sho%ld s!and %nless !he
con!rary is proven.
)here !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& !he will s!a!es !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6 $new and possessed !he Spanish lang%age !ho%gh
!his ma!!er is no! re,%ired !o *e s!a!ed in !he a!!es!a!ion
cla%se, i!s incl%sion can only mean !ha! !he ins!r%men!al
wi!nesses wan!ed !o ma$e i! o& record !ha! !he deceased
$new !he lang%age in which !he will was wri!!en.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ 6A7ELLANA *s. 6A7ELLANA
Jan%ary (2, 1512
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+AC,S- +he !es!a!or was a Fisayan who lived in San
J%an, Rizal. <e e6ec%!ed his will in Manila in !he Spanish
lang%age.
! was con!ended !ha! !he lang%age re,%iremen! o&
!he law on wills ahs no! *een complied wi!h in !his case.
+here was no e6pression in !he *ody o& !he will i!sel& or in
i!s a!!es!a!ion cla%se !ha! !he !es!a!or $new Spanish, !he
lang%age in which i! is wri!!en.
.ELD- )here !here is wan! o& e6pression in !he *ody o&
!he will i!sel& or in !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se !ha! !he !es!a!or
$new !he lang%age in which !he will was wri!!en, proo&
!hereo& may *e es!a*lished *y evidence ali%nde.
Al!ho%gh the la$< of su$h e*iden$e 2ay be $u&ed by
&esu2tion of <no/ledge of the language o& diale$t
used in the /ill" no su$h &esu2tion $an a&ise
/he&e" as in the $ase at ba&, !he will was e6ec%!ed in
Spanish, while !he !es!a!or was a Fisayan residing in San
J%an, Rizal a! !he !ime o& his dea!h.
SU'O)A *s. .ON'ADO
/ecem*er 15, 1581
+AC,S- Marcelina=s will was wri!!en in Cnglish and
!h%m*mar$ed *y her. She was illi!era!e. ! was
con!ended !ha! !he will was void *eca%se !he !es!a!ri6 was
illi!era!e as shown *y !he &ac! !ha! she a&&i6ed her
!h%m*mar$ !o !he will and !ha! she did no! $now Cnglish,
!he lang%age in which !he will was wri!!en.
n !he opening paragraph o& !he will, i! was s!a!ed !ha!
Cnglish was a lang%age J%nders!ood and $nownK !o !he
!es!a!ri6. 8%! in i!s concl%ding paragraph, i! was s!a!ed
!ha! !he will was read !o !he !es!a!ri6 Jand !ransla!ed in!o
Filipino lang%age.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e denied. +he &ac! !ha! !he Cnglish@wri!!en
/ill had to be t&anslated to the testat&i1 $ould only
2ean that the /ill /as /&itten in a language not
<no/n to the illite&ate testat&i1" and the&efo&e" it is
*oid *eca%se o& !he manda!ory provision o& Ar!icle 829 o&
!he Civil Code !ha! every will m%s! *e e6ec%!ed in a
lang%age or dialec! $nown !o !he !es!a!or.
A',ICLE 5F:. Cvery will, o!her !han a holographic will,
m%s! *e s%*scri*ed a! !he end !hereo& *y !he !es!a!or
himsel& or *y !he !es!a!orEs name wri!!en *y some o!her
person in his presence, and *y his e6press direc!ion, and
a!!es!ed and s%*scri*ed *y !hree or more credi*le
wi!nesses in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& one
ano!her.
+he !es!a!or or !he person re,%es!ed *y him !o wri!e
his name and !he ins!r%men!al wi!nesses o& !he will, shall
also sign, as a&oresaid, each and every page !hereo&,
e6cep! !he las!, on !he le&! margin, and all !he pages shall
*e n%m*ered correla!ively in le!!ers placed on !he %pper
par! o& each page.
+he a!!es!a!ion shall s!a!e !he n%m*er o& pages %sed
%pon which !he will is wri!!en, and !he &ac! !ha! !he !es!a!or
signed !he will and every page !hereo&, or ca%sed some
o!her person !o wri!e his name, %nder his e6press
direc!ion, in !he presence o& !he ins!r%men!al wi!nesses,
and !ha! !he la!!er wi!nessed and signed !he will and all
!he pages !hereo& in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o&
one ano!her.
& !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se is in a lang%age no! $nown !o
!he wi!nesses, i! shall *e in!erpre!ed !o !hem. 0n3
ABAN%AN *s. ABAN%AN
.ovem*er 12, 1515
+AC,S- A*angan=s will was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e. +he will
consis!s o& !wo shee!s#
1. +he &irs! con!ains all o& !he disposi!ion o& !he
!es!a!ri6, d%ly signed a! !he *o!!om *y Mar!in, in
!he name and %nder !he direc!ion o& !he !es!a!ri6,
and *y ( o!her wi!nesses.
2. +he second con!ains only !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se
d%ly signed a! !he *o!!om *y !he ( ins!r%men!al
wi!nesses.
.ei!her o& !hese shee!s is signed on !he le&! margin *y
!he !es!a!ri6 and ( wi!nesses, nor n%m*ered *y le!!ersD and
!hese omissions, according !o !he opposi!ors= con!en!ion, are
de&ec!s where*y !he pro*a!e o& !he will sho%ld *e denied.
.ELD- S%ch lac$ o& signa!%re and n%m*ering do no! ma$e
!he will invalid.
When the disositions a&e /holly /&itten on only 8
sheet signed at the botto2 by the testato& and A
/itnesses" thei& signatu&es on the left 2a&gin of said
sheet /ould be $o2letely u&oseless. +he p%rpose o&
s%ch re,%iremen! is !o avoid s%*s!i!%!ion o& any o& said
shee!s, !here*y changing !he !es!a!or=s disposi!ion.
As !o !he n%m*ering o& every page, !he o*"ec! is !o close
!he door agains! *ad &ai!h and &ra%d, !o avoid s%*s!i!%!ion o&
wills and !o g%aran!y !heir !r%!h and a%!hen!ici!y. 8%!, /hen
all the disositi*e a&ts of a /ill a&e /&itten on 8 sheet
only" the ob!e$t of the statute disaea&s be$ause the
&e2o*al of this single sheet" although unnu2be&ed
$annot be hidden.
As !o !he signa!%re o& !he !es!a!or on !he a!!es!a!ion
cla%se, s%ch is not ne$essa&y be$ause said $lause
ae&tains only to the /itnesses and not to the testato&
sin$e the latte& does not attest" but e1e$utes" the /ill.
ICASIANO *s. ICASIANO
J%ne (2, 1519
+AC,S- +he will in !his case consis!s o& ? pages. ! had all
!he &ormali!y re,%iremen!s and was signed a! !he end o&
every page, *%! i! does no! con!ain !he signa!%re o& !he one o&
!he a!!es!ing wi!nesses on page (. 8%! !he d%plica!e copy is
signed *y !he !es!a!ri6 and her ( a!!es!ing wi!nesses in each
and every page.
.ELD- +he will is no! invalid. ,he inad*e&tent failu&e of
one /itness to affi1 his signatu&e to 8 age of a
testa2ent" due to the si2ultaneous lifting of 4 ages in
the $ou&se of signing" is not e& se suffi$ient to !ustify
denial of &obate. mpossi*ili!y o& s%*s!i!%!ion i& !his page is
ass%red no! only *y !he &ac! !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 and !he 2 o!her
wi!nesses signed !he de&ec!ive page, *%! also *y i!s *earing
!he imprin! o& !he seal o& !he no!ary p%*lic.
+he law sho%ld no! *e so s!ric!ly and li!erally in!erpre!ed
as !o penalize !he !es!a!ri6 on acco%n! o& !he inadver!ence o&
a single wi!ness over whose cond%c! she has no con!rol,
where !he p%rpose o& !he law !o g%aran!ee !he iden!i!y o& !he
!es!amen! and i!s pages is s%&&icien!ly a!!ained, no in!en!ional
or deli*era!e devia!ion e6is!ed, and !he evidence on record
a!!es!s !o !he &%ll o*servance o& !he s!a!%!ory re,%isi!es.
-!herwise, wi!nesses may sa*o!age !he will *y m%ddling or
*%ngling i! or !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se.
BA'U, *s. CA%ACUN%AN
J%ne (2, 1519
+AC,S- +he signa!%re o& !he !es!a!ri6 was wri!!en *y Severo
a! !he re,%es! o& !he !es!a!ri6 and in her presence and in !he
presence o& all !he o!her wi!nesses !o !he will.
+he pro*a!e o& !he will was con!ended on !he gro%nd
!ha! !he handwri!ing o& Severo loo$ed more li$e !he
handwri!ing o& one o& !he ( o!her a!!es!ing wi!nesses !o !he
will.
.ELD- )he!her one person or ano!her signed !he name o&
!he !es!a!ri6 in !his case is a*sol%!ely %nimpor!an! so &ar as
!he validi!y o& her will is concerned. ! is *eca%se the&e /e&e
9 /itnesses to the /ill of the de$edent and the la/
&e0ui&es only A attesting /itnesses to the /ill.
! is uni2o&tant /hethe& the e&son /ho /&ites the
na2e of the testat&i1 signs his o/n na2e o& not. +he
impor!an! !hing is !ha! i! $lea&ly aea&s that the na2e of
the testat&i1 /as signed at he& e1&ess di&e$tion in the
&esen$e of A /itnesses and that they attested and
subs$&ibed it in he& &esen$e and in the &esen$e of
ea$h. +ha! is all !he law re,%ires.
! may *e wise as a prac!ical ma!!er !ha! !he one who
signs !he !es!a!or=s name signs also his ownD *%! !ha! is no!
essen!ial !o !he validi!y o& !he will
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IN 'E- WILL O+ ,AN DUICO
March 15, 1529
+AC,S- +here were 9 wi!nesses !o !he will. +he
deceden!=s name was signed in his *ehal& %pon his
re,%es! *y one o& !he s%*scri*ing wi!nesses. +he will was
,%es!ioned on !he gro%nd !ha! i! was no! signed *y (
ins!r%men!al wi!nesses.
.ELD- Cven i& one o& !he s%*scri*ing wi!nesses signs in
*ehal& o& !he !es!a!or when so re,%es!ed, !he re,%iremen!
o& !he law o& a! leas! ( wi!nesses is s!ill complied wi!h. n
!his case, !here were 9 s%*scri*ing wi!nesses !o !he will.
But if the&e /e&e only A /itnesses to the /ill" one
of the2 $annot sign to the /ill be$ause it /ould fall
sho&t of the &e0ui&e2ent of A /itnesses.
,he A /itnesses /ho signed the /ill a&e the ones
/ho 2ust also sign the attestation $lause.
An inst&u2ental /itness is one who !a$es par! in
!he e6ec%!ion o& an ins!r%men! or wri!ing.
+he will !h%s have *een prepared and *e&ore i! is
signed *y !he !es!a!or or !he person ac!ing in his s!ead, or
!he one direc!ed *y him !o sign i! in his name 0in which
case !he name o& !he !es!a!or is wri!!en *e&ore !ha! o& !he
signer3, in order !ha! said doc%men! may have !he
charac!er o& a valid will#
1. +he !es!a!or ga!hers ( or more credi*le
wi!nesses and !ells !hem !ha! !he con!en!s o& said
doc%men! is his will, wi!ho%! in&orming !hem o& i!s
con!en!s, and
2. +he !es!a!or or !he person direc!ed *y him !o do
so signs i! in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o&
each o!her, and
(. +he !es!a!or or !he person ac!ing in his s!ead, as
well as !he ( wi!nesses sign on !he le&! margin o&
each page or shee!, which m%s! *e n%m*ered
correla!ively in le!!ers on !he %pper par! o& !he
page.
+he law does no! say !ha! said wi!nesses m%s! *e
di&&eren! &orm !hose who signed !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se. !
&ollows !ha! !he same wi!nesses who signed on !he le&!
margin o& each page o& !he doc%men! presen!ed *y !he
!es!a!or !o !hem as his will, m%s! *e !he ones who sho%ld
sign !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se, inasm%ch as !hey alone can
cer!i&y !he &ac!s !o *e s!a!ed in said cla%se, &or having
!a$en a direc! par! !herein, as !hey saw !he !es!a!or sign
!he will, or !he person re,%es!ed *y him !o sign all !he
shee!s o& !he will.
LEANO *s. LEANO
March (1, 151?
+AC,S- +he !es!a!ri6 placed a cross agains! her name in
!he will in !he presence o& ( wi!nesses.
.ELD- )ill is valid.
,he la$ing of the $&oss oosite he& na2e at the
$onst&u$tion of the inst&u2ent /as suffi$ient
$o2lian$e /ith the &e0ui&e2ents of the la/.
+he righ! o& a !es!a!or !o sign his will *y mar$,
e6ec%!ed animus testandi, has *een %ni&ormly s%s!ained
*y !he co%r!s o& las! resor! o& !he ;S in cons!r%ing
s!a!%!ory provisions prescri*ing !he mode o& e6ec%!ion o&
wills.
%A'CIA *s. LACUES,A
.ovem*er 25, 15?1
+AC,S- An!ero died leaving *ehind a will, which appears
!o have *een signed *y A!!y. Javier who wro!e !he name
o& An!ero, &ollowed *elow *y JA r%ego del !es!adorK and
!he name o& Javier. An!ero is alleged !o have wri!!en a
cross immedia!ely a&!er his name.
! was alleged !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se is &a!ally
de&ec!ive &or &ailing !o s!a!e !ha! An!ero ca%sed A!!y. Javier
!o wri!e !he !es!a!or=s name %nder his e6press direc!ion.
+he proponen! !heorized !ha! !he cross is as m%ch a
signa!%re as a !h%m* mar$.
.ELD- +he will is invalid.
A testato& $annot sign a /ill by only 2a&<ing a $&oss
against his na2e if it is not his $usto2a&y signatu&e. ! is
no! here pre!ended !ha! !he cross appearing on !he will is !he
%s%al signa!%re o& An!ero or even one o& !he ways *y which
he signed his name. +he mere sign o& a cross canno! *e
li$ened !o a !h%m* mar$. +he cross canno! and does no!
have !he !r%s!wor!hiness o& a !h%m* mar$.
When the testato& e1&essly $aused anothe& to sign
the fo&2e&=s na2e" this fa$t 2ust be &e$ited in the
attestation $lause. -!herwise, !he will is &a!ally de&ec!ive
and canno! *e pro*a!ed.
BALONAN *s. ABELLANA
A%g%s! (1, 1512
+AC,S- Anacle!a died leaving a will signed in her *ehal& *y
/r. A*ello and %nder his name appears !ypewri!!en J7or la
!es!adoraK 0&or !he !es!a!or3 Anacle!a.
+he opposi!ors ,%es!ioned !he will *eca%se i! was no!
signed in !he name o& !he !es!a!or *%! ra!her in !he name o&
/r. A*ello
.ELD- +he will may no! *e admi!!ed !o pro*a!e.
+he wi!ness sho%ld no! have signed in his own name *%!
ra!her !ha! o& !he !es!a!or.
n !his case, !he name o& !he !es!a!ri6 does no! appear
wri!!en %nder !he will *y hersel& or *y /r. A*ello. +here is
failu&e to $o2ly /ith the e1&ess &e0ui&e2ent in the la/
that the testato& 2ust hi2self sign the /ill" o& that his
na2e be affi1ed the&eto by so2e othe& e&son in his
&esen$e and by his e1&ess di&e$tion.
ABAYA *s. )ALA(E'O
March 12, 1528
+AC,S- ! was &o%nd o%! !ha! Mariano, who was re,%es!ed
*y !he !es!a!or !o wri!e his name and s%rname a! !he end o&
his will, did no! a&&i6 his own signa!%re *elow !he name and
s%rname o& !he !es!a!or and *elow !he cross placed *y !he
la!!er and did no! wri!e !he words J*y re,%es! o& !he !es!a!orK.
.ELD- +he will sho%ld *e admi!!ed !o pro*a!e. +he said will
already clearly s!a!ed !he reasons why i! was no! signed *y
!he !es!a!or himsel& and !he &ac! !ha! he made a re,%es! !o
!he wi!ness !o do !he signing &or him. A &eetition the&eof
by /&iting Hby &e0uest of the testato&I /as not
ne$essa&y.
6ABONE,A *s. %US,ILO
Jan%ary 15, 1521
+AC,S- +here were ( wi!nesses as !o !he e6ec%!ion o& !he
will o& Ja*one!a. Jena signed &irs!, &ollowed *y Jal*%ena. A!
!ha! momen!, Jena, *eing in a h%rry !o leave, !oo$ his ha! and
le&! !he room. As he was leaving !he room, Jena saw
Javellana, !he (
rd
wi!ness, !oo$ !he pen in his hand and p%!
himsel& in posi!ion !o sign !he will as a wi!ness, *%! did no!
sign in !he presence o& Jena. .ever!heless, a&!er Jena had
le&! !he room, Javellana signed as a wi!ness in !he presence
o& !he !es!a!or and o& !he wi!ness Jal*%ena. 0pansin $o lang
p%ro JJK ang s%rname sa !es!a!or %g wi!nesses .. hehe 3
.ELD- +he will sho%ld *e admi!!ed !o pro*a!e. ! is no!
re,%ired !ha! !he wi!ness m%s! see !he ac!%al signing o& !he
o!her wi!nesses.
+he p%rpose o& a s!a!%!ory re,%iremen! !ha! !he wi!ness
sign in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or is said !o *e !ha! !he
!es!a!or may have oc%lar evidence o& !he iden!i!y o& !he
ins!r%men! s%*scri*ed *y !he wi!ness and himsel&, and !he
generally accep!ed !es!s o& presence are vision and men!al
apprehension.
,he t&ue test of *ision is not /hethe& the testato&
a$tually sa/ the /itness sign" but /hethe& he 2ight ha*e
seen hi2 sign" $onside&ing his 2ental and hysi$al
$ondition and osition at the ti2e of the subs$&ition.
+he &ac! !ha! he was in !he ac! o& leaving, and !ha! his
*ac$ was !%rned while a por!ion o& !he name o& !he wi!ness
was *eing wri!!en, is o& no impor!ance. A! !he momen! when
!he wi!ness Javellana signed !he doc%men!, he was ac!%ally
and physically presen! and in s%ch posi!ion wi!h rela!ion !o
Javellana !ha! he co%ld see every!hing which !oo$ place *y
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merely cas!ing his eyes in !he proper direc!ion, and
wi!ho%! any physical o*s!r%c!ion !o preven! his doing so.
NE'A *s. 'I(ANDO
Fe*r%ary 24, 1511
+AC,S- +here was a disp%!e as !o !he circ%ms!ances
a!!ending !he signing o& !he will on !he day o& i!s
e6ec%!ion#
1. whe!her one o& !he s%*scri*ing wi!nesses was
presen! in !he small room where i! was e6ec%!ed
a! !he !ime when !he !es!a!or and !he o!her
s%*scri*ing wi!nesses a!!ached !heir signa!%res
2. whe!her a! !ha! !ime he was o%!side, some eigh!
or !en &ee! away, in a large room connec!ing wi!h
!he smaller room *y a doorway, across which
was h%ng a c%r!ain which made i! impossi*le &or
one in !he o%!side room !o see !he !es!a!or and
!he o!her s%*scri*ing wi!nesses in !he ac! o&
a!!aching !heir signa!%res !o !he ins!r%men!

.ELD- +he SC admi!!ed !he &irs! one and !he will was
admi!!ed &or pro*a!e.
& !he 2
nd
circ%ms!ance had happened, had !he
s%*scri*ing wi!ness *een proven !o have *een in !he
o%!er room a! !he !ime when !he !es!a!or and !he o!her
s%*scri*ing wi!nesses a!!ached !heir signa!%res !o !he
ins!r%men! in !he inner room, it /ould ha*e been in*alid
as a /ill, !he a!!aching o& !hose signa!%res %nder
circ%ms!ances no! *eing done Ain !he presenceA o& !he
wi!ness in !he o%!er room. +his *eca%se the line of
*ision f&o2 this /itness to the testato& and the othe&
subs$&ibing /itnesses /ould ne$essa&ily ha*e been
i2eded by the $u&tain sea&ating the inne& f&o2 the
oute& one Eat the 2o2ent of ins$&ition of ea$h
signatu&e.E
+he ,%es!ion whe!her !he !es!a!or and !he
s%*scri*ing wi!nesses !o an alleged will sign !he
ins!r%men! in !he presence o& each o!her does no! depend
%pon proo& o& !he &ac! !ha! !heir eyes were ac!%ally cas!
%pon !he paper a! !he momen! o& i!s s%*scrip!ion *y each
o& !hem, *%! !ha! at that 2o2ent e1isting $onditions
and thei& osition /ith &elation to ea$h othe& /e&e
su$h that by 2e&ely $asting the eyes in the &oe&
di&e$tion they $ould ha*e seen ea$h othe& sign.
(A'A7ILLA *s. (A'A7ILLA
Fe*r%ary 24, 1541
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will o& /igna was opposed *y
!he *ro!her and sis!ers o& !he deceased on !he gro%nd !ha!
she and !he ins!r%men!al wi!nesses did no! sign !he
alleged will, each and every page !hereo&, in !he presence
o& each o!her.
-nly one o& !he wi!nesses is alive d%ring !he pe!i!ion
&or pro*a!e. +he !rial co%r! r%led !ha! Mans%e!o did no!
ac!%ally see /igna sign !he will in ,%es!ion *eca%se o& !he
&ac! !ha! while Mans%e!o posi!ively iden!i&ied his own
signa!%re, he did no! iden!i&y !ha! o& !he !es!a!ri6, his
answers *eing A!his m%s! *e !he signa!%re o& Mrs.
MaravillaA.
.ELD- ! was *%! na!%ral !ha! wi!ness Mans%e!o sho%ld
*e posi!ive a*o%! his own signa!%re, since he was &amiliar
wi!h i!. <e had !o *e less posi!ive a*o%! /igna MaravillaEs
signa!%re since he co%ld no! *e closely ac,%ain!ed wi!h
!he same.
Records show !ha! !he signing o& !he will was !he only
occasion !ha! he saw her sign. <e had no oppor!%ni!y !o
s!%dy her signa!%re *e&ore or a&!er !he e6ec%!ion o& !he
will. <e wi!nessed /ignaEs signing no! less !han 19 years
previo%sly. +o demand !ha! in iden!i&ying /ignaEs
signa!%re Mans%e!o sho%ld display a posi!iveness e,%al
!o !he cer!ain!y shown *y him in recognizing his own,
e6ceeds !he *o%nds o& !he reasona*le. +he varia!ion in
!he e6pressions %sed *y !he wi!ness is !he *es! evidence
!ha! he was *eing candid and care&%l, and i! is a clear
*adge o& !r%!h&%lness ra!her !han !he reverse.
A /ill 2ay be allo/ed e*en if so2e /itnesses not
&e2e2be& ha*ing attested it" if othe& e*iden$e
satisfa$to&ily sho/ due e1e$ution, and that failu&e of
/itness to identify his signatu&e does not ba& &obate.
+he !es!s is no! whe!her a wi!ness did see !he signing o&
!he will *%! whe!her he was in a posi!ion !o see i& he chose !o
do so.
%AB'IEL *s. (A,EO
/ecem*er 11, 1524
+AC,S- According !o !he opposi!ors, !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses
!es!i&ied !ha! !he deceden! signed *e&ore !hey did. <owever,
*ased on !he will, !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses signed *e&ore !he
!es!a!or since !he la!!er=s signa!%re !end !o rise when i!
reaches a level wi!h an a!!es!ing wi!nesses= signa!%re. +he
!es!a!or had !o wri!e her s%rname %pwards in order !o avoid
in!er&ering wi!h !ha! Felicisimo, one o& !he wi!nesses. ! was
also con!ended !ha! !here were apparen!ly di&&eren! $inds o&
in$ %sed *y !he !es!a!ri6 in her signa!%re and *y !he a!!es!ing
wi!nesses.
.ELD- +he will is valid. ! may *e in&erred wi!h e,%al, i& no!
grea!er, logic !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 signed *e&ore him, and when i!
came !o !he wi!ness :a*rielEs !%rn, he, &inding !he space
*elow !he !es!a!ri6Es signa!%re &ree, signed his name !here.
-n !he o!her hand, i! may *e no!ed !ha! !he !es!a!ri6Es o!her
signa!%re a! !he *o!!om o& !he will also shows a more or less
mar$ed !endency !o rise, no!wi!hs!anding !he &ac! !ha! !here
was no signa!%re wi!h which she migh! in!er&ere i& she
con!in%ed !o wri!e in a s!raigh! horizon!al line.
0According !o Ma=am=s no!es# ,he /itnesses 2ay sign
ahead of the de$edent and *i$e>*e&sa as long as it is
done in one single" $onte2o&aneous o& $ontinuous a$t.
+he order o& !he signing is o& no ma!erial so long as !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he will cons!i!%!es only one single !ransac!ion.3
A! all even!s, even admi!!ing !ha! !here is a cer!ain
,%es!ion as !o whe!her !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses signed *e&ore
or a&!er !he !es!a!ri6, or whe!her or no! !hey signed wi!h !he
same pen and in$, !hese are de!ails o& s%ch !rivial
impor!ance, considering !ha! !his will was signed !wo years
*e&ore !he da!e on which !hese wi!nesses gave !heir
!es!imony, !ha! i! is no! proper !o se! aside !he will &or !his
reason alone.
%ON)ALES *s. CA
May 2?, 1545
+AC,S- +he opposi!or con!ends !ha! !here was no proo& !ha!
!he ( ins!r%men!al wi!nesses were credi*le.
.ELD- Ar!icle 822 and 821 provide !he ,%ali&ica!ions and
dis,%ali&ica!ions o& persons &rom *eing wi!nesses !o a will.
,he&e is no 2andato&y &e0ui&e2ent that the /itness
testify initially o& at any ti2e du&ing the t&ial as to his
good standing in the $o22unity" his &eutation fo&
t&ust/o&thiness and &eliableness" his honesty and
u&ightness in o&de& that his testi2ony 2ay be belie*ed
and a$$eted by the t&ial $ou&t.
! is no! manda!ory !ha! evidence *e &irs! es!a*lished on
record !ha! !he wi!nesses have a good s!anding in !he
comm%ni!y or !ha! !hey are hones! and %prigh! or rep%!ed !o
*e !r%s!wor!hy and relia*le, &or a person is pres%med !o *e
s%ch %nless !he con!rary is es!a*lished o!herwise. n o!her
words, !he ins!r%men!al wi!nesses m%s! *e compe!en! and
!heir !es!imonies m%s! *e credi*le *e&ore !he co%r! allows !he
pro*a!e o& !he will !hey have a!!es!ed.
A wi!nesses= rep%!a!ion &or !r%s!wor!hiness and
relia*leness, his hones!y and %prigh!ness are pres%med
%nless !he con!rary is proved o!herwise *y !he opposing
par!y.
7ro*a!e o& !he will m%s! *e allowed.
NAY7E *s. (O6AL
/ecem*er 25, 1529
+AC,S- +he de&ec!s a!!ri*%!ed !o !he will are#
0a3 no! having *een signed *y !he !es!a!or and !he
wi!nesses on each and every shee! on !he le&! marginD
0*3 !he shee!s o& !he doc%men! no! *eing paged wi!h
le!!ersD
0c3 !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se does no! s!a!e !he n%m*er o&
shee!s or pages ac!%ally %sed o& !he willD and
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0d3 !he !es!a!or does no! appear !o have signed all
!he shee!s in !he presence o& !he ( wi!nesses, and
!he la!!er !o have a!!es!ed and signed all !he shee!s in
!he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& each o!her.
.ELD-
(a) As each and every page %sed o& !he will *ears
!he signa!%res o& !he !es!a!or and !he wi!nesses, the
fa$t that said signatu&es do not all aea& on the
left 2a&gin of ea$h age does not det&a$t f&o2
the *alidity of the /ill.
CbD #aging /ith A&abi$ nu2e&als and not /ith
lette&s is /ithin the si&it of the la/" and is !ust as
*alid as aging /ith lette&s.
0c3 +he las! paragraph o& !he will in ,%es!ion and !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se, coming ne6! !o i!, are o& !he
&ollowing !enor#
An wi!ness whereo&, se! my hand %n!o !his will here
in !he !own o& Camalig, Al*ay, 7hilippine slands, !his
21!h day o& .ovem*er, nine!een h%ndred and
eigh!een, composed of four sheets, incl%ding !he ne6!
O O OA
+he n%m*er o& shee!s is s!a!ed in said las!
paragraph o& !he will. +he a!!es!a!ion cla%se m%s!
s!a!e !he n%m*er o& shee!s or pages composing !he
willD *%! /hen" as in the $ase befo&e us" su$h fa$t"
/hile it is not stated in the attestation $lause"
aea&s at the end of the /ill &oe&" so that no
&oof aliunde is ne$essa&y of the nu2be& of the
sheets of the /ill" then the&e $an be no doubt that
it $o2lies /ith the intention of the la/ !ha! !he
n%m*er o& shee!s o& which !he will is composed *e
shown *y !he doc%men! i!sel&, !o preven! !he n%m*er
o& !he shee!s o& !he will &rom *eing %nd%ly increased
or decreased.
0d3 +he a!!es!a!ion cla%se a*ove se! o%! i! is said
!ha! !he !es!a!or signed !he will Ain !he presence o&
each o& !he wi!nessesA and !he la!!er signed Ain !he
presence o& each o!her and o& !he !es!a!or.A So !ha!,
as !o whe!her !he !es!a!or and !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses
saw each o!her sign !he will, s%ch a re,%iremen! was
clearly and s%&&icien!ly complied wi!h. )ha! is no!
s!a!ed in !his cla%se is whe!her !he !es!a!or and !he
wi!nesses signed all !he shee!s o& !he will.
,he fa$t of the testato& and the /itnesses
ha*ing signed all the sheets of the /ill 2ay be
&o*en by the 2e&e e1a2ination of the do$u2ent"
although it does not say anything about this" and
if that is the fa$t" as it is in the instant $ase" the
dange& of f&aud in this &ese$t" /hi$h is /hat the
la/ t&ies to a*oid" does not e1ist.
IN 'E- ES,A,E O+ SA%UINSIN
March 1?, 1522
+AC,S- +he will cons!i!%!ed o& ( pages on 2 shee!s. +he
signa!%res o& !he ( a!!es!ing wi!nesses !oge!her wi!h !ha!
o& !he alleged !es!a!ri6 were wri!!en on !he le&! margin o&
!he 1
s!
page 0&ron! o& 1
s!
shee!3, and !he (
rd
page 0&ron! o&
2
nd
shee!3. <owever, said signa!%res are a*sen! on !he
2
nd
page 0*ac$ o& !he 1
s!
shee!3, which was on !he reverse
side o& !he 1
s!
page where, as is seen, !he man%scrip! is
con!in%ed.
.ELD- +he will is invalid. +he a!!es!a!ion did no! s!a!e
!he n%m*er o& shee! or pages %sed %pon which !he will is
wri!!en. ,he 4
nd
age" /hi$h /as /&itten on the
&e*e&se side of the fi&st" engende&s the doubt /hethe&
/hat is /&itten the&eon /as o&de&ed /&itten by the
alleged testat&i1 o& /as subse0uently added by the
sa2e hand that d&e/ the fi&st age and the date that
aea&s on the thi&d.
+he Cnglish !e6! o& !he law which re,%ire !he signing
o& pages 0JpaginasK3, and no! merely leaves or shee!s
0Jho"asK3 %nder !he Spanish !e6! sho%ld prevail. ,he la/
&e0ui&es that both ages of a sheet 2ust be signed.
+his &ail%re !o comply wi!h !he law vi!ia!es !he will and
invalida!es i!, as !he second page is lac$ing in
a%!hen!ici!y.
A7E'A *s. %A'CIA
Sep!em*er 19, 1521
+AC,S- +he admission &or pro*a!e o& !he will o& Cs!e*an is
*eing appealed on !he gro%nds !ha! only one o& !he a!!es!ing
wi!nesses was presen!ed and *y reason o& !he &ac! !ha! !he
signa!%re o& !he !es!a!or and o& !he ( a!!es!ing wi!nesses are
wri!!en on !he righ! margin o& each page o& !he will ins!ead o&
!he le&!.
.ELD- All attesting /itnesses 2ust be e1a2ined" if ali*e
and /ithin &ea$h of the &o$ess of the $ou&t. <owever,
!his poin! was no! raised *y appellan! in !he lower co%r!,
hence deemed waived.
So &ar as concerns !he a%!hen!ica!ion o& !he will, and o&
every par! !hereo&, it $an 2a<e no ossible diffe&en$e
/hethe& the na2es aea& on the left o& no the &ight
2a&gin" &o*ided they a&e on one o& the othe&.
8y !he mode o& signing here adop!ed every page and
provision o& !he will is a%!hen!ica!ed and g%arded &rom
possi*le al!era!ion in e6ac!ly !he same degree !ha! i! wo%ld
have *een pro!ec!ed *y *eing signed in !he le&! margin
ES,A,E O+ ,A(#OY *s. ALBE'AS,INE
Fe*r%ary 2?, 1512
+AC,S- +he !rial co%r! denied !he pe!i!ion on !he gro%nd !ha!
!he le&! hand margin o& !he &irs! page o& !he will does no! *ear
!he !h%m*mar$ o& !he !es!a!ri6.
7e!i!ioner con!ends !ha! al!ho%gh !he 1
s!
page o& !he will
does no! *ear !he !h%m*mar$ o& !he !es!a!ri6, !he 2
nd
page
however *ears her !h%m*mar$ and *o!h pages were signed
*y !he ( !es!imonial wi!nesses.
.ELD- +he will is no! valid. +he law re,%ires !ha! the
testato& sign the /ill and ea$h and e*e&y age the&eof in
the &esen$e of the /itnesses" and that the latte& sign
the /ill and ea$h and e*e&y age the&eof in the &esen$e
of the testato& and of ea$h othe&" /hi$h &e0ui&e2ent
should be e1&essed in the attestation $lause. +his
re,%iremen! is manda!ory, &or &ail%re !o comply wi!h i! is &a!al
!o !he validi!y o& !he will.
Since !he will in ,%es!ion s%&&ers &rom !he &a!al de&ec!
!ha! i! does no! *ear !he !h%m*mar$ o& !he !es!a!ri6 on i!s &irs!
page even i& i! *ears !he signa!%re o& !he !hree ins!r%men!al
wi!nesses, we canno! escape !he concl%sion !ha! !he same
&ails !o comply wi!h !he law and !here&ore, canno! *e admi!!ed
!o pro*a!e.
UNSON *s. ABELLA
/ecem*er 25, 1529
+AC,S- +he pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o& !he will o& /ona Jose&a
was opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! !he s%pposed will o& !he
deceased was no! e6ec%!ed in con&ormi!y wi!h !he provinces
o& !he law, inasm%ch as i! was no! paged correla!ively in
le!!ers, nor was !here any a!!es!a!ion cla%se in i!, nor was i!
signed *y !he !es!a!ri6 and !he wi!nesses in !he presence o&
each o!her. ! was also con!es!ed !ha! !he inven!ory a!!ached
!here!o is invalid as i! has no a!!es!a!ion cla%se in i!.
.ELD- +he will is valid. n view o& !he &ac! !ha! !he inven!ory
is re&erred !o in !he will as an in!egral par! o& i!, !he
attestation $lause is in $o2lian$e /ith la/" /hi$h
&e0ui&es this sole2nity fo& the *alidity of a /ill" and
2a<es unne$essa&y any othe& attestation $lause at the
end of the in*ento&y.
n !he case o& Aldaba "s Ro1ue, !he validi!y o& !he will
was %pheld !ho%gh i! was paged wi!h !he le!!ers A, 8, C, e!c.
ins!ead o& wi!h !he n%m*ers JoneK, J!woK, J!hreeK, e!c. Sin$e
the &in$ial ob!e$t is to gi*e the $o&&elation of the
ages" this ob!e$t 2ay be attained by /&iting HI" II" III"
et$I" as in this $ase.
ALDABA *s. 'OJUE
May 22, 1522
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he gro%nd
!ha! each every &olio 0shee!3 o& !he said !es!amen! is no!
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paged correla!ively in le!!ers, *%! only wi!h !he le!!er JA, 8,
C, e!c.K
.ELD- 7ro*a!e o& !he will is allowed. ,he agination by
using HA" B" C" et$.I is in $o2lian$e /ith the si&it of
the la/" sin$e eithe& HA" B" C" et$.I o& Hone" t/o" th&ee"
et$.I indi$ates the $o&&elation of the ages and se&*es
to &e*ent the loss of any of the2.
+he o*"ec! o& !he law in re,%iring !he paging *e made
in le!!ers is !o ma$e &alsi&ica!ion more di&&ic%l!, *%! i! sho%ld
*e no!ed !ha! since all !he pages o& !he !es!amen! are
signed a! !he margin *y !he !es!a!ri6 and !he wi!nesses,
!he di&&ic%l!y o& &orging !he signa!%res in ei!her case
remains !he same.
IN 'E- #ILA#IL
J%ne 24, 1591
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he
gro%nd !ha! !he will was no! properly paged as i! was
n%m*ered wi!h le!!ers. A! !he &oo! o& !he 1
s!
page appears
Jpase ala 2K 0pass on !o !he 2
nd
page3. +he *o!!om o& !he
2
nd
page also has !he phrase Jpase ala (K 0pass on !he (
rd
page3. +he !hird page con!ains !he will Jis comprised o& 2
ar!icles, con!aining 11 disposi!ions and wri!!en in ( pages.
.ELD- +he will m%s! *e admi!!ed &or pro*a!e. +he
paging in !his case was a s%&&icien! compliance wi!h !he
law. It is suffi$ient that the nu2be& of ages $an be
identified. ndeed, !he will in !his case, as s!a!ed in !he
(
rd
page, con!ains no more, no less !han 2 ar!icles,
con!aining 11 disposi!ions and wri!!en in ( pages.
+E'NANDE) *s. DE DIOS
Fe*r%ary 2?, 1529
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he
gro%nd !ha! !he shee! on which !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se was
wri!!en is no! n%m*ered, and i! is no! s!a!ed !here !ha! !he
!es!a!or signed on !he margin o& each shee! o& !he will in
!he presence o& !he !hree wi!nesses, or !ha! !he la!!er
signed i! in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& each o!her,
and specially *eca%se said a!!es!a!ion cla%se is no!
signed *y !he !es!a!or ei!her a! !he margin or !he *o!!om
!hereo&.
.ELD- +he will m%s! *e allowed !o *e pro*a!ed.
,he la/ does not &e0ui&e that the testato&
&e$isely be the e&son to &e0uest the /itnesses to
attest his /ill. ! was also s%&&icien!ly es!a*lished in !he
record, *esides *eing s!a!ed in !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se, !ha!
!he !es!a!or signed !he will in !he presence o& !he !hree
wi!nesses and !ha! !he la!!er, in !%rn, signed i! in !he
presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& each o!her, !he !es!a!or
$nowing !ha! !he wi!nesses were signing his willD !ha! !he
wi!nesses signed !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se *e&ore !he dea!h
o& !he !es!a!or.
,he /ill $annot be in*alidated be$ause the test of
the attestation $lause 2entions the nu2be& of ages
of the /ill.
As !o !he n%m*ering o& !he shee! con!aining !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se, i! is !r%e !ha! i! does no! appear on !he
%pper par! o& !he shee!, *%! i! does appear in i!s !e6!, wi!h
!he words, having re&erence !o !he n%m*er o& shee!s o&
!he will, incl%ding !he page n%m*er o& !he a!!es!a!ion.
&, as s!a!ed in !his cla%se, !he &oregoing doc%men!
consis!s o& !hree shee!s, *esides !ha! o& !he cla%se i!sel&,
which is in sing%lar, i! is clear !ha! s%ch a shee! o& !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se is !he &o%r!h and !ha! !he will, incl%ding
said shee!, has &o%r shee!s. +his descrip!ion con!ained in
!he cla%se in ,%es!ion cons!i!%!es s%*s!an!ial compliance
wi!h !he re,%iremen!s prescri*ed *y !he law regarding !he
paging.
F%r!hermore, !he law does no! re,%ire !ha! !he shee!
con!aining no!hing *%! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se, wholly or in
par!, *e n%m*ered or paged. Conse,%en!ly, !his lac$ o&
paging on !he a!!es!a!ion shee! does no! !a$e any!hing
&rom !he validi!y o& !he will.
LO#E) *s. LIBO'O
Fe*r%ary 2?, 1529
+AC,S- +he will o& Bopez comprises 2 pages, each o& which
is wri!!en on one side o& a separa!ed shee!. +he pro*a!e o&
!he said will was opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! !he 1
s!
page is
no! paged ei!her in le!!ers or in Ara*ic n%merals.
.ELD- +he will m%s! *e admi!!ed &or pro*a!e. ,he
unnu2be&ed age is $lea&ly identified as the fi&st age
by the inte&nal sense of its $ontents considered in rela!ion
!o !he con!en!s o& !he second page. 8y !heir meaning and
coherence, !he &irs! and second lines on !he second page are
%ndenia*ly a con!in%a!ion o& !he las! sen!ence o& !he
!es!amen!, *e&ore !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se, which s!ar!s a! !he
*o!!om o& !he preceding page.
+u&the&2o&e" the unnu2be&ed age $ontains the
$ation E,ES,A(EN,O"E !he invoca!ion o& !he Almigh!y,
and a reci!al !ha! !he !es!a!or was in &%ll %se o& his
!es!amen!ary &ac%l!y, I all o& which, in !he logical order o&
se,%ence, precede !he direc!ion &or !he disposi!ion o& !he
mar$erEs proper!y.
As page 2 con!ains only !he 2 lines a*ove men!ioned,
!he a!!es!a!ion cla%se, !he mar$ o& !he !es!a!or and !he
signa!%res o& !he wi!nesses, !he o!her shee! can no! *y any
possi*ili!y *e !a$en &or o!her !han page one.
,ENA+'ANCIA *s. ABA6A
.ovem*er 12, 1515
+AC,S- Among !he &ormali!ies prescri*ed *y law !o a valid
will is !he re,%iremen! !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se sho%ld s!a!e
!he &ac! !ha! !he !es!a!or signed !he will and every page
!hereo&, or ca%sed some o!her person !o wri!e his name,
%nder his e6press direc!ion, in !he presence o& ( wi!nesses.
According !o !he co%r!, !his re,%iremen! was no! complied
wi!h in !he presen! case, &or !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se &ails !o
s!a!e !ha! &ac!. ! was con!ended !ha! !he a*sence o& s%ch
s!a!emen! was c%red *y oral evidence o& !he wi!nesses in
co%r! !ha! !he !es!a!or signed !he will in !he presence o& !he (
wi!nesses.
.ELD- +he will is invalid. 8y !he attestation $lause is
mean! A!ha! cla%se wherein !he wi!nesses cer!i&y !ha! !he
ins!r%men! has *een e6ec%!ed *e&ore !hem, and !he manner
o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he same.A ! is signed no! *y !he !es!a!or
*%! *y !he wi!nesses, &or i! is a declara!ion made *y !he
wi!nesses and no! *y !he !es!a!or. And !he law is clear !ha! i!
is !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se !ha! m%s! con!ain a s!a!emen!,
among o!hers, !ha! !he !es!a!or signed !he will in !he
presence o& !he wi!nesses. )i!ho%! !ha! s!a!emen!, !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se is &a!ally de&ec!ive.
,his defe$t is not $u&ed by &oof aliunde o& e*en by
a !udi$ial finding based uon su$h &oof that the testato&
did in fa$t sign the /ill in the &esen$e of the
subs$&ibing /itnesses.
+ha! is a &ac! re,%ired *y law !o *e s!a!ed in !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se i!sel&, and i! is se!!led !ha! where i! is no! so
s!a!ed i! canno! *e es!a*lished *y evidence ali%nde, and !ha!
where s%ch evidence has *een admi!!ed, even wi!ho%!
opposi!ion, i! sho%ld no! *e given !he e&&ec! in!ended.
LEYNE) *s. LEYNE)
-c!o*er 18, 15(5
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he gro%nd
!ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& !he con!rover!ed will &ails !o
s!a!e !ha! !he !es!a!or and !he ( wi!nesses signed each and
every page o& !he will in !he manner prescri*ed *y law
*eca%se i! merely s!a!es !ha! i! was signed in !he presence o&
one and all and !he !es!a!or himsel&.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e o& !he will m%s! *e allowed. +he
re,%iremen! is s%&&icien!ly complied wi!h, i! appearing !ha! !he
!es!a!or and !he wi!nesses signed each and every page o&
!he will according !o !he s!ip%la!ion o& !he par!ies.
An a!!es!a!ion cla%se is made &or !he p%rpose o&
preserving, in permanen! &orm, a record o& !he &ac!s a!!ending
!he e6ec%!ion o& !he will, so !ha! in case o& &ail%re o& !he
memory o& !he s%*scri*ing wi!nesses, or o!her cas%al!y, !hey
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may s!ill *e proved. A /ill" the&efo&e" should not be
&e!e$ted /he&e its attestation $lause se&*es the
u&ose of the la/. +he law@ma$ing *ody, in recogni!ion
o& !he dangers !o which !es!amen!ary disposi!ions are ap!
!o *e s%*"ec! in !he hands o& %nscr%p%lo%s individ%als,
has s%rro%nded !he e6ec%!ion o& !he wills wi!h every
solemni!y deemed necessary !o sa&eg%ard i!. +his
p%rpose was indica!ed when o%r legisla!%re provided &or
!he e6cl%sion o& evidence ali%nde !o prove !he e6ec%!ion
o& !he will.
& !he s%rro%nding circ%ms!ances poin! !o a reg%lar
e6ec%!ion o& !he will, and !he ins!r%men! appears !o have
*een e6ec%!ed s%*s!an!ially in accordance wi!h
re,%iremen!s o& !he law, !he inclina!ion sho%ld, in !he
a*sence o& *ad &ai!h, &orger or &ra%d, lean !owards !he
admission o& !he pro*a!e, al!ho%gh !he doc%men!s may
s%&&er &rom some imper&ec!ion o& lang%age, or o!her non@
essen!ial de&ec!.
,ABOADA *s. 'OSAL
.ovem*er ?, 1582
+AC,S- +he 1
s!
page o& !he will con!ains !he en!ire
!es!amen!ary disposi!ions and is signed a! !he end or
*o!!om o& !he page *y !he !es!a!ri6 alone and a! !he le&!
hand margin *y !he ( ins!r%men!al wi!nesses. +he 2
nd
page which con!ains !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se and !he
ac$nowledgemen! is signed a! !he end o& !he a!!es!a!ion
cla%se *y !he ( a!!es!ing wi!nesses and a! !he le&! hand
margin *y !he !es!a!ri6.
+he !rial co%r! denied !he pro*a!e o& !he will *eca%se
i! is no! eno%gh !ha! only !he !es!a!ri6 signs a! !he JendK
*%! all !he ( s%*scri*ing wi!nesses m%s! also sign a! !he
same place or a! !he end, in !he presence o& !he !es!a!ri6.
.ELD- +he will m%s! *e pro*a!ed &or !here is no! s%ch
re,%iremen!. It is enough that only the testato& signs
in the end.
! m%s! *e no!ed !ha! !he law %ses !he !erms
a!!es!ed and s%*scri*ed. Attestation consis!s in
wi!nessing !he !es!a!orEs e6ec%!ion o& !he will in order !o
see and !a$e no!e men!ally !ha! !hose !hings are, done
which !he s!a!%!e re,%ires &or !he e6ec%!ion o& a will and
!ha! !he signa!%re o& !he !es!a!or e6is!s as a &ac!. -n !he
o!her hand, subs$&ition is !he signing o& !he wi!nessesE
names %pon !he same paper &or !he p%rpose o&
den!i&ica!ion o& s%ch paper as !he will which was
e6ec%!ed *y !he !es!a!or. nso&ar as !he re,%iremen! o&
s%*scrip!ion is concerned, i! is o%r considered view !ha!
!he will in !his case was s%*scri*ed in a manner which
&%lly sa!is&ies !he p%rpose o& iden!i&ica!ion.
+he o*"ec!s o& a!!es!a!ion and o& s%*scrip!ion were
&%lly me! and sa!is&ied in !he presen! case when !he
ins!r%men!al wi!nesses signed a! !he le&! margin o& !he
sole page which con!ains all !he !es!amen!ary
disposi!ions, especially so when !he will was properly
den!i&ied *y s%*scri*ing wi!ness Ficen!e +im$ang !o *e
!he same will e6ec%!ed *y !he !es!a!ri6. +here was no
,%es!ion o& &ra%d or s%*s!i!%!ion *ehind !he ,%es!ioned
order.
+he SC no!iced !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se &ailed !o
s!a!e !he n%m*er o& pages %sed in wri!ing !he will. S%ch is
no! a &a!al de&ec! *eca%se !he n%m*er o& pages is easily
discerni*le &or !here are only 2 pages.
,he a$<no/ledge2ent itself states that H,his Last
Will and ,esta2ent $onsists of 4 ages in$luding this
age.I ,he&e is substantial $o2lian$e.
%A'CIA *s. LACUES,A
.ovem*er 25, 15?1
+AC,S- ! was alleged !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se is
&a!ally de&ec!ive &or &ailing !o s!a!e !ha! An!ero ca%sed A!!y.
Javier !o wri!e !he !es!a!or=s name %nder his e6press
direc!ion.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e denied. When the testato& e1&essly
$aused anothe& to sign the fo&2e&=s na2e" this fa$t
2ust be &e$ited in the attestation $lause. Othe&/ise"
the /ill is fatally defe$ti*e.
#AYAD *s. ,OLEN,INO
Jan%ary 1?, 15(1
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was denied on !he gro%nd
!ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se was no! in con&ormi!y wi!h !he
re,%iremen!s o& law in !ha! i! is no! s!a!ed !herein !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6 ca%sed A!!y. Almario !o wri!e her name a! her
e6press direc!ion.
+he evidence es!a*lishes !he &ac! !ha! Beoncia, !he
deceden!, assis!ed *y A!!y. Almario placed her !h%m* mar$
on each and every page o& !he ,%es!ioned will and !ha! said
a!!orney merely wro!e her name !o indica!e !he place where
she placed said !h%m* mar$.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e o& !he will m%s! *e allowed. Atty. Al2a&io
did not sign fo& the testat&i1. She signed fo& la$ing he&
thu2b 2a&< on ea$h and e*e&y age the&eof. AA s!a!%!e
re,%iring a will !o *e EsignedE is sa!is&ied i& !he signa!%re is
made *y !he !es!a!orEs mar$.A ! is clear, !here&ore, !ha! i! was
no! necessary !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se in ,%es!ion sho%ld
s!a!e !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 re,%es!ed A!!orney Almario !o sign her
name inasm%ch as !he !es!ra!ri6 signed !he will in ,%es!ion in
accordance wi!h law.
6ALLO'ES *s. EN,E'INO
B@ 9291(
.ELD- It is not essential to state in the attestation
$lause that the e&son delegated by the testato& to sign
in his behalf did so in the &esen$e of the testato&. ! is
eno%gh !ha! i! *e proved in co%r! !ha! !his was wha!
happened.
UY COJUE *s. SIOCA
May (1, 1522
+AC,S- +he a!!es!a!ion cla%se does no! s!a!e !he n%m*er o&
pages con!ained in !he will nor does i! s!a!e !ha! !he
wi!nesses signed in !he presence o& each o!her. .ei!her do
!hese &ac!s appear in any o!her par! o& !he will.
.ELD- S!a!%!es prescri*ing !he &ormali!ies !o *e o*served in
!he e6ec%!ion o& wills are very s!ric!ly cons!r%ed.
A /ill should not be &obated unless in its e1e$ution
he&e has been a st&i$t $o2lian$e /ith all the &e0uisites
&es$&ibed by la/. A s!a!emen! in !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se
will a&&ord more sa!is&ac!ory evidence o& !he &ac! !o *e proven.
+he 2 de&ec!s no!ed in !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& !he
alleged will renders i! n%ll and void and !ha! i! canno! *e
admi!!ed !o pro*a!e.
SAOO *s. JUIN,ANA
/ecem*er 18, 152?
+AC,S- n !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se !here is no s!a!emen! !ha!
!he wi!nesses !o !he will have signed on !he le&! margin o&
each page o& !he will in !he presence o& !he !es!a!ri6.
.ELD- S%ch a*sence n%lli&ies !he will. 7ro*a!e is denied.
,he &e0ui&e2ent that the attestation $lause 2ust $ontain
the state2ent that the /itnesses signed in the &esen$e
of ea$h othe& is i2e&ati*e and non>$o2lian$e /ith it
annuls the /ill. n order !o ins%re !he a%!hen!ici!y o& a will,
which is !he o*"ec! o& !he law, i! is "%s! as impor!an!, i& no! !he
mos! impor!an!, !ha! !he wi!nesses sho%ld sign in !he
presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& each o!her.
%U(BAN *s. %O'OC.E
March (, 1524
+AC,S- +he will did no! con!ain an a!!es!a!ion cla%se s!a!ing
!ha! !he !es!a!or and !he wi!nesses signed all !he pages o& !he
will. 0a2o "s 3uintana and &ay"e "s 4o$al were ci!ed.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e o& !he will is denied.
n !he case o& 0a2o "s 3uintana 0ci!ing 5y 6o1ue "s
0ioca#, i! was decided !ha! an a!!es!a!ion cla%se which does
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no! reci!e !ha! !he wi!nesses signed !he will and each and
every page !hereo& on !he le&! margin in !he presence o&
!he !es!a!or is de&ec!ive, and s%ch a de&ec! ann%ls !he will.
n !he case o& &ay"e "s 4o$al, i! was held !ha! !he
&ac! !ha! !he !es!a!or and !he wi!nesses signed each and
every page o& !he will can *e proved also *y !he mere
e6amina!ion o& !he signa!%res appearing on !he doc%men!
i!sel&, and !he omission !o s!a!e s%ch eviden! &ac! does no!
invalida!e !he will.
SC adop!ed and rea&&irmed !he decision in !he case
o& 0a2o "s 3uintana, and !o !he e6!en! necessary,
modi&ied !he decision in &ay"e "s 4o$al &or !he &ollowing
reasons#
1. &ay"e was conc%rred ye! 0a2o only
had 1 &ormal dissen!
2. 0a2o is s%*se,%en! in poin! o& !ime
since i! was prom%lga!ed in 152?, while .ayve
was in 1529
3. +he 0a2o decision is *elieved more
nearly !o con&orm !o !he applica*le provisions o&
!he law.
<ence, &ollowing !he case o& 0a2o "s 3uintana, the
absen$e of attestation $lause stating that the testato&
and the /itnesses signed all the ages of the /ill
nullifies the /ill.
JUIN,O *s. (O'A,A
March (, 1524
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he
&ollowing gro%nds !ha! !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& said will
does no! s!a!e#
1. !he n%m*er o& pages o& !he will
2. !ha! each and every page o& !he will was signed
*y !he !es!a!ors in !he presence o& !he wi!nesses
(. !ha! !he wi!nesses signed !he same in !he
presence o& !he !es!a!ors and in !he presence o&
each o!her
! was alleged !ha! s%ch de&ec!s have *een c%red *y
oral evidence.
.ELD- +he disallowance o& !he will m%s! *e a&&irmed.
An attestation $lause /hi$h does not &e$ite that
the /itnesses signed the /ill and ea$h and e*e&y
age the&eof on the left 2a&gin in the &esen$e of the
testato& is defe$ti*e" and su$h defe$t annuls the /ill.
,he defe$ts in the attestation $lause $annot be
$u&ed by o&al e*iden$e. +he doc!rine o& !he co%r! wi!h
re&erence !o s!a!%!e o& &ra%ds is no! applica*le !o wills.
+he s!a!%!e o& &ra%ds rela!es !o con!rac! and agreemen!s.
+he s%*"ec! o& wills and !es!amen!s and !he &ormali!ies
s%rro%nding !heir e6ec%!ion are governed *y separa!e and
speci&ic provisions o& !he law.
CANEDA *s. CA
May 28, 155(
+AC,S- +he opposi!ors o& !he pro*a!e o& !he will
asser!ed !ha! !he will in ,%es!ion is n%ll and void &or !he
reason !ha! i!s a!!es!a!ion cla%se is &a!ally de&ec!ive since
i! &ails !o speci&ically s!a!e !ha! !he wi!nesses s%*scri*ed
!heir respec!ive signa!%res !o !he will in !he presence o&
!he !es!a!or and o& each o!her.
.ELD- A&ti$le 5F: &e0ui&es that the /itness should
both attest and subs$&ibe to the /ill in the &esen$e
of the testato& and of one anothe&. Attestation is !he
ac! o& senses, while s%*scrip!ion is !he ac! o& !he hand.
+he &ormer is men!al, !he la!!er mechanical, and !o a!!es!
a will is !o $now !ha! i! was p%*lished as s%ch, and !o
cer!i&y !he &ac!s re,%ired !o cons!i!%!e an ac!%al and legal
p%*lica!ionD *%! subs$&ition, on !he o!her hand, is only
!o wri!e on !he same paper !he names o& !he wi!nesses,
&or !he sole p%rpose o& iden!i&ica!ion.
)ha! is &airly apparen! %pon a care&%l reading o& !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se herein assailed is !he &ac! !ha! while i!
reci!es !ha! !he !es!a!or indeed signed !he will and all i!s
pages in !he presence o& !he !hree a!!es!ing wi!nesses
and s!a!es as well !he n%m*er o& pages !ha! were %sed,
the sa2e does not e1&essly state the&ein the
$i&$u2stan$e that said /itnesses subs$&ibed thei&
&ese$ti*e signatu&es to the /ill in the &esen$e of the
testato& and of ea$h othe&.
)ha! is !hen clearly lac$ing, in !he &inal logical analysis,
is !he s!a!emen! !ha! !he wi!nesses signed !he will and every
page !hereo& in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& one
ano!her.
+he a*sence o& !ha! s!a!emen! re,%ired *y law is a &a!al
de&ec! or imper&ec!ion which m%s! necessarily res%l! in !he
disallowance o& !he will !ha! is here so%gh! !o *e admi!!ed !o
pro*a!e.
CA%'O *s. CA%'O
April 25, 15?(
+AC,S- n !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& !he will, al!ho%gh !he
page con!aining !he same is signed *y !he wi!nesses on !he
le&!@hand margin, is no! signed *y !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses a!
!he *o!!om.
.ELD- +he will is no! valid.
+he attestation $lause is Aa memorand%m o& !he &ac!s
a!!ending !he e6ec%!ion o& !he willA re,%ired *y law !o *e
made *y !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses, and i! m%s! necessarily
*ear !heir signa!%res. An unsigned attestation $lause
$annot be $onside&ed as an a$t of the /itnesses" sin$e
the o2ission of thei& signatu&es at the botto2 the&eof
negati*es thei& a&ti$iation.
+he signa!%res on !he le&! margin o& !he will are only in
compliance wi!h !he legal manda!e !ha! !he will *e signed on
!he le&!@hand margin o& all i!s pages. & an a!!es!a!ion cla%se
no! signed *y !he !hree wi!nesses a! !he *o!!om !hereo&, *e
admi!!ed as s%&&icien!, i! wo%ld *e easy !o add s%ch cla%se !o
a will on a s%*se,%en! occasion and in !he a*sence o& !he
!es!a!or and any or all o& !he wi!nesses.
ABAN%AN CASE CA%'O CASE
+a$ts# A will consis!ed o& 2
pages. +he 1
s!
page is !he
disposi!ion signed *y !he
!es!a!or a! !he *o!!om.
Second page is !he
a!!es!a!ion signed *y !he
wi!nesses.
+a$ts# +he signa!%res
ins!ead a! !he *o!!om, !he
signa!%res were on !he
margin.
Issue# +here were no
signa!%res on !he le&!
margin. According !o !he
opposi!ors !he signa!%res
sho%ld also appear on !he
le&! margin.
Issue# !he signa!%res sho%ld
*e a! !he *o!!om so !ha!
!here were signa!%res on
!he le&! and a! !he *o!!om.
'uling# ! is eno%gh !ha! !he
signa!%res appear on each
and every page o& !he will.
+he p%rpose here is !o
iden!i&y !ha! indeed !he
!es!a!or and !he wi!nesses
signed !he will.
.o
dissen!ing opinion
'uling# +he main !e6! o&
Cagro v. Cagro, i! was
considered a Fa!al de&ec! *y
!he S%preme Co%r!.
According !o !he SC, !hese
signa!%res in order !o *e in
compliance wi!h
re,%iremen! o& !he law,
aside &rom signa!%res on !he
le&! margin, yo% sho%ld s!ill
sign a! !he *o!!om.
<owever, !here were
s!rong dissen!ing opinions
!o !he e&&ec! !ha! !o re,%ire
!ha! !he signa!%res o& !he
wi!nesses aside &rom !he le&!
margin sho%ld also appear
a! !he *o!!om is +--
+CC<.CAB. ! will no!
serve !he p%rpose o& !he law
*eca%se wha! is impor!an! is
!ha! !he signa!%re sho%ld
appear on each and every
page and !his p%rpose is
accomplished *y a&&i6ing !he
signa!%re on !he le&!.
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Year : 2008-2009
LI( *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 28, 1551
+AC,S- Bim was charged &or commi!!ing !he crime o&
es!a&a &or de&ra%ding S%arez. Bim main!ains !ha! she
canno! *e lia*le &or es!a!e. According !o her, !he real
agreemen! *e!ween her and S%arez was a sale on credi!
*eca%se she did no! sign on !he *lan$ space provided &or
!he signa!%re o& person receiving !he "ewelry *%! a! !he
%pper por!ion immedia!ely *elow !he descrip!ion o& !he
i!ems !a$en.
.ELD- +he momen! she a&&i6ed her signa!%re !hereon,
Bim *ecame *o%nd *y all !he !erms s!ip%la!ed in !he
receip!. She opened hersel& !o all !he legal o*liga!ions
!ha! may arise &rom !heir *reach.
,he&e is only one tye of legal inst&u2ent /he&e
the la/ st&i$tly &es$&ibes the lo$ation of the
signatu&e of the a&ties the&eto. ,his is in the $ase of
nota&ial /ills found in A&ti$le 5F: of the Ci*il Code.
n !he case *e&ore %s, !he par!ies did no! e6ec%!e a
no!arial will *%! a simple con!rac! o& agency !o sell on
commission *asis, !h%s ma$ing !he posi!ion o& pe!i!ionerEs
signa!%re !here!o imma!erial.
(A%LASAN% *s. CABA,IN%AN
April 29, 222(
+AC,S- Ca*a!ingan e6ec%!ed in &avor o& her *ro!her a
/eed o& Condi!ional /ona!ion and 9 o!her /eeds o&
/ona!ion.
All deeds con!ained !herein !ha! !he dona!ion shall *e
e&&ec!ive %pon !he dea!h o& !he donor and !ha! i! shall *e
deemed a%!oma!ically rescinded i& !he donor s%rvives !he
donees.
.ELD- +he &ac! !ha! !he dona!ion was made Jin
considera!ion o& !he love and a&&ec!ion o& !he donorK and
!he s!ip%la!ion on rescission in case !he donee dies ahead
o& !he na!%re do no! con&irm !he na!%re o& !he dona!ion as
inter "i"os *eca%se !rans&ers mor!is ca%se may also *e
made &or !he same reason.
,he donation 2ade by Con$hita /as 2o&tis
$ausa. +o& failu&e to $o2ly /ith the fo&2alities of
/ills unde& A&ti$le 5F: and 5F;" the donations $annot
be gi*en effe$t.
+he deeds in ,%es!ion al!ho%gh ac$nowledged *e&ore
a no!ary p%*lic o& !he donor and !he donee, !he
doc%men!s were no! e6ec%!ed in !he manner provided
%nder Ar!icle 82? and 821. +he disposi!ions are void.
A',ICLE 5F;. Cvery will m%s! *e ac$nowledged
*e&ore a no!ary p%*lic *y !he !es!a!or and !he wi!nesses.
+he no!ary p%*lic shall no! *e re,%ired !o re!ain a copy o&
!he will, or &ile ano!her wi!h !he o&&ice o& !he Cler$ o& Co%r!.
0n3
%A'CIA *s. %A,C.ALIAN
.ovem*er 2?, 1514
+AC,S- +he allowance o& !he will o& :a!chalian was
denied on !he gro%nd !ha! !he a!!es!ing wi!nesses did no!
ac$nowledge i! *e&ore a no!ary p%*lic as re,%ired *y law.
.ELD- An e6amina!ion o& !he doc%men! shows !ha! !he
same was ac$nowledged *e&ore a no!ary p%*lic *y !he
!es!a!or *%! no! *y !he ins!r%men!al wi!nesses.
Compliance wi!h !he re,%iremen! con!ained in Ar!icle
821 !o !he e&&ec! !ha! a /ill 2ust be a$<no/ledged
befo&e a nota&y ubli$ by the testato& and also by the
/itnesses is indisensable fo& its *alidity. As !he
doc%men! %nder considera!ion does no! comply wi!h !his
re,%iremen!, i! is o*vio%s !ha! !he same may no! *e
pro*a!ed.
6A7ELLANA *s. LEDES(A
54 7<B 2?8
+AC,S- +he opposi!ion !o !he pro*a!e o& !he will o&
Apolinaria is &o%nded on ( speci&ic iss%es. -ne o& !he
iss%es is whe!her !he ac$nowledgmen! cla%se was signed
and !he no!arial seal a&&i6ed *y !he no!ary wi!ho%! !he
presence o& !he !es!a!ri6 and !he wi!nesses
.ELD- Whethe& o& not the nota&y signed the $e&tifi$ation
of a$<no/ledg2ent in the &esen$e of the testat&i1 and
the /itnesses does not affe$t the *alidity of the $odi$il.
+he new Civil Code does no! re,%ire !ha! !he signing o& !he
!es!a!or, wi!nesses and no!ary sho%ld *e accomplished in
one single ac!.
)hile !es!a!or and wi!nesses m%s! sign in !he presence
o& each o!her, all !ha! is !herea&!er re,%ired is !ha! Aevery will
m%s! *e ac$nowledged *e&ore a no!ary p%*lic *y !he !es!a!or
and !he wi!nessesA 0Ar!icle 8213D i.e., !ha! !he la!!er sho%ld
avow !o !he cer!i&ying o&&icer !he a%!hen!ici!y o& !heir
signa!%res and !he vol%n!ariness o& !heir ac!ions in e6ec%!ing
!he !es!amen!ary disposi!ion. +his was done in !his case.
+he s%*se,%en! signing and sealing *y !he no!ary o& his
cer!i&ica!ion !ha! !he !es!amen! was d%ly ac$nowledged *y !he
par!icipan!s !herein is no par! o& !he ac$nowledgmen! i!sel&
nor o& !he !es!amen!ary ac!. <ence, !heir separa!e e6ec%!ion
o%! o& !he presence o& !he !es!a!ri6 and her wi!nesses can no!
*e said !o viola!e !he r%le !ha! !es!amen!s sho%ld *e
comple!ed wi!ho%! in!err%p!ion.
C'U) *s. 7ILLASO'
.ovem*er 21, 154(
.ELD- +he las! will and !es!amen! in ,%es!ion was no!
e6ec%!ed in accordance wi!h law. ,he nota&y ubli$ befo&e
/ho2 the /ill /as a$<no/ledged $annot be $onside&ed
as the thi&d inst&u2ental /itness sin$e he $annot
a$<no/ledge befo&e hi2self his ha*ing signed the /ill.
+o a$<no/ledge befo&e means !o avow, !o own as gen%ine,
!o assen!, !o admi!@, and A*e&oreA means in &ron! or preceding
in space or ahead o&.
+his canno! *e done *eca%se he canno! spli! his
personali!y in!o !wo so !ha! one will appear *e&ore !he o!her
!o ac$nowledge his par!icipa!ion. +ha! &%nc!ion wo%ld *e
de&ea!ed i& !he no!ary p%*lic were one o& !he a!!es!ing or
ins!r%men!al wi!nesses. For !hen, he wo%ld *e in!eres!ed in
s%s!aining !he validi!y o& !he will as i! direc!ly involves himsel&
and !he validi!y o& his own ac!. ! wo%ld place him in an
inconsis!en! posi!ion.
F%r!hermore, !he &%nc!ion o& a no!ary p%*lic is, among
o!hers, !o g%ard agains! any illegal or immoral arrangemen!s
wo%ld *e !hwar!ed.
%ON)ALES *s. CA
May 2?, 1545
+AC,S- Responden! co%r! &o%nd !ha! A!!y. 7araiso was no!
previo%sly &%rnished wi!h !he names and residence
cer!i&ica!es o& !he wi!nesses as !o ena*le him !o !ype s%ch
da!a in!o !he doc%men!, which !he pe!i!ioner assails as
con!radic!ory and irreconcila*le wi!h !he s!a!emen! o& !ha!
A!!y. 7araiso was handed a lis! 0con!aining !he names o& !he
wi!nesses and !heir respec!ive residence cer!i&ica!es3
immedia!ely %pon !heir arrival in !he law o&&ice *y sa*el
:a*riel 0deceased3 and !his was corro*ora!ed *y A!!y.
7araiso himsel& who !es!i&ied !ha! i! was only on said
occasion !ha! he received s%ch lis! &rom sa*el :a*riel
.ELD- Whethe& Atty. #a&aiso /as &e*iously fu&nished
/ith the na2es and &esiden$e $e&tifi$ates of the
/itnesses on a &io& o$$asion o& on the *e&y o$$asion
and date in A&il 8:" 8B;8 /hen the /ill /as e1e$uted" is
of no 2o2ent fo& su$h data aea& in the nota&ial
a$<no/ledg2ent o& .o!ary 7%*lic Cipriano 7araiso,
s%*scri*ed and sworn !o *y !he wi!nesses on April 1?, 1511
&ollowing !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se d%ly e6ec%!ed and signed on
!he same occasion, April 1?, 1511. And since !he doc%men!
is a no!arial will d%ly ac$nowledged *y !he !es!a!ri6 and !he
wi!nesses *e&ore a no!ary p%*lic, !he same is a p%*lic
doc%men! e6ec%!ed and a!!es!ed !hro%gh !he in!erven!ion o&
!he no!ary p%*lic and as s%ch p%*lic doc%men! is evidence o&
!he &ac!s in clear, %ne,%ivocal manner !herein e6pressed. !
has in i!s &avor !he &esu2tion of &egula&ity. +o con!radic!
all !hese, !here m%s! *e evidence !ha! is clear, convincing
and more !han merely preponderan!. +here is no s%ch
evidence poin!ed *y pe!i!ioner in !he case a! *ar.
%ABUCAN *s. CA
23
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
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Jan%ary 28, 1582
+AC,S- +he pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o& a will was dismissed
on !he gro%nd !ha! i! does no! *ear a !hir!y@cen!avo
doc%men!ary s!amp.
.ELD- +he dismissal o& !he pe!i!ion was no! proper.
)ha! !he pro*a!e co%r! sho%ld have done was !o &e0ui&e
the etitione& o& &oonent to affi1 the &e0uisite thi&ty>
$enta*o do$u2enta&y sta2 to the nota&ial
a$<no/ledg2ent of the /ill /hi$h is the ta1able
o&tion of that do$u2ent. A&!er all, !he doc%men!ary
s!amp may *e a&&i6ed a! !he !ime !he !a6a*le doc%men! is
presen!ed in evidence.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ LEDES(A *s. LEDES(A
J%ne (2, 15??
.ELD- ,he testato& and the inst&u2ental /itnesses
do not ha*e to 2a<e the a$<no/ledg2ent in the
&esen$e of one anothe&. +his is re,%ired only in
a!!es!a!ion, no! in !he ac$nowledgmen!.
A',ICLE 5F3. & !he !es!a!or *e dea&, or a dea&@m%!e,
he m%s! personally read !he will, i& a*le !o do soD
o!herwise, he shall designa!e !wo persons !o read i! and
comm%nica!e !o him, in some prac!ica*le manner, !he
con!en!s !hereo&. 0n3
A',ICLE 5F5. & !he !es!a!or is *lind, !he will shall *e
read !o him !wiceD once, *y one o& !he s%*scri*ing
wi!nesses, and again, *y !he no!ary p%*lic *e&ore whom
!he will is ac$nowledged. 0n3
AL7A'ADO *s. %A7IOLA
Sep!em*er 19, 155(
+AC,S- +he !es!a!or did no! read !he &inal dra&! o& !he will
himsel&. ns!ead, priva!e responden!, as !he lawyer who
dra&!ed !he 8@paged doc%men!, read !he same alo%d in
!he presence o& !he !es!a!or, !he ( ins!r%men!al wi!nesses
and !he no!ary p%*lic. +he la!!er 9 &ollowed !he reading
wi!h !heir own respec!ive copies previo%sly &%rnished
!hem.
Said will was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e. Ba!er on, a codicil
was e6ec%!ed, and *y !ha! !ime, !he !es!a!or was already
s%&&ering &rom gla%coma. 8%! !he disinheri!ance and
revoca!ory cla%ses were %nchanged. As in !he case o& !he
no!arial will, !he !es!a!or did no! personally read !he &inal
dra&! o& !he codicil. ns!ead, i! was priva!e responden! who
read i! alo%d in his presence and in !he presence o& !he
!hree ins!r%men!al wi!nesses 0same as !hose o& !he
no!arial will3 and !he no!ary p%*lic who &ollowed !he
reading %sing !heir own copies.
.ELD- A&ti$le 5F5 not only alies to blind testato&s"
but also to those /ho" fo& one &eason o& anothe&" a&e
in$aable of &eading thei& /ills. <ence, !he will sho%ld
have *een read *y !he no!ary p%*lic and an ins!r%men!al
wi!ness. <owever, !he spiri! *ehind !he law was served
!ho%gh !he le!!er was no!. n !his case, !here was
s%*s!an!ial compliance. Substantial $o2lian$e is
a$$etable where !he p%rpose o& !he law has *een
sa!is&ied, !he reason *eing !ha! !he solemni!ies
s%rro%nding !he e6ec%!ion o& wills are in!ended !o pro!ec!
!he !es!a!or &rom all $inds o& &ra%d and !ric$ery *%! are
never in!ended !o *e so rigid and in&le6i*le as !o des!roy
!he !es!amen!ary privilege.
n !his case, priva!e responden! read !he !es!a!orEs
will and codicil alo%d in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or, his
!hree ins!r%men!al wi!nesses, and !he no!ary p%*lic. 7rior
and s%*se,%en! !here!o, !he !es!a!or a&&irmed, %pon *eing
as$ed, !ha! !he con!en!s read corresponded wi!h his
ins!r%c!ions. -nly !hen did !he signing and
ac$nowledgemen! !a$e place.
%A'CIA *s. 7ASJUE)
(2 SCRA 952
+AC,S- +he opposi!ors challenged !he correc!ness o& !he
admission o& !he will &or pro*a!e on !he gro%nd !ha! !he
!es!a!ri6= eyesigh! was so poor and de&ec!ive !ha! she co%ld
no! have read !he provisions o& !he will, con!rary !o !he
!es!imonies o& wi!nesses. +he oph!halmologis! !es!i&ied !ha!
!he vision o& !he !es!a!ri6 remained mainly &or viewing dis!an!
o*"ec!s and no! &or reading prin!.
.ELD- Agains! !he *ac$gro%nd o& de&ec!ive eyesigh! o& !he
alleged !es!a!ri6, !he appearance o& !he 1512 will, ac,%ires
s!ri$ing signi&icance. ;pon, i!s &ace, !he !es!amen!ary
provisions, !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se and ac$nowledgmen! were
crammed !oge!her in!o a single shee! o& paper, so m%ch so
!ha! !he words had !o *e wri!!en very close !o !he !op, *o!!om
and !wo sides o& !he paper, leaving no margin wha!soeverD
!he word AandA had !o *e wri!!en *y !he sym*ol AP,A
apparen!ly !o save on space. 7lainly, !he !es!amen! was no!
prepared wi!h any regard &or !he de&ec!ive vision o& /oQa
:liceria. +he !ypographical errors remained %ncorrec!ed
!here*y indica!ing !ha! !he e6ec%!ion !hereo& m%s! have *een
charac!erized *y has!e. It is diffi$ult to unde&stand that so
i2o&tant a do$u2ent $ontaining the final disosition of
one@s /o&ldly ossessions should be e2bodied in an
info&2al and untidily /&itten inst&u2entM o& that the
gla&ing selling e&&o&s should ha*e es$aed he& noti$e if
she had a$tually &etained the ability to &ead the
u&o&ted /ill and had done so.
)here Ar!icle 828 is no! complied wi!h, !he said will
s%&&ers &rom in&irmi!y !ha! a&&ec!s i!s d%e e6ec%!ion.
A',ICLE 5FB. n !he a*sence o& *ad &ai!h, &orgery, or
&ra%d, or %nd%e and improper press%re and in&l%ence, de&ec!s
and imper&ec!ions in !he &orm o& a!!es!a!ion or in !he lang%age
%sed !herein shall no! render !he will invalid i& i! is proved !ha!
!he will was in &ac! e6ec%!ed and a!!es!ed in s%*s!an!ial
compliance wi!h all !he re,%iremen!s o& ar!icle 82?. 0n3
AL7A'ADO *s. %A7IOLA
Sep!em*er 19, 155(
.ELD- Substantial $o2lian$e is a$$etable /he&e the
u&ose of the la/ has been satisfied, !he reason *eing
!ha! !he solemni!ies s%rro%nding !he e6ec%!ion o& wills are
in!ended !o pro!ec! !he !es!a!or &rom all $inds o& &ra%d and
!ric$ery *%! are never in!ended !o *e so rigid and in&le6i*le as
!o des!roy !he !es!amen!ary privilege.
+he !es!a!or a&&irmed, %pon *eing as$ed, !ha! !he
con!en!s read corresponded wi!h his ins!r%c!ions. -nly !hen
did !he signing and ac$nowledgemen! !a$e place. +here is no
evidence, and pe!i!ioner does no! so allege, !ha! !he con!en!s
o& !he will and codicil were no! s%&&icien!ly made $nown and
comm%nica!ed !o !he !es!a!or.
CANEDA *s. CA
May 28, 155(
.ELD- )ha! is clearly lac$ing is !he s!a!emen! !ha! !he
wi!nesses signed !he will and every page !hereo& in !he
presence o& !he !es!a!or and o& one ano!her.
,he absen$e of that state2ent &e0ui&ed by la/ is a
fatal defe$t o& i2e&fe$tion /hi$h 2ust ne$essa&ily
&esult in the disallo/an$e of the /ill. Su$h defe$t in the
attestation $lause ob*iously $annot be $ha&a$te&iKed as
2e&ely in*ol*ing the fo&2 of the /ill o& the language
used the&ein /hi$h /ould /a&&ant the ali$ation of the
substantial $o2lian$e &ule.
;nder Ar!icle 825, the defe$ts o& i2e&fe$tions 2ust
only be /ith &ese$t to the fo&2 of the attestation o& the
language e2loyed the&ein. S%ch de&ec!s or imper&ec!ions
wo%ld no! render a will invalid sho%ld i! *e proved !ha! !he will
was really e6ec%!ed and a!!es!ed in compliance wi!h Ar!icle
82?. ,he defe$t is not only in the fo&2 o& the language of
the attestation $lause but the total absen$e of a se$ifi$
ele2ent &e0ui&ed *y Ar!icle 82? !o *e speci&ically s!a!ed in
!he a!!es!a!ion cla%se o& a will. +he r%le on s%*s!an!ial
compliance in Ar!icle 825 canno! *e invo$ed or relied on *y
responden!s since i! pres%pposes !ha! !he de&ec!s in !he
a!!es!a!ion cla%se can *e c%red or s%pplied *y !he !e6! o& !he
will or a considera!ion o& ma!!ers apparen! !here&rom which
24
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
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wo%ld provide !he da!a no! e6pressed in !he a!!es!a!ion
cla%se or &rom which i! may necessarily *e gleaned or
clearly in&erred !ha! !he ac!s no! s!a!ed in !he omi!!ed
!e6!%al re,%iremen!s were ac!%ally complied wi!h in !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he will. n o!her words, !he de&ec!s m%s! *e
remedied *y in!rinsic evidence s%pplied *y !he will i!sel&.
CA%'O *s. CA%'O
April 25, 15?(
+AC,S- +he signa!%res o& !he !hree wi!nesses !o !he will
do no! appear a! !he *o!!om o& !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se,
al!ho%gh !he page con!aining !he same is signed *y !he
wi!nesses on !he le&!@hand margin.
.ELD- An unsigned attestation $lause $annot be
$onside&ed as an a$t of the /itnesses" sin$e the
o2ission of thei& signatu&es at the botto2 the&eof
negati*es thei& a&ti$iation.
+he signa!%res on !he le&!@hand margin do no
con&orm s%*s!an!ially !o !he law. Said signa!%res are in
compliance wi!h !he legal manda!e !ha! !he will *e signed
on !he le&!@hand margin o& all i!s pages. & an a!!es!a!ion
cla%se no! signed *y !he !hree wi!nesses a! !he *o!!om
!hereo&, *e admi!!ed as s%&&icien!, i! wo%ld *e easy !o add
s%ch cla%se !o a will on a s%*se,%en! occasion and in !he
a*sence o& !he !es!a!or and any or all o& !he wi!nesses.
,ABOADA *s. 'OSAL
.ovem*er ?, 158(
.ELD- ;nder Ar!icle 82?, !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se sho%ld
s!a!e !he n%m*er o& pages %sed %pon which !he will is
wri!!en. -!herwise, !he will *ecomes void.
n !ha! case, !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se &ailed !o s!a!e !he
n%m*er o& pages %sed in !he will. But the SC uheld the
*alidity of the /ill be$ause e*en if it /as not stated in
the attestation $lause be$ause it /as $u&ed by the
&eason that it /as stated in the a$<no/ledg2ent
o&tion of the /ill. +he de&ec! is s!ill c%red.
7ILLA+LO' *s. ,OBIAS
?( 7<B 419
+AC,S- +he )ill was ,%es!ioned *eca%se !he a!!es!a!ion
cla%se was wri!!en on a separa!e page even i& !here was
s!ill a very *ig space a! !he *o!!om o& !he las! page o& !he
will. A! !he end o& !he disposi!ion, !here was s!ill a large
space. <owever, !he a!!es!a!ion cla%se was wri!!en on a
separa!e shee!.
.ELD- Libe&al inte&&etation is alied sin$e these
a&e only defe$ts in fo&2. +he will is considered valid.
A',ICLE 58F. A person may e6ec%!e a holographic
will which m%s! *e en!irely wri!!en, da!ed, and signed *y
!he hand o& !he !es!a!or himsel&. ! is s%*"ec! !o no o!her
&orm, and may *e made in or o%! o& !he 7hilippines, and
need no! *e wi!nessed. 0148, 188a3
'OPAS *s. DE 6ESUS" 6'.
Jan%ary 28, 158?
+AC,S- +he will is da!ed AFC8.'11A and s!a!es# A+his is
my will which wan! !o *e respec!ed al!ho%gh i! is no!
wri!!en *y a lawyer. . . A
.ELD- +he li*eral cons!r%c!ion o& !he will sho%ld prevail.
As a gene&al &ule" the EdateE in a holog&ahi$ Will
should in$lude the day" 2onth" and yea& of its
e1e$ution. .o/e*e&" /hen as in the $ase at ba&" the&e
is no aea&an$e of f&aud" bad faith" undue influen$e
and &essu&e and the authenti$ity of the Will is
established and !he only iss%e is whe!her or no! !he da!e
AFC8.'11A appearing on !he holographic )ill is a valid
compliance wi!h Ar!icle 812 o& !he Civil Code, pro*a!e o& !he
holographic )ill sho%ld *e allowed %nder !he principle o&
s%*s!an!ial compliance.
LAB'ADO' *s. CA
April ?, 1552
+AC,S- +he 1
s!
paragraph o& !he 2
nd
page o& !he holographic
will provides#
7And this is the day in which we agreed that we are
ma/ing the partitioning and assigning the respecti"e
assignment of the said fishpond, and this being in the month
of 4arch, 87th day, in the year 8998, and this decision and
or instruction of mine is the matter to be followed And the
one who made this writing is no other than 4:(:6I;
(A'RA<;R, their father7
.ELD- ,he la/ does not se$ify a a&ti$ula& lo$ation
/he&e the date should be la$ed in the /ill. ,he only
&e0ui&e2ents a&e that the date be in the /ill itself and
e1e$uted in the hand of the testato&. +hese re,%iremen!s
are presen! in !he s%*"ec! will.
+he in!en!ion !o show 14 March 1518 as !he da!e o& !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he will is plain &rom !he !enor o& !he s%cceeding
words o& !he paragraph. +he will was no! an agreemen! *%! a
%nila!eral ac! o& Melecio Ba*rador who plainly $new !ha! wha!
he was e6ec%!ing was a will.
A',ICLE 588. n !he pro*a!e o& a holographic will, i! shall
*e necessary !ha! a! leas! one wi!ness who $nows !he
handwri!ing and signa!%re o& !he !es!a!or e6plici!ly declare
!ha! !he will and !he signa!%re are in !he handwri!ing o& !he
!es!a!or. & !he will is con!es!ed, a! leas! !hree o& s%ch
wi!nesses shall *e re,%ired.
n !he a*sence o& any compe!en! wi!ness re&erred !o in
!he preceding paragraph, and i& !he co%r! deem i! necessary,
e6per! !es!imony may *e resor!ed !o. 0151a3
A)AOLA *s. SIN%SON
A%g%s! ?, 1512
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e was denied on !he gro%nd !ha! %nder
Ar!icle 811 o& !he Civil Code, !he proponen! m%s! presen! (
wi!nesses who co%ld declare !ha! !he will and !he signa!%re
are in !he wri!ing o& !he !es!a!ri6, !he pro*a!e *eing con!es!edD
and *eca%se !he lone wi!ness presen!ed *y !he proponen!
Adid no! prove s%&&icien!ly !ha! !he *ody o& !he will was wri!!en
in !he handwri!ing o& !he !es!a!ri6.A
.ELD- Sin$e the authenti$ity of the /ill /as not
$ontested" he /as not &e0ui&ed to &odu$e 2o&e than
one /itnessM but e*en if the genuineness of the
holog&ahi$ /ill /e&e $ontested" A&ti$le 588 $an not be
inte&&eted as to &e0ui&e the $o2ulso&y &esentation of
A /itnesses to identify the hand/&iting of the testato&"
unde& enalty of ha*ing the &obate denied. Since no
wi!ness may have *een presen! a! !he e6ec%!ion o& a
holographic will, none *eing re,%ired *y law, !he e6is!ence o&
wi!nesses possessing !he re,%isi!e ,%ali&ica!ions is a ma!!er
*eyond !he con!rol o& !he proponen!. +he ( wi!nesses m%s!
A$now !he handwri!ing and signa!%re o& !he !es!a!orA and can
declare A!ha! !he will and !he signa!%re are in !he handwri!ing
o& !he !es!a!orA. +here may *e no availa*le wi!ness
ac,%ain!ed wi!h !he !es!a!orEs handD or even i& so &amiliarized,
!he wi!nesses may *e %nwilling !o give a posi!ive opinion.
Compliance wi!h !he r%le o& paragraph 1 o& Ar!icle 811 may
!h%s *ecome an impossi*ili!y.
CODOY *s. CALU%AY
A%g%s! 12, 1555
+AC,S- ! is con!ended !ha! !he re,%iremen! %nder Ar!icle
811 which re,%ires a! leas! ( wi!nesses e6plici!ly declaring
!ha! !he signa!%re in !he will is !he gen%ine signa!%re o& !he
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!es!a!or &or !he pro*a!e o& a con!es!ed holographic will is
permissive.
.ELD- A&ti$le 588 of the Ci*il Code is 2andato&y. +he
word AshallA deno!es an impera!ive o*liga!ion and is
inconsis!en! wi!h !he idea o& discre!ion and !ha! !he
pres%mp!ion is !ha! !he word Ashall,A when %sed in a
s!a!%!e is manda!ory.A
Comparing !he signa!%re in !he holographic will and
!he signa!%res in several doc%men!s s%ch as !he
applica!ion le!!er &or pas!%re permi! and a le!!er, !he
s!ro$es are di&&eren!. n !he le!!ers, !here are con!in%o%s
&lows o& !he s!ro$es, evidencing !ha! !here is no hesi!a!ion
in wri!ing %nli$e !ha! o& !he holographic will. +he SC
canno! *e cer!ain !ha! !he holographic will was in !he
handwri!ing *y !he deceased.
Ma=am# A)aola and 6odoy are apparen!ly in con&lic!.
A)aola case provides !he ( wi!nesses no! impera!ive
*eca%se in !he &irs! place no wi!nesses are re,%ired in !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he holographic will. -n !he o!her hand,
6odoy case s!a!es !ha! i! is manda!ory *eca%se !he word
%sed in Ar!icle 811 is JshallK. ! means impera!ive. & !he
will is con!es!ed, !here is a s!rong possi*ili!y !ha! !he
wi!ness presen!ed migh! *e per"%red.
CODOY case prevails *eca%se i! was decided la!er
*y !he SC. 8%!, i& yo% are presen!ed wi!h &ac!s similar !o
!he case o& A)aola "s 0ingson in !a$ing !he *ar e6am,
!here migh! *e a possi*ili!y !ha! !he e6aminer wan!ed yo%
!o answer A)aola "s 0ingson. +o *e sa&e, yo% can also
ci!e !he case o& 6odoy.
ICASIANO *s. ICASIANO
J%ne (2, 1519
+AC,S- -pposi!ors in!rod%ced e6per! !es!imony !o !he
e&&ec! !ha! !he signa!%res o& !he !es!a!ri6 in !he d%plica!e
are no! gen%ine, nor were !hey wri!!en or a&&i6ed on !he
same occasion as !he original, and &%r!her aver !ha!
gran!ing !ha! !he doc%men!s were gen%ine, !hey were
e6ec%!ed !hro%gh mis!a$e and wi!h %nd%e in&l%ence and
press%re. ! was con!ended !ha! !he Co%r! is *o%nd *y !he
e6per! !es!imony as !o !he a%!hen!ici!y o& !he signa!%re o&
!he !es!a!ri6.
.ELD- .-, !he Co%r! is no! *o%nd *y s%ch e6per!
!es!imony. ,he oinion of e1e&t fo& oosito&s that
the signatu&es of the testat&i1 aealing in the
duli$ate o&iginal /e&e not /&itten by the sa2e hand"
lea*es the Cou&t un$on*in$ed" not 2e&ely be$ause it
is di&e$tly $ont&adi$ted by e1e&t (a&tin 'a2os fo&
the &oonents" but &in$ially be$ause of the au$ity
of the standa&ds used by hi2. +here was &ail%re !o
show convincingly !ha! !here are radical di&&erences !ha!
wo%ld "%s!i&y !he charge o& &orgery, !a$ing in!o acco%n! !he
advanced age o& !he !es!a!ri6, !he eviden! varia*ili!y o& her
signa!%res, and !he e&&ec! o& wri!ing &a!ig%e, !he d%plica!e
*eing signed righ! a&!er !he original. +hese &ac!ors were
no! disc%ssed *y !he e6per!.
'ODELAS *s. A'AN)A
/ecem*er 4, 1582
+AC,S- +he pe!i!ion was opposed on !he gro%nd !ha! !he
alleged holographic will i!sel&, and no! an alleged copy
!hereo&, m%s! *e prod%ced, o!herwise i! wo%ld prod%ce no
e&&ec!.
.ELD- A hotostati$ $oy o& 1e&o1 $oy of the
holog&ahi$ /ill 2ay be allo/ed be$ause $o2a&ison
$an be 2ade /ith the standa&d /&itings of the
testato&. Cviden!ly, !he pho!os!a!ic or 6ero6 copy o& !he
los! or des!royed holographic will may *e admi!!ed
*eca%se !hen !he a%!hen!ici!y o& !he handwri!ing o& !he
deceased can *e de!ermined *y !he pro*a!e co%r!.
'I7E'A *s. CA
/ecem*er 4, 1582
+AC,S- Jose, claiming !o *e !he only s%rviving legi!ima!e
son o& !he deceased Fenancio, &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he
iss%ance o& le!!ers o& adminis!ra!ion over FenancioEs es!a!e.
! was &o%nd !ha! Jose was no! !he son o& !he deceden! *%! o&
a di&&eren! Fenancio Rivera who was married !o Maria Fi!al.
+he Fenancio Rivera whose es!a!e was in ,%es!ion was
married !o Maria Jocson, *y whom he had 4 children,
incl%ding Adelaido.
As s%ch, i! was con!ended !ha! Jose has no personali!y
!o con!es! !he wills, and !h%s, have !he legal e&&ec! o&
re,%iring !he ( wi!nesses.
.ELD- +he e6is!ence and !here&ore also !he a%!hen!ici!y o&
!he holographic wills were ,%es!ioned *y Jose Rivera. +he
&law in !his arg%men! is !ha! Jose Rivera is no! !he son o& !he
deceased Fenancio Rivera whose es!a!e is in ,%es!ion.
<ence, being a 2e&e st&ange&" he had no e&sonality to
$ontest the /ills and his oosition the&eto did not ha*e
the legal effe$t of &e0ui&ing the th&ee /itnesses.
A',ICLE 584. n holographic wills, !he disposi!ions o& !he
!es!a!or wri!!en *elow his signa!%re m%s! *e da!ed and signed
*y him in order !o ma$e !hem valid as !es!amen!ary
disposi!ions. 0n3
A',ICLE 58A. )hen a n%m*er o& disposi!ions appearing
in a holographic will are signed wi!ho%! *eing da!ed, and !he
las! disposi!ion has a signa!%re and a da!e, s%ch da!e
valida!es !he disposi!ions preceding i!, wha!ever *e !he !ime
o& prior disposi!ions. 0n3
A',ICLE 589. n case o& any inser!ion, cancella!ion,
eras%re or al!era!ion in a holographic will, !he !es!a!or m%s!
a%!hen!ica!e !he same *y his &%ll signa!%re. 0n3
LALAW *s. 'ELO7A
Jan%ary 1?, 1552
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on !he gro%nd
!ha! i! con!ained al!era!ions, correc!ions, and inser!ions
wi!ho%! !he proper a%!hen!ica!ion *y !he &%ll signa!%re o& !he
!es!a!ri6 as re,%ired *y Ar!icle 819 o& !he Civil Code.
.ELD- -rdinarily, when a n%m*er o& eras%res, correc!ions,
and in!erlinea!ions made *y !he !es!a!or in a holographic will
have no! *een no!ed %nder his signa!%re, !he will is no!
!here*y invalida!ed as a whole, *%! a! mos! only as respec!s
!he par!ic%lar words erased, correc!ed or in!erlined.
<owever, /hen as in this $ase" the holog&ahi$ /ill
in disute had only one substantial &o*ision" /hi$h /as
alte&ed by substituting the o&iginal hei& /ith anothe&" but
/hi$h alte&ation did not $a&&y the &e0uisite of full
authenti$ation by the full signatu&e of the testato&" the
effe$t 2ust be that the enti&e /ill is *oided o& &e*o<ed fo&
the si2le &eason that nothing &e2ains in the /ill afte&
that /hi$h $ould &e2ain *alid.
+ha! change o& mind can nei!her *e given e&&ec! *eca%se
she &ailed !o a%!hen!ica!e i! in !he manner re,%ired *y law *y
a&&i6ing her &%ll signa!%re.
A6E'O *s. CA
Sep!em*er 1?, 1559
+AC,S- +he pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o& !he will was opposed on
!he gro%nd !ha! i! con!ained al!era!ions and correc!ions which
were no! d%ly signed *y deceden!.
.ELD- Ar!icle 81( o& !he .ew Civil Code shows !ha! i!s
re,%iremen! a&&ec!s !he validi!y o& !he disposi!ions con!ained
in !he holographic will, *%! no! i!s pro*a!e. & !he !es!a!or &ails
!o sign and da!e some o& !he disposi!ions, !he res%l! is !ha!
!hese disposi!ions canno! *e e&&ec!%a!ed. S%ch &ail%re,
however, does no! render !he whole !es!amen! void.
Bi$ewise, a holographic will can s!ill *e admi!!ed !o
pro*a!e, no!wi!hs!anding non@compliance wi!h !he provisions
o& Ar!icle 819.
Unless the unauthenti$ated alte&ations"
$an$ellations o& inse&tions /e&e 2ade on the date of the
holog&ahi$ /ill o& on testato&@s signatu&e" thei&
&esen$e does not in*alidate the /ill itself. ,he la$< of
authenti$ation /ill only &esult in disallo/an$e of su$h
$hanges.
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7EN,U'A *s. 7EN,U'A
121 7<B 11?5
0no! rela!ed !o Ar!icle 8193
.ELD- +he SC held !ha! !he will m%s! &irs! *e pro*a!ed
and !he provisions in !he will *e &ollowed, o!herwise !he
par!i!ion disregarding !he will is void, %nless !he will is
con!rary !o law.
+he pro*a!e o& !he will is essen!ial *eca%se#
1. +he law e6pressly re,%ires i!D
2. +he pro*a!e is a proceeding in remD
(. +he righ! o& a person !o dispose o& his proper!y
*y vir!%e o& a will may *e rendered n%ga!oryD and
9. +he a*sen! lega!ees and devisees or s%ch o&
!hem as may have no $nowledge o& !he will, co%ld *e
chea!ed o& !heir inheri!ance !hr% !he coll%sion o& some
o& !he heirs who migh! agree !o !he par!i!ion o& !he
es!a!e among !hemselves !o !he e6cl%sion o& o!hers.
,he&e is a need fo& the &obate of the /ill befo&e
a&tition" othe&/ise" the a&tition dis&ega&ding the /ill
is *oid.
%UE7A''A *s. %UE7A''A
Jan%ary (1, 15?1
0no! rela!ed !o Ar!icle 8193
.ELD- ;nder sec!ion 1 o& R%le 49, in rela!ion !o R%le 41,
if the de$edent left a /ill and no debts and the hei&s
and legatees desi&e to 2a<e an e1t&a!udi$ial a&tition
of the estate" they 2ust fi&st &esent that /ill to the
$ou&t fo& &obate and di*ide the estate in a$$o&dan$e
/ith the /ill. +hey may no! disregard !he provisions o&
!he will %nless !hose provisions are con!rary !o law.
.ei!her may !hey do away wi!h !he presen!a!ion o& !he will
!o !he co%r! &or pro*a!e, *eca%se s%ch s%ppression o& !he
will is con!rary !o law and p%*lic policy.
A',ICLE 58:. )hen a Filipino is in a &oreign co%n!ry,
he is a%!horized !o ma$e a will in any o& !he &orms
es!a*lished *y !he law o& !he co%n!ry in which he may *e.
S%ch will may *e pro*a!ed in !he 7hilippines. 0n3
A',ICLE 58;. +he will o& an alien who is a*road
prod%ces e&&ec! in !he 7hilippines i& made wi!h !he
&ormali!ies prescri*ed *y !he law o& !he place in which he
resides, or according !o !he &ormali!ies o*served in his
co%n!ry, or in con&ormi!y wi!h !hose which !his Code
prescri*es. 0n3
A',ICLE 583. A will made in !he 7hilippines *y a
ci!izen or s%*"ec! o& ano!her co%n!ry, which is e6ec%!ed in
accordance wi!h !he law o& !he co%n!ry o& which he is a
ci!izen or s%*"ec!, and which migh! *e proved and allowed
*y !he law o& his own co%n!ry, shall have !he same e&&ec!
as i& e6ec%!ed according !o !he laws o& !he 7hilippines. 0n3
(ICIANO *s. B'I(O
.ovem*er 1, 1529
+AC,S- +he appellan!Es opposi!ion is *ased on !he &ac!
!ha! !he par!i!ion in ,%es!ion p%!s in!o e&&ec! !he provisions
o& Joseph :. 8rimoEs will which are no! in accordance wi!h
!he laws o& his +%r$ish na!ionali!y. +he will provided !ha!
his proper!y *e disposed o& in accordance wi!h !he laws in
!he 7hilippines. -!herwise, i& rela!ives does no! respec!
s%ch wish, any disposi!ion &avora*le !o! !hem shall *e
ann%lled.
.ELD- +he +%r$ish laws sho%ld *e &ollowed.
<owever, !he opposi!or did no! prove !ha! said
!es!amen!ary disposi!ions are no! in accordance wi!h !he
+%r$ish laws, inasm%ch as he did no! presen! any
evidence showing wha! !he +%r$ish laws are on !he
ma!!er, and in !he a*sence o& evidence on s%ch laws,
they a&e &esu2ed to be the sa2e as those of the
#hiliines" follo/ing the DOC,'INE O+
#'OCESSUAL #'ESU(#,ION. ! has no! *een proved
in !hese proceedings wha! !he +%r$ish laws are.
! sho%ld *e no!ed !ha! !he condi!ion s!a!ed in !he will is
con!rary !o law *eca%se i! e6pressly ignores !he !es!a!orEs
na!ional law when s%ch na!ional law o& !he !es!a!or is !he one
!o govern his !es!amen!ary disposi!ions. Said condi!ion is
considered %nwri!!en.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ SUN,AY
J%ly (1, 15?9
+AC,S- A will was claimed !o have *een e6ec%!ed in Amoy,
China. +he iss%e was whe!her s%ch will can *e pro*a!ed
here in !he 7hilippines.
.ELD- +he &ac! !ha! !he m%nicipal dis!ric! co%r! o& Amoy,
China is a pro*a!e co%r! m%s! *e proved. +he law o& China
on proced%re in !he pro*a!e or allowance o& wills m%s! also
*e proved. +he legal re,%iremen!s &or !he e6ec%!ion o& a valid
will in China in 15(1 sho%ld also *e es!a*lished *y
compe!en! evidence. +here is no proo& on !hese poin!s.
In the absen$e of &oof that the 2uni$ial dist&i$t
$ou&t of A2oy is a &obate $ou&t and on the Chinese la/
of &o$edu&e in &obate 2atte&s" it 2ay be &esu2ed that
the &o$eedings in the 2atte& of &obating o& allo/ing a
/ill in the Chinese $ou&ts a&e the sa2e as those
&o*ided fo& in ou& la/s on the sub!e$t. ! is a proceeding
in rem and &or !he validi!y o& s%ch proceedings personal
no!ice or *y p%*lica!ion or *o!h !o all in!eres!ed par!ies m%s!
*e made. +he in!eres!ed par!ies in !he case were $nown !o
reside in !he 7hilippines. +he evidence shows !ha! no s%ch
no!ice was received *y !he in!eres!ed par!ies residing in !he
7hilippines. Conse,%en!ly, !he a%!hen!ica!ed !ranscrip!
o& proceedings held in !he m%nicipal dis!ric! co%r! o& Amoy,
China, canno! *e deemed and accep!ed as proceedings
leading !o !he pro*a!e or allowance o& a will and, !here&ore,
!he will re&erred !o !herein canno! *e allowed, &iled and
recorded *y a compe!en! co%r! o& !his co%n!ry.
A',ICLE 585. +wo or more persons canno! ma$e a will
"oin!ly, or in !he same ins!r%men!, ei!her &or !heir reciprocal
*ene&i! or &or !he *ene&i! o& a !hird person. 01153
DELA CE'NA *s. #O,O,
/ecem*er 2(, 1519
+AC,S- Spo%ses 8erna*e de la Cerna and :ervasia
Re*aca e6ec%!ed a "oin! las! will and !es!amen! where*y !hey
willed !ha! !he 2 parcels o& land ac,%ired !hey d%ring !heir
marriage *e given !o Man%ela, !heir niece.
+he will o& 8erna*e was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e *y &inal
order. +he will o& :ervasia was declared n%ll and void *y !he
CF &or *eing e6ec%!ed con!rary !o !he prohi*i!ion o& "oin!
wills.
.ELD- +he &inal decree o& !he pro*a!e o& !he will 8erna*e
has concl%sive e&&ec!. ,he e&&o& $o22itted by the &obate
$ou&t /as an e&&o& of la/" that should ha*e been
$o&&e$ted by aeal" but /hi$h did not affe$t the
!u&isdi$tion of the &obate $ou&t" no& the $on$lusi*e
effe$t of its final de$ision" ho/e*e& e&&oneous. A &inal
"%dgmen! rendered on a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& a will is
*inding %pon !he whole world.
8%! !he CA sho%ld have !a$en in!o acco%n! !ha! !he
pro*a!e decree co%ld only a&&ec! !he share o& !he deceased
h%s*and, 8erna*e de la Cerna.
! &ollows !ha! !he validi!y o& !he "oin! will, in so &ar as !he
es!a!e o& !he wi&e was concerned, m%s! *e, on her dea!h,
ree6amined and ad"%dica!ed de novo, since a "oin! will is
considered a separa!e will o& each !es!a!or.
+here&ore, !he %ndivided in!eres! o& :ervasia Re*aca
sho%ld pass %pon her dea!h !o her heirs in!es!a!e, and no!
e6cl%sively !o !he !es!amen!ary heir, %nless some o!her valid
will in her &avor is shown !o e6is!, or %nless she *e !he only
heir in!es!a!e o& said :ervasia.
A',ICLE 58B. )ills, prohi*i!ed *y !he preceding ar!icle,
e6ec%!ed *y Filipinos in a &oreign co%n!ry shall no! *e valid in
!he 7hilippines, even !ho%gh a%!horized *y !he laws o& !he
co%n!ry where !hey may have *een e6ec%!ed. 04((a3
SUBSEC,ION 9
Witnesses to Wills
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A',ICLE 54F. Any person o& so%nd mind and o& !he
age o& eigh!een years or more, and no! *lind, dea& or
d%m*, and a*le !o read and wri!e, may *e a wi!ness !o !he
e6ec%!ion o& a will men!ioned in ar!icle 82? o& !his Code.
0n3
A',ICLE 548. +he &ollowing are dis,%ali&ied &rom *eing
wi!nesses !o a will#
013 Any person no! domiciled in !he
7hilippinesD
023 +hose who have *een convic!ed o&
&alsi&ica!ion o& a doc%men!, per"%ry or &alse !es!imony.
0n3
C'U) *s. 7ILLASO'
.ovem*er 21, 154(
+AC,S- -& !he ( ins!r%men!al wi!nesses !here!o, A!!y.
+eves, Jr. is a! !he same !ime !he .o!ary 7%*lic *e&ore
whom !he will was s%pposed !o have *een ac$nowledged.
As !he (
rd
wi!ness is !he no!ary p%*lic himsel&, pe!i!ioner
arg%es !ha! !he res%l! is !ha! only 2 wi!nesses appeared
*e&ore !he no!ary p%*lic !o ac$nowledge !he will.
.ELD- +he las! will and !es!amen! in ,%es!ion was no!
e6ec%!ed in accordance wi!h law. ,he nota&y ubli$
befo&e /ho2 the /ill /as a$<no/ledged $annot be
$onside&ed as the thi&d inst&u2ental /itness sin$e he
$annot a$<no/ledge befo&e hi2self his ha*ing signed
the /ill. & !he !hird wi!ness were !he no!ary p%*lic
himsel&, he wo%ld have !o avow, assen!, or admi! his
having signed !he will in &ron! o& himsel&. +his canno! *e
done *eca%se he canno! spli! his personali!y in!o !wo so
!ha! one will appear *e&ore !he o!her !o ac$nowledge his
par!icipa!ion in !he ma$ing o& !he will. +o permi! s%ch a
si!%a!ion !o o*!ain wo%ld *e sanc!ioning a sheer a*s%rdi!y.
A',ICLE 544. & !he wi!nesses a!!es!ing !he e6ec%!ion
o& a will are compe!en! a! !he !ime o& a!!es!ing, !heir
*ecoming s%*se,%en!ly incompe!en! shall no! preven! !he
allowance o& !he will. 0n3
A',ICLE 54A. & a person a!!es!s !he e6ec%!ion o& a
will, !o whom or !o whose spo%se, or paren!, or child, a
devise or legacy is given *y s%ch will, s%ch devise or
legacy shall, so &ar only as concerns s%ch person, or
spo%se, or paren!, or child o& s%ch person, or any one
claiming %nder s%ch person or spo%se, or paren!, or child,
*e void, %nless !here are !hree o!her compe!en! wi!nesses
!o s%ch will. <owever, s%ch person so a!!es!ing shall *e
admi!!ed as a wi!ness as i& s%ch devise or legacy had no!
*een made or given. 0n3
A',ICLE 549. A mere charge on !he es!a!e o& !he
!es!a!or &or !he paymen! o& de*!s d%e a! !he !ime o& !he
!es!a!orEs dea!h does no! preven! his credi!ors &rom *eing
compe!en! wi!nesses !o his will. 0n3
CALUYA *s. DO(IN%O
March 24, 1519
+AC,S- -ne o& !he gro%nds &or !he denial o& !he pro*a!e
o& !he will is !ha! as !o !he wi!ness Seg%ndino, !he will
men!ioned and con&irmed a sale o& land !o him *y !he
!es!a!or, and he *eing !here*y an in!eres!ed par!y his
!es!imony co%ld no! *e *elieved.
.ELD- +he "%dgmen! re&%sing i!s pro*a!e m%s! *e
reversed.
.o!hing in !he will rela!ive !o !he sale o& land !o
Seg%ndino Asis crea!es s%ch an in!eres! !herein as &alls
wi!hin !he provisions !hereo&. ndeed, no inte&est of any
<ind /as $&eated by the /ill in fa*o& of Segundino
Asis" no& did it $on*ey o& t&ansfe& any inte&est to hi2.
It si2ly 2entioned a fa$t al&eady $onsu22ated" a
sale al&eady 2ade. Cven i&, however, !he will had
conveyed an in!eres! Seg%ndino Asis, i! wo%ld no! have
*een &or !ha! reason void. -nly !ha! cla%se o& !he will
conveying an in!eres! !o him wo%ld have *een voidD !he
remainder co%ld have s!ood and wo%ld have s!ood as a valid
!es!amen!.
SUBSEC,ION :
Codi$ils and In$o&o&ation by 'efe&en$e
A',ICLE 54:. A $odi$il is a s%pplemen! or addi!ion !o a
will, made a&!er !he e6ec%!ion o& a will and anne6ed !o *e
!a$en as a par! !hereo&, *y which any disposi!ion made in !he
original will is e6plained, added !o, or al!ered. 0n3
A',ICLE 54;. n order !ha! a codicil may *e e&&ec!ive, i!
shall *e e6ec%!ed as in !he case o& a will.
A',ICLE 543. & a will, e6ec%!ed as re,%ired *y !his Code,
incorpora!es in!o i!sel& *y re&erence any doc%men! or paper,
s%ch doc%men! or paper shall no! *e considered a par! o& !he
will %nless !he &ollowing re,%isi!es are presen!#
013 +he doc%men! or paper re&erred !o in !he will m%s! *e in
e6is!ence a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he willD
023 +he will m%s! clearly descri*e and iden!i&y !he same,
s!a!ing among o!her !hings !he n%m*er o& pages !hereo&D
0(3 ! m%s! *e iden!i&ied *y clear and sa!is&ac!ory proo& as
!he doc%men! or paper re&erred !o !hereinD and
093 ! m%s! *e signed *y !he !es!a!or and !he wi!nesses on
each and every page, e6cep! in case o& vol%mino%s *oo$s o&
acco%n! or inven!ories. 0n3
SUBSEC,ION ;
'e*o$ation of Wills and ,esta2enta&y Disositions
A',ICLE 545. A will may *e revo$ed *y !he !es!a!or a!
any !ime *e&ore his dea!h. Any waiver or res!ric!ion o& !his
righ! is void. 04(4a3
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ (ALO,O *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 25, 1588
+AC,S- 8elieving !ha! !he deceased did no! leave *ehind a
las! will and !es!amen!, !he 9 heirs commenced an in!es!a!e
proceeding &or !he se!!lemen! o& !heir a%n!Es es!a!e. +hey
e6ec%!ed an agreemen! o& e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! o&
AdrianaEs es!a!e.
( years la!er, Adriana=s p%rpor!ed will was discovered. !
was alleged !ha! s%ch was no! Adriana=s will since a will was
allegedly *%rned *y !he ho%sehelp o& Adriana, :%adal%pe
Malo!o Fda. de Coral, %pon ins!r%c!ions o& !he !es!a!ri6.
.ELD- +here is no s%&&icien! *asis &or !he concl%sion !ha!
Adriana Malo!oEs will had *een e&&ec!ively revo$ed.
+he physical ac! o& des!r%c!ion o& a will, li$e *%rning
in !his case, does no! per se cons!i!%!e an e&&ec!ive
revoca!ion, %nless !he des!r%c!ion is co%pled wi!h anim%s
revocandi on !he par! o& !he !es!a!or. ! is no! impera!ive !ha!
!he physical des!r%c!ion *e done *y !he !es!a!or himsel&. !
may *e per&ormed *y ano!her person *%! %nder !he e6press
direc!ion and in !he presence o& !he !es!a!or.
n !his case, while anim%s revocandi, or !he in!en!ion
!o revo$e, may *e conceded, &or !ha! is a s!a!e o& mind, ye!
!ha! re,%isi!e alone wo%ld no! s%&&ice. Ani2us &e*o$andi is
only one of the ne$essa&y ele2ents fo& the effe$ti*e
&e*o$ation of a last /ill and testa2ent. ,he intention to
&e*o<e 2ust be a$$o2anied by the o*e&t hysi$al a$t of
bu&ning" tea&ing" oblite&ating" o& $an$elling the /ill
$a&&ied out by the testato& o& by anothe& e&son in his
&esen$e and unde& his e1&ess di&e$tion. ,he&e is
au$ity of e*iden$e to sho/ $o2lian$e /ith these
&e0ui&e2ents. For one, !he doc%men! or papers *%rned *y
AdrianaEs maid, :%adal%pe, was no! sa!is&ac!orily es!a*lished
!o *e !he will o& Adriana Malo!o. +he *%rning was no! proven
!o have *een done %nder !he e6press direc!ion o& Adriana.
+he *%rning was no! in her presence. 8o!h wi!nesses,
:%adal%pe and Cladio, s!a!ed !ha! !hey were !he only ones
presen! a! !he place where !he s!ove was loca!ed in which
!he papers pro&&ered as a will were *%rned. +he !es!imony o&
s%ch wi!nesses appears inconcl%sive.
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CUE7AS *s. CUE7AS
/ecem*er 19, 15??
+AC,S- An!onina e6ec%!ed a no!arized conveyance
en!i!led J/ona!ion Mor!is Ca%saK, giving !o her nephew a
parcel o& land. S%*se,%en!ly, An!onia e6ec%!ed ano!her
doc%men! revo$ing !he one she previo%sly made. She
&iled an ac!ion &or !he recovery o& !he land.
.ELD- ! is dona!ion in!er vivos. An!onina s!a!ed in !he
deed o& dona!ion !ha! she will no! dispose or !a$e away
!he land J*eca%se am reserving i! !o him %pon my
dea!hK. )hen !he donor s!a!ed !ha! she wo%ld con!in%e !o
re!ain Jpossession, c%l!iva!ion, harves!ing and all o!her
righ!s and a!!ri*%!es o& ownershipK, she mean! only !he
righ! o& possession, and no! ownership.
An!onina canno! revo$e !he dona!ion. I&&e*o$ability
is a $ha&a$te&isti$ of donation inte& *i*os be$ause it is
in$o2atible /ith the idea of disosition ost
2o&te2.
A',ICLE 54B. A revoca!ion done o%!side !he
7hilippines, *y a person who does no! have his domicile
in !his co%n!ry, is valid when i! is done according !o !he
law o& !he place where !he will was made, or according !o
!he law o& !he place in which !he !es!a!or had his domicile
a! !he !imeD and i& !he revoca!ion !a$es place in !his
co%n!ry, when i! is in accordance wi!h !he provisions o&
!his Code. 0n3
A',ICLE 5AF. .o will shall *e revo$ed e6cep! in !he
&ollowing cases#
013 8y implica!ion o& lawD or
023 8y some will, codicil, or o!her wri!ing e6ec%!ed as
provided in case o& willsD or
0(3 8y *%rning, !earing, cancelling, or o*li!era!ing !he will
wi!h !he in!en!ion o& revo$ing i!, *y !he !es!a!or himsel&, or
*y some o!her person in his presence, and *y his e6press
direc!ion. & *%rned, !orn, cancelled, or o*li!era!ed *y
some o!her person, wi!ho%! !he e6press direc!ion o& !he
!es!a!or, !he will may s!ill *e es!a*lished, and !he es!a!e
dis!ri*%!ed in accordance !herewi!h, i& i!s con!en!s, and
d%e e6ec%!ion, and !he &ac! o& i!s %na%!horized
des!r%c!ion, cancella!ion, or o*li!era!ion are es!a*lished
according !o !he R%les o& Co%r!. 0n3
A',ICLE 5A8. S%*se,%en! wills which do no! revo$e
!he previo%s ones in an e6press manner, ann%l only s%ch
disposi!ions in !he prior wills as are inconsis!en! wi!h or
con!rary !o !hose con!ained in !he la!er wills. 0n3
A',ICLE 5A4. A revoca!ion made in a s%*se,%en! will
shall !a$e e&&ec!, even i& !he new will sho%ld *ecome
inopera!ive *y reason o& !he incapaci!y o& !he heirs,
devisees or lega!ees designa!ed !herein, or *y !heir
ren%ncia!ion. 0492a3
A',ICLE 5AA. A revoca!ion o& a will *ased on a &alse
ca%se or an illegal ca%se is n%ll and void. 0n3
A',ICLE 5A9. +he recogni!ion o& an illegi!ima!e child
does no! lose i!s legal e&&ec!, even !ho%gh !he will wherein
i! was made sho%ld *e revo$ed. 04913
SUBSEC,ION 3
'eubli$ation and 'e*i*al of Wills
A',ICLE 5A:. +he !es!a!or canno! rep%*lish, wi!ho%!
reprod%cing in a s%*se,%en! will, !he disposi!ions
con!ained in a previo%s one which is void as !o i!s &orm.
0n3
A',ICLE 5A;. +he e6ec%!ion o& a codicil re&erring !o a
previo%s will has !he e&&ec! o& rep%*lishing !he will as
modi&ied *y !he codicil. 0n3
A',ICLE 5A3. & a&!er ma$ing a will, !he !es!a!or ma$es a
second will e6pressly revo$ing !he &irs!, !he revoca!ion o& !he
second will does no! revive !he &irs! will, which can *e revived
only *y ano!her will or codicil. 04(5a3
SUBSEC,ION 5
Allo/an$e and Disallo/an$e of Wills
A',ICLE 5A5. .o will shall pass ei!her real or personal
proper!y %nless i! is proved and allowed in accordance wi!h
!he R%les o& Co%r!.
+he !es!a!or himsel& may, d%ring his li&e!ime, pe!i!ion !he
co%r! having "%risdic!ion &or !he allowance o& his will. n s%ch
case, !he per!inen! provisions o& !he R%les o& Co%r! &or !he
allowance o& wills a&!er !he !es!a!orEs dea!h shall govern. i
+he S%preme Co%r! shall &orm%la!e s%ch addi!ional
R%les o& Co%r! as may *e necessary &or !he allowance o&
wills on pe!i!ion o& !he !es!a!or.
S%*"ec! !o !he righ! o& appeal, !he allowance o& !he will,
ei!her d%ring !he li&e!ime o& !he !es!a!or or a&!er his dea!h,
shall *e concl%sive as !o i!s d%e e6ec%!ion. 0n3
S#S. #ASCUAL *s. CA
A%g%s! 1?, 222(
+AC,S- Consolacion and Remedios are !he niece and
grandda%gh!er o& !he la!e Can%!o. Can%!o and 11 o!hers
were co@owners o& a parcel o& land. +he land was regis!ered
in !he name o& Ca!alina, Can%!o and Fic!oriano each owned
12'42 share. Can%!o and Consolacion en!ered a Ras%la!an
where Can%!o sold his share in &avor o& Consolacion.
Remedios &iled a complain! agains! Consolacion &or !he
cancella!ion o& +C+. Remedios claimed !ha! she is !he owner
*eca%se Ca!alina devised !hese lo!s !o her in Ca!alina=s will.
Consolacion so%gh! !o dismiss !he complain! on !he
gro%nd o& prescrip!ion. Consolacion claimed !ha! !he *asis o&
!he ac!ion is &ra%d, and Remedios sho%ld have &iled !he
ac!ion wi!hin 9 years &rom !he regis!ra!ion o& Consolacion=s
!i!le on -c!o*er 28, 1518 and no! some 15 years la!er.
.ELD- +he ac!ion is *arred *y prescrip!ion. +he prescrip!ive
period is 12 years co%n!ed &rom regis!ra!ion o& adverse !i!le.
+he &o%r@year prescrip!ive period relied %pon *y !he !rial co%r!
applies only i& !he &ra%d does no! give rise !o an implied !r%s!.
Remedios= does no! see$ !o ann%l !he Ras%la!an. Remedios=
ac!ion is *ased on an implied !r%s!.
'e2edios is not a &eal a&ty in inte&est /ho $an file
the $o2laint. Remedios anchored her claim over !he lo!s
on !he devise o& !hese lo!s !o her %nder Ca!alina=s las! will.
<owever, !he !rial co%r! &o%nd !ha! the &obate $ou&t did not
issue any o&de& ad2itting the LAS, WILL to &obate.
Remedios does no! con!es! !his &inding. ndeed, d%ring !he
!rial, Remedios admi!!ed !ha! Special 7roceedings Case .o.
C@228 is s!ill pending. Sin$e the &obate $ou&t has not
ad2itted Catalina=s last /ill" 'e2edios has not a$0ui&ed
any &ight unde& the last /ill. RCMC/-S is !h%s wi!ho%!
any ca%se o& ac!ion ei!her !o see$ reconveyance !he lo!s or !o
en&orce an implied !r%s! over !hese lo!s.
(ANINAN% *s. CA
J%ne 15, 1582
+AC,S- Clemencia e6ec%!ed a holographic will. She
declared in her will !ha! she does no! consider 8ernardo as
her adop!ed son, and !h%s, !he la!!er canno! inheri! &rom her.
8ernardo opposed !he pro*a!e o& !he will on !he gro%nd !ha!
!he holographic will was n%ll and void *eca%se he, as !he
only comp%lsory heir, was pre!eri!ed and, !here&ore, in!es!acy
sho%ld ens%e.
.ELD- 7ro*a!e allowed. :enerally, !he pro*a!e o& a will is
manda!ory. ,he la/ en!oins the &obate of the /ill and
ubli$ oli$y &e0ui&es it, *eca%se %nless !he will is
pro*a!ed and no!ice !hereo& given !o !he whole world, !he
righ! o& a person !o dispose o& his proper!y *y will may *e
rendered n%ga!ory.
.ormally, !he pro*a!e o& a )ill does no! loo$ in!o i!s
in!rinsic validi!y. +he a%!hen!ica!ion o& a will decides no o!her
29
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,%es!ion !han s%ch as !o%ch %pon !he capaci!y o& !he
!es!a!or and !he compliance wi!h !hose re,%isi!es or
solemni!ies which !he law prescri*es &or !he validi!y o&
wills.
+he ,%es!ions rela!ing !o !he in!rinsic validi!y remain
en!irely %na&&ec!ed, and may *e raised even a&!er !he will
has *een a%!hen!ica!ed. -pposi!ion !o !he in!rinsic
validi!y or legali!y o& !he provisions o& !he will canno! *e
en!er!ained in pro*a!e proceedings *eca%se i!s only
p%rpose is merely !o de!ermine i& !he will has *een
e6ec%!ed in accordance wi!h !he re,%iremen!s o& !he law.
A,ILANO (E'CADO *s. SAN,OS
Sep!em*er 22, 15(8
+AC,S- ( years a&!er !he will was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e,
in!ervenors &iled a pe!i!ion !o re@open !he proceedings.
Rosario &iled a complain! agains! A!ilano &or &alsi&ica!ion o&
!he will pro*a!ed. A!ilano claimed !ha! !he will had already
*een pro*a!ed and !ha! !he order pro*a!ing !he will is
concl%sive as !o !he a%!hen!ici!y and d%e e6ec%!ion
!hereo&.
.ELD- +he criminal ac!ion will no! lie. ,he &obate of
the a /ill by the &obate $ou&t ha*ing !u&isdi$tion
the&eof is $onside&ed as $on$lusi*e as to its due
e1e$ution and *alidity" and that the /ill is genuine
and not a fo&ge&y. +he r%ling o& !he pro*a!e co%r! is
*inding %pon !he complainan! even i& !ha! person was no!
ac!%ally a par!y !o !he pro*a!e proceeding. 7ro*a!e
proceedings are proceedings in rem. 8eca%se !here is
p%*lica!ion, !here is cons!r%c!ive no!ice !o !he whole world
and "%dgmen! or a decree in a pro*a!e proceeding is
*inding %pon !he en!ire world, even !he s!a!e.
ALSUA>BE,,S *s. CA
J%ly (2, 1545
+AC,S- 7a*lo, Fernando and Francisca agreed in wri!ing
!ha! !heir &a!her, /on Jes%s, *e appoin!ed *y !he co%r!
e6ec%!or o& !he will o& !heir mo!her. +herea&!er, /on Jes%s
cancelled his holographic will and e6ec%!ed a new. A&!er
his dea!h, Francisca &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& !he
new will. ! was opposed *y his sons, 7a*lo and
Fernando, on !he gro%nd !ha! /on Jes%s was no! o&
so%nd mind a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will.
+he will was disallowed. +he da%gh!er arg%ed !ha!
!he o!her children, 7a*lo and Fernando, are in es!oppel !o
,%es!ion !he compe!ence o& /on Jes%s *y vir!%e o& !he
agreemen! previo%sly en!ered.
.ELD- ,he &in$ile of estoel is not ali$able in
&obate &o$eedings. 7ro*a!e proceedings involve
p%*lic in!eres!, and !he applica!ion !herein o& !he r%le o&
es!oppel, when i! will *loc$ !he ascer!ainmen! o& !he !r%!h
as !o !he circ%ms!ances, s%rro%nding !he e6ec%!ion o& a
!es!amen!, wo%ld seem inimical !o p%*lic policy.
+he con!roversy as !o !he compe!ency o& /on Jes%s
!o e6ec%!e his will canno! *e de!ermined *y !he ac!s o& his
sons !o !he will in &ormally agreeing in wri!ing wi!h
Francisca !ha! !heir &a!her *e appoin!ed *y !he co%r!
e6ec%!or o& !he will o& !heir mo!her.
+he SC allowed !he pro*a!e o& !he will %pon &inding
!ha! /on Jes%s complied wi!h !he re,%iremen!s o& law as
!o !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will.
LI( *s. CA
Jan%ary 29, 2222
+AC,S- n !he inven!ory o& !he es!a!e o& 7as!or, i!
incl%ded some proper!ies *elonging !o some *%siness
en!i!ies. +he said corpora!ions &iled a mo!ion &or !he
e6cl%sion o& !heir proper!y &orm !he inven!ory. R%&ina
arg%ed !ha! 7as!or owned !he said *%siness en!i!ies. !
&ollows !ha! he also own !he proper!ies o& !he
corpora!ions.
.ELD- ,he issue on the e1$lusion and in$lusion of
&oe&ty f&o2 the in*ento&y is /ithin the $o2eten$e
of the &obate $ou&t. +he de!ermina!ion o& which co%r!
e6ercises "%risdic!ion over ma!!ers o& pro*a!e depends %pon
!he gross val%e o& !he es!a!e o& !he deceden!.
<owever, !he co%r!=s de!ermina!ion is only provisional in
charac!er, no! concl%sive, and is s%*"ec! !o !he &inal decision
in a separa!e ac!ion which may *e ins!i!%!ed *y !he par!ies.
n !his case, !he real proper!ies so%gh! !o *e e6cl%ded
&rom !he inven!ory were d%ly regis!ered %nder !he +orrens
sys!em in !he name o& !he priva!e corpora!ions, and as s%ch
were !o *e a&&orded !he pres%mp!ive concl%siveness o& !i!le.
+he pro*a!e co%r! in denying !he mo!ion &or e6cl%sion ac!ed
in %!!er disregard o& !he pres%mp!ion o& concl%siveness o& !i!le
in &avor o& priva!e responden!s.
A corpora!ion is clo!hed wi!h personali!y separa!e and
dis!inc! &rom !ha! o& !he persons composing i!. Conse,%en!ly,
!he asse!s o& !he corpora!ion are no! !he asse!s o& !he es!a!e
o& 7as!or Bim.
IN 'E- ES,A,E O+ 6O.NSON
.ovem*er 11, 1518
+AC,S- A&!er ( mon!hs &rom !he !ime !he will was allowed
pro*a!e, !he deceden!=s da%gh!er &rom !he &irs! marriage,
claiming !o *e !he sole legi!ima!e heir, no!ed an e6cep!ion !o
!he order admi!!ing !he will !o pro*a!e. .o pe!i!ion was &iled
*%! her a!!orneys merely en!ered an appearance on her
*ehal&. 4 mon!hs a&!er !he pro*a!e order was iss%ed, !he
same a!!orneys moved !he co%r! !o vaca!e !he order
admi!!ing !he will !o pro*a!e.
.ELD- +he applica!ion !o se! aside m%s! *e denied *eca%se
i! was &iled o%! o& !ime. ;nder !he Code o& Civil 7roced%re,
!he applica!ion &or relie& m%s! *e made wi!hin a reasona*le
!ime, *%! in no case e6ceeding 1 mon!hs a&!er s%ch
"%dgmen!, order or o!her proceeding was !a$en. S%ch
"%dgmen!, order or o!her proceedings e6!ends !o all sor!s o&
"%dicial proceedings li$e pro*a!e proceedings.
Although the ti2e allo/ed fo& the 2a<ing of su$h
ali$ation /as in$on*eniently sho&t" the &e2edy e1isted
and the ossibility of its use is &o*ed in this $ase by the
$i&$u2stan$e that on 6une 84" 8B8;" she in fa$t aea&ed
in $ou&t by he& atto&neys and e1$eted to the o&de&
ad2itting the /ill to &obate.
LE7IS,E *s. CA
Jan%ary (2, 1585
+AC,S- Bevis!e received a le!!er &orm a clien! !ermina!ing
his services in connec!ion wi!h a pro*a!e proceeding. Bevis!e
&iled a JMo!ion !o n!ervene !o 7ro!ec! his Righ!s !o Fees &or
7ro&essional ServicesK.
.ELD- Bevis!e canno! in!ervene. Bevis!e was no! a par!y !o
!he pro*a!e proceeding in !he lower co%r!. <e had no direc!
in!eres! in !he pro*a!e o& !he will. <is only in!eres! in !he
es!a!e is an indirec! in!eres! as &ormer co%nsel &or a
prospec!ive heir. One /ho is only indi&e$tly inte&ested in
a /ill 2ay not inte&fe&e in its &obate.
DO'O,.EO *s. CA
/ecem*er 8, 1555
+AC,S- Ale"andro=s will was admi!!ed !o pro*a!e in a pe!i!ion
&iled *y Bo%rdes. .ilda &iles a JMo!ion !o /eclare !he )ill
n!rinsically FoidK a&!er 2 years arg%ing !ha! Bo%rdes was no!
!he legal wi&e o& !he deceden!. +he order declaring !he will
in!rinsically void was a&&irmed. Bo%rdes &ailed !o &ile her
appellan!=s *rie&. An en!ry o& "%dgmen! was made.
<owever, an order was iss%ed *y !he pro*a!e "%dge
se!!ing aside !he a*ove order on !he gro%nd !ha! i! was
merely in!erloc%!oryD hence, no! &inal in charac!er.
.ELD- A &obated /ill $annot be gi*en effe$t if it /as
late& on de$la&ed int&insi$ally *oid. +here is no!hing !o
e6ec%!e where !he !es!amen!ary provisions have *een
declared void in an order !ha! has *ecome &inal and
e6ec%!ory.
Cven i& !he will was validly e6ec%!ed, i& !he !es!a!or
provides &or disposi!ions !ha! deprives or impairs !he law&%l
heirs o& !heir legi!ime or righ!&%l inheri!ance according !o !he
laws on s%ccession, !he %nlaw&%l provisions'disposi!ions
!hereo& canno! *e given e&&ec!.
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,he int&insi$ *alidity is anothe& 2atte& and
0uestions &ega&ding the sa2e 2ay still be &aised e*en
afte& the /ill has been authenti$ated.
A final !udg2ent on &obated /ill" albeit
e&&oneous" is binding on the /hole /o&ld.
n se!!ing aside !he order declaring !he will
in!rinsically void, !he !rial co%r! n%lli&ied !he en!ry o&
"%dgmen! made *y !he CA. A lower co%r! canno! reverse
or se! aside decisions o& a s%perior co%r!.
(ALOLES *s. #.ILI#S
Jan%ary (1, 222
+AC,S- /r. de San!os &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o&
his will. <e alleged !ha! he had no comp%lsory heirs. +he
pe!i!ion was gran!ed. Shor!ly a&!er, he died.
-c!avio, his nephew, &iled a SMo!ion &or n!erven!ion=.
<e arg%ed !ha! as !he neares! o& $in and credi!or o& !he
!es!a!or, his in!eres! in !he ma!!er is ma!erial and direc!.
.ELD- n order &or a person !o *e allowed !o in!ervene in
a proceeding, he m%s! have an in!eres! in !he es!a!e or in
!he will or in !he proper!y !o *e a&&ec!ed *y i!. <e m%s! *e
an in!eres!ed par!y or one who wo%ld *e *ene&i!ed *y !he
es!a!e s%ch as an heir or one who has a claim agains! !he
es!a!e li$e a credi!or, and whose in!eres! is ma!erial and
direc!.
-c!avio is no! an heir or lega!ee %nder !he will o& !he
deceden!. .ei!her is he a comp%lsory heir o& !he
deceden!. As !he only and neares! colla!eral rela!ive o&
!he deceden!, he $an inhe&it f&o2 the latte& only in
$ase of intesta$y. .e $an only inhe&it if the /ill is
annulled. <is in!eres! is !here&ore no! direc! or
immedia!e.
.is $lai2 to being a $&edito& is belated as i! has
*een raised &or !he &irs! !ime only in his reply !o !he
opposi!ion !o his mo!ion !o in!ervene and is not
suo&ted by e*iden$e.
A &obate &o$eeding is te&2inated uon the
issuan$e of the o&de& allo/ing the &obate of a /ill.
n cases &or !he pro*a!e o& wills, i! is well@se!!led !ha!
!he a%!hori!y o& !he co%r! is limi!ed !o ascer!aining !he
e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he will, i.e., whe!her !he !es!a!or, *eing
o& so%nd mind, &reely e6ec%!ed !he will in accordance wi!h
!he &ormali!ies prescri*ed *y law.
-rdinarily, pro*a!e proceedings are ins!i!%!ed only
a&!er !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or. <owever, A&ti$le 5A5 of
the Ci*il Code autho&iKes the filing of a etition fo&
&obate of the /ill filed by the testato& hi2self.
NU%UID *s. NU%UID
J%ne 2(, 1511
+AC,S- +he paren!s o& !he !es!a!ri6 opposed !he pe!i!ion
&or pro*a!e on !he gro%nd o& pre!eri!ion. +hey con!end
!ha! !hey are comp%lsory heirs o& !he deceased in !he
direc! ascending line and !ha! !he ins!i!%!ion o& !he !es!a!ri6
o& her sis!er as !he %niversal heir pre!eri!ed !hem, and !ha!
in conse,%ence !he ins!i!%!ion is void.
.ELD- ,he $ou&t@s a&ea of in0ui&y is li2ited > to an
e1a2ination of" and &esolution on" the e1t&insi$
*alidity of the /ill. +he d%e e6ec%!ion !hereo&, !he
!es!a!ri6Es !es!amen!ary capaci!y, and !he compliance wi!h
!he re,%isi!es or solemni!ies *y law prescri*ed, are !he
,%es!ions solely !o *e represen!ed, and !o *e ac!ed %pon,
*y !he co%r!.
<owever, if it is alleged that the /ill is *oid
be$ause of &ete&ition" a &obate /ould be useless" if
indeed the&e /as &ete&ition.
Since !he will provides &or !he ins!i!%!ion o& !he
!es!a!ri6= sis!er as %niversal heir and no!hing more, !he
res%l! is !he same. +he en!ire will is n%ll and void.
#AS,O' *s. CA
J%ne 29, 158(
+AC,S +he pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e was gran!ed. +he
hearing on !he in!rinsic validi!y o& !he will was opposed on
!he gro%nd !ha! !here was a pending reconveyance s%i!
over !he ownership o& shares in A!las mining. +he co%r!
resolved !he ,%es!ion o& ownership o& !he royal!ies paya*le
*y A!las mining !o !he es!a!e o& !he deceden! and ordered !he
paymen! o& !he legacy.
.ELD- ,he &obate o&de& $annot &esol*e /ith finality the
0uestions of o/ne&shi of &oe&ties in*ol*ed in the
&o$eeding. ,he dete&2ination is 2e&ely &o*isional.
<ence, !he legacy sho%ld no! *e given ye!.
As a r%le, !he ,%es!ion o& ownership is an e6!raneo%s
ma!!er which !he pro*a!e co%r! canno! resolve wi!h &inali!y.
+h%s, &or !he p%rpose o& de!ermining whe!her a cer!ain
proper!y sho%ld or sho%ld no! *e incl%ded in !he inven!ory o&
es!a!e proper!ies, !he pro*a!e co%r! may pass %pon !he !i!le
!here!o, *%! s%ch de!ermina!ion is provisional, no! concl%sive,
and is s%*"ec! !o !he &inal decision in a separa!e ac!ion !o
resolve !i!le.
n a special proceeding &or !he pro*a!e o& a will, !he
iss%e *y and large is res!ric!ed !o !he e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he
will.
.owhere in !he disposi!ive por!ion is !here a declara!ion
o& ownership o& speci&ic proper!ies. -n !he con!rary, i! is
mani&es! !herein !ha! ownership was no! resolved &or i!
con&ined i!sel& !o !he ,%es!ion o& e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he will,
and !he need &or and proprie!y o& appoin!ing a special
adminis!ra!or.
CO'ONADO *s. CA
Jan%ary 29, 2222
+AC,S- J%ana claims !ha! a por!ion o& !he proper!y in
,%es!ion was inheri!ed *y her as provided in !he will o& her
grand&a!her Melecio. Beonida claims !ha! !he proper!y in
,%es!ion was *e,%ea!hed !o her %nder a will e6ec%!ed *y /r.
Mon!erola, who was allegedly in possession !hereo& even
*e&ore !he o%!*rea$ o& )orld )ar . Said will was pro*a!ed.
J%ana opposed !he pro*a!e.
.ELD- )hile i! is !r%e !ha! no will shall pass ei!her real or
personal proper!y %nless i! is proved and allowed in !he
proper co%r!, the 0uestioned /ill" ho/e*e&" 2ay be
sustained on the basis of A&ti$le 8F:; of the Ci*il Code
of 85BB" /hi$h /as in fo&$e at the ti2e said do$u2ent
/as e1e$uted *y Melecio in 1518. n !his case, nowhere was
i! alleged nor shown !ha! Beonida is en!i!led !o legi!ime &rom
Melecio. +he !r%!h o& !he ma!!er is !ha! !he record is *ere&! o&
any showing !ha! Beonida and !he la!e Melecio were rela!ed
!o each o!her.
J%ana is no! es!opped &rom ,%es!ioning !he ownership o&
!he proper!y in ,%es!ion, no!wi!hs!anding her having o*"ec!ed
!o !he pro*a!e o& !he will e6ec%!ed *y Mon!erola %nder which
Beonida is claiming !i!le !o !he said proper!y.
CAYE,ANO *s. LEONIDAS
May (2, 1589
+AC,S- .eni!a, sis!er o& !he !es!a!ri6, &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he
repro*a!e o& a will allegedly e6ec%!ed *y Adoracion in !he
;S. Adoracion was a ;S ci!izen. +he pe!i!ion was gran!ed.
<ermogenes, &a!her o& Adoracion, main!ained !ha! since !he
repro*a!e was allowed, he was dives!ed o& his legi!ime which
was reserved *y law &or him.
.ELD- ,he &obate $ou&t $an &ule uon the issue on
&ete&ition, al!ho%gh s%ch iss%e deals wi!h !he validi!y o& !he
provisions o& !he will.
As a general r%le, !he pro*a!e co%r!Es a%!hori!y is limi!ed
only !o !he e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he will, !he d%e e6ec%!ion
!hereo&, !he !es!a!ri6Es !es!amen!ary capaci!y and !he
compliance wi!h !he re,%isi!es or solemni!ies prescri*ed *y
law, +he in!rinsic validi!y o& !he will normally comes only a&!er
!he co%r! has declared !ha! !he will has *een d%ly
a%!hen!ica!ed. <owever, /he&e &a$ti$al $onside&ations
de2and that the int&insi$ *alidity of the /ill be assed
uon" e*en befo&e it is &obated" the $ou&t should 2eet
the issue.
Al!ho%gh on i!s &ace, !he will appeared !o have pre!eri!ed
<ermogenes, and !h%s, repro*a!e sho%ld have *een denied.
8%! i! was s%&&icien!ly es!a*lished !ha! Adoracion, a! !he !ime
o& her dea!h, was a ;S ci!izen residen!. As regards !he
in!rinsic validi!y o& !he will, !he na!ional law o& !he deceden!
m%s! apply.
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SOLI7IO *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 12, 1552
+AC,S- Celedonia, ma!ernal a%n! o& !he deceased, was
declared as !he sole heir. 9 mon!hs la!er, Concordia,
sis!er o& !he deceased=s &a!her &ile a MFR claiming !ha!
she !oo was an heir o& !he deceased. ns!ead o&
appealing, Concordia s%ed Celedonia &or par!i!ion,
recovery o& possession, ownership and damages. +he
s%i! was ini!ia!ed while !he pro*a!e proceedings were s!ill
pending. 8ranch 21 gran!ed Concordia=s prayers.
.ELD- 8ranch 21 was incorrec! in !a$ing cognizance o&
!he case *eca%se i! was !he pro*a!e co%r! !ha! had !he
e6cl%sive "%risdic!ion !o ma$e a "%s! and legal dis!ri*%!ion
o& !he es!a!e.
! is !he o&de& of dist&ibution di&e$ting the deli*e&y
of the &esidue of the estate to the e&sons entitled
the&eto that b&ings to a $lose the intestate
&o$eedings. +he order declaring Celedonia as !he sole
heir o& !he es!a!e did no! !oll !he end o& !he proceedings.
n !he in!eres! o& orderly proced%re and !o avoid
con&%sing and con&lic!ing disposi!ions o& a deceden!=s
es!a!e, a co%r! sho%ld no! in!er&ere wi!h pro*a!e
proceedings pending in a co@e,%al co%r!.
A6E'O *s. CA
Sep!em*er 11, 1559
+AC,S- +he pro*a!e o& a will was opposed on !he
gro%nd !ha! !he !es!a!ri6 canno! validly dispose o& !he
ho%se and lo! *eca%se she shared !he proper!y wi!h her
&a!her=s o!her heirs.
.ELD- As a general r%le, co%r!s in pro*a!e proceedings
are limi!ed !o pass only %pon !he e6!rinsic validi!y o& !he
will so%gh! !o *e pro*a!ed.
<owever, in e1$etional instan$es" the $ou&ts a&e
not o/e&less to do /hat the situation $onst&ains
the2 to do" and ass uon $e&tain &o*isions of the
/ill.
n !his case, !he deceden! hersel& s!a!ed in her
holographic will !ha! !he proper!y is in !he name o& her la!e
&a!her. +h%s, !he !es!a!ri6 canno! validly dispose o& !he
whole proper!y, which she shares wi!h her &a!her=s o!her
heirs.
(A%ALLANES *s. LAYANAN
Jan%ary 22, 1541
+AC,S- B%cena &iled a Jsolici!%dK praying !ha! cer!ain lo!s
*e par!i!ioned and dis!ri*%!ed among !he heirs o& !he
deceased Filomena. +he heirs o& Cligio &iled a mo!ion !o
dismiss claiming ownership over !he parcels o& land in
,%es!ion and raising !he iss%e !ha! !he !rial co%r! is devoid
o& "%risdic!ion !o resolve !he iss%es raised in !he
pleadings.
+he heirs o& Cligio &iled a pe!i!ion &or s%mmary
"%dgmen! on !he pleadings praying !ha! !heir a*sol%!e righ!
o& ownership over !he proper!ies in ,%es!ion *e
recognized and con&irmed. ! was gran!ed.
.ELD- ,he lo/e& $ou&t has no !u&isdi$tion to ass
finally and definitely uon the title o& o/ne&shi of the
&oe&ties in*ol*ed in the su22a&y settle2ent of the
estate of the de$eased +ilo2ena.
+he pro*a!e co%r! may only r%le %pon !he !i!le !o
proper!y in !he &ollowing cases#
1. For !he p%rpose o& de!ermining whe!her or no! a
given proper!y sho%ld *e incl%ded in !he
inven!ory o& !he es!a!e o& !he deceased. 8%!
s%ch de!ermina!ion is no! concl%sive.
2. & !he par!ies vol%n!arily s%*mi!!ed !o i!s
"%risdic!ion and in!rod%ced evidence !o prove
ownership.
n !he case a! *ar, !he ac!ion ins!i!%!ed *y !he
pe!i!ioner was no! &or !he p%rpose o& de!ermining whe!her
or no! a given proper!y sho%ld *e incl%ded in !he inven!ory
o& !he es!a!e o& !he deceased. +he ac!ion was &or par!i!ion
and dis!ri*%!ion o& !he proper!ies le&! *y !he deceased.
.ei!her have all o& !he par!ies vol%n!arily s%*mi!!ed !he
iss%e o& ownership &or resol%!ion *y !he co%r!. As a ma!!er o&
&ac!, !he pe!i!ioner opposed !he pe!i!ion o& priva!e
responden!s !o have !he iss%e o& ownership or !i!le decided in
!he proceeding &or !he se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e o& !he
deceased.
! was !here&ore erroneo%s &or !he lower co%r! !o resolve
!he ,%es!ion o& !i!le or ownership over !he proper!ies in said
proceeding. ! co%ld only pass %pon s%ch a ,%es!ion in !he
e6ercise o& i!s general "%risdic!ion in an ordinary ac!ion.
E,.EL %'I(( 'OBE',S *s. LEONIDAS
April 24, 1589
+AC,S- :rimm, a ;S ci!izen o& Manila, e6ec%!ed 2 will in
San Francisco, Cali&ornia. -ne will disposed o& his 7hilippine
es!a!e and !he o!her disposed o& his es!a!e o%!side !he
7hilippines.
C!hel, :rimm=s da%gh!er *y a &irs! marriage, &iled a
pe!i!ion &or in!es!a!e proceeding. Ma6ine, :rimm=s 2
nd
wi&e,
opposed on !he gro%nd o& !he pendency o& !he pro*a!e
proceedings in ;!ah. She la!er &iled a pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o&
!he 2 wills, already pro*a!ed in ;!ah and prayed !ha! !he
par!i!ion approved *y 8ranch 22, !he in!es!a!e co%r!, *e se!
aside. +his was approved *y 8ranch (8.
.ELD- S%ch pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& !he 2 wills and !he
ann%lmen! o& !he par!i!ion approved *y 8ranch 22 can *e
en!er!ained *y 8ranch (8. A !es!a!e proceeding is proper in
!his case.
+he pro*a!e o& !he will is manda!ory. It is ano2alous
that the estate of a e&son /ho died testate should be
settled in an intestate &o$eeding. ,he intestate $ase
should be $onsolidated /ith the testate &o$eeding and
the !udge assigned to the testate &o$eeding should
$ontinue hea&ing the 4 $ases.
7DA. DE LILAYLO *s. 6UD%E ,EN%CO
March 24, 1552
+AC,S- n !he se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e o& Bizares, a pro"ec!
par!i!ion was s%*mi!!ed. n accordance wi!h !he said pro"ec!
o& par!i!ion, !he heirs e6ec%!ed an agreemen! o& par!i!ion and
s%*division.
Ba!er, a mo!ion was &iled !o reopen !he !es!a!e es!a!e
proceedings o& Bizares.
.ELD- ,he testate &o$eedings $annot any2o&e be
&eoened be$ause the LiKa&es siste&s &e$ogniKed the
de$&ee of a&tition san$tioned by the &obate $ou&t and
in fa$t &eaed the f&uits the&eof. <ence, !hey are now
precl%ded &rom a!!ac$ing !he validi!y o& !he par!i!ion or any
par! o& i! in !he g%ise o& a complain! &or reconveyance.
In testate su$$ession" the&e $an be no *alid a&tition
a2ong the hei&s until afte& the /ill has been &obated. A
pro"ec! par!i!ion is merely a proposal &or !he dis!ri*%!ion o& !he
heredi!ary es!a!e which !he co%r! may accep! or re"ec!. ! is
!he co%r! !ha! ma$es !ha! dis!ri*%!ion o& !he es!a!e and
de!ermines !he persons en!i!led !here!o.
! canno! *e denied !ha! when !hey moved &or !he
reopening o& !he !es!a!e es!a!e proceedings o& Maria, !he
"%dicial decree o& par!i!ion and !he order o& clos%re o& s%ch
proceedings was already &inal and e6ec%!ory.
A'ANCILLO *s. #ENA+LO'IDA
?9 -: 2519
.ELD- E*en if the dis$o*e&ed /ill has al&eady been
&obated" if late& on a subse0uent /ill is dis$o*e&ed" the
latte& 2ay still be &esented fo& &obate.
Cven i& !he discovered will had *een made earlier !han
!he pro*a!e will, i! can s!ill *e pro*a!ed as long as !he 2 wills
can *e reconciled, or i& !here are por!ions in !he &irs! which
have no! *een revo$ed in !he second.
CAOI)A *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 29, 1554
+AC,S- +hro%gh her g%ardian, Carmen s%ed !he Spo%ses
Cs!rada &or e"ec!men! &rom her proper!y alleging !ha! she
already had %rgen! need o& !he ho%se on acco%n! o& her
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advanced age and &ailing heal!h. +he Cs!radas insis! !ha!
!he devise o& !he ho%se !o !hem *y Carmen clearly
deno!es her in!en!ion !ha! !hey remain in possession
!hereo& since !heir o%s!er *e inconsis!en! wi!h !he
Carmen=s holographic will.
.ELD- A legal g%ardian can validly s%e on *ehal& o& her
ward &or e"ec!men! where !he same proper!y is %rgen!ly
needed *y her ward.
A /ill is essentially a2bulato&y. At any ti2e &io&
to the testato&=s death" it 2ay be $hanged o& &e*o<ed"
and until ad2itted to &obate" it has no effe$t
/hate*e& and no &ight $an be $lai2ed the&eunde&.
An owner=s in!en!ion !o con&er !i!le in !he &%!%re !o
persons possessing proper!y *y his !olerance, is no!
inconsis!en! wi!h !he &ormer=s !a$ing *ac$ possession in
!he mean!ime &or any reason deemed s%&&icien!. n !his
case, !here was s%&&icien! ca%se &or !he owner=s
res%mp!ion o& possession.
BALANAY" 6'. *s. (A',INE)
J%ne 24, 154?
+AC,S- +he !es!a!ri6 said in her will !ha! i! was her desire
!ha! her proper!ies sho%ld no! *e divided among her heirs
d%ring her h%s*and=s li&e!ime. She &%r!her s!a!ed !ha!
a&!er her h%s*and=s dea!h, her paraphernal lands and all
!he con"%gal lands sho%ld *e dis!ri*%!ed in !he manner se!
&or!h in her will. She devised and par!i!ioned !he con"%gal
lands as i& she owned all o& !hem. +h%s, she disposed o&
in !he will her h%s*and=s share o& !he con"%gal asse!s.
+he h%s*and and one o& !he da%gh!ers opposed !he
pro*a!e o& !he will alleging pre!eri!ion o& !he h%s*and and
alleged improper par!i!ion o& !he con"%gal es!a!e. +he
h%s*and la!er wi!hdrew his opposi!ion and e6pressed
con&ormi!y wi!h his wi&e=s wishes.
+he pro*a!e co%r! gave e&&ec! !o !he ren%ncia!ion o&
!he h%s*and=s heredi!ary righ!s. Ba!er, !he pro*a!e co%r!
dismissed !he pe!i!ion and declared !he will void and
conver!ed !he !es!a!e proceeding in!o an in!es!a!e
proceeding.
.ELD- +he pro*a!e co%r! can pass %pon !he in!rinsic
validi!y o& !he will *e&ore r%ling on i!s &ormal validi!y in !his
case.
In *ie/ of unusual &o*isions in the /ill" /hi$h
a&e of dubious legality" and be$ause of the 2otion to
/ithd&a/ the etition fo& &obate" the t&ial $ou&t a$ted
$o&&e$tly in assing uon the /ill=s int&insi$ *alidity
e*en befo&e its fo&2al *alidity had been established.
,he &obate $ou&t" ho/e*e&" /as not $o&&e$t in
de$la&ing the /ill int&insi$ally *oid.
+he invalidi!y o& one o& several disposi!ions con!ained
in a will does no! res%l! in !he invalidi!y o& !he o!her
disposi!ions, %nless i! is !o *e pres%med !ha! !he !es!a!or
wo%ld no! have made s%ch o!her disposi!ions i& !he &irs!
invalid disposi!ion had no! *een made.
+he s!a!emen! o& !he !es!a!ri6 !ha! she owned !he
so%!hern hal& o& !he con"%gal lands is con!rary !o law
*eca%se, al!ho%gh she was a co@owner !hereo&, her share
was inchoa!e and pro@indiviso. 8%! !ha! illegal declara!ion
does no! n%lli&y !he en!ire will. ! may *e disregarded.
+he dis!ri*%!ion and par!i!ion wo%ld *ecome e&&ec!ive
%pon !he h%s*and=s dea!h. n !he mean!ime, !he ne!
income sho%ld *e e,%i!a*ly divided among !he children
and !he s%rviving spo%se.
8y reason o& !he s%rviving h%s*and=s con&ormi!y !o
his wi&e=s will and his ren%ncia!ion o& his heredi!ary righ!s,
his L con"%gal share *ecame a par! o& his deceased
wi&e=s es!a!e. <is con&ormi!y had !he e&&ec! o& valida!ing
!he par!i!ion made in !he will, wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o !he
righ!s o& !he credi!ors and !he legi!imes o& !he comp%lsory
heirs.
CA(AYA *s. #A,ULANDON%
Fe*r%ary 2(, 2229
+AC,S- R%&ina e6ec%!ed a no!arized will where she
devised a parcel o& land !o her grandson Anselmo. Ba!er,
she e6ec%!ed a codicil which s!a!ed !ha! her 9 children
and Anselmo wo%ld inheri! !he a*ove parcel o& land.
Anselmo &iled an ac!ion &or par!i!ion agains! !he
7a!%landongs. ! was gran!ed, s%*"ec! !o !he res%l! o& !he
pro*a!e o& !he codicil. Anselmo !hen sold !he land !o !he
Camayas.
+he pro*a!e co%r! !hen iss%ed an order wherein !he !i!le
iss%ed !o !he Camayas were declared void and i! voided !he
sale as well.
+he Camayas con!ended !ha! !he pro*a!e co%r! has no
power !o declare n%ll and void !he sale and !heir !i!le.
.ELD- ,he &obate $ou&t does not ha*e the o/e& to
annul the title to lands sub!e$t of a testate &o$eeding
ending befo&e it. +he pro*a!e co%r! e6ceeded i!s
"%risdic!ion when i! &%r!her declared !he deed o& sale and !he
!i!les o& !he Camayas n%ll and void, i! having had !he e&&ec! o&
depriving !hem possession and ownership o& !he proper!y.
A pro*a!e co%r! canno! ad"%dica!e or de!ermine !i!le !o
proper!ies claimed !o *e a par! o& !he es!a!e and which are
e,%ally claimed !o *elong !o o%!side par!ies. All !ha! said
co%r! co%ld do as regards s%ch proper!ies is !o de!ermine
whe!her !hey sho%ld or sho%ld no! *e incl%ded in !he
inven!ory.
+ho%gh !he "%dgmen! in !he par!i!ion case had *ecome
&inal and e6ec%!ory as i! was no! appealed, i! speci&ically
provided in i!s disposi!ive por!ion !ha! !he decision was
wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o !he pro*a!e o& !he codicil. ,he &ights of
the &e*ailing a&ties in said $ase /e&e sub!e$t to the
out$o2e of the &obate of the $odi$il.
A',ICLE 5AB. +he will shall *e disallowed in any o& !he
&ollowing cases#
013 & !he &ormali!ies re,%ired *y law have no! *een complied
wi!hD
023 & !he !es!a!or was insane, or o!herwise men!ally
incapa*le o& ma$ing a will, a! !he !ime o& i!s e6ec%!ionD
0(3 & i! was e6ec%!ed !hro%gh &orce or %nder d%ress, or !he
in&l%ence o& &ear, or !hrea!sD
093 & i! was proc%red *y %nd%e and improper press%re and
in&l%ence, on !he par! o& !he *ene&iciary or o& some o!her
personD
0?3 & !he signa!%re o& !he !es!a!or was proc%red *y &ra%dD
013 & !he !es!a!or ac!ed *y mis!a$e or did no! in!end !ha! !he
ins!r%men! he signed sho%ld *e his will a! !he !ime o& a&&i6ing
his signa!%re !here!o. 0n3
O)AE,A *s. CUA',E'O
55 7<B 1291
+AC,S- Carlos was married !o Cesaria and !hey had (
children. A&!er Cesaria died, Carlos lived %nmarried wi!h
Rosa and !hey had 8 children. )hile living wi!h Rosa, Carlos
had rela!ions wi!h Maria and !hey had 1 children.
S%*se,%en!ly, Carlos married Rosa and !herea&!er made his
will. A! !he !ime !he will was made, Carlos was living wi!h
Ramon while his ho%se was *eing repaired. +he will named
7res. Ro6as as e6ec%!or and Ramon as e6ec%!or in de&a%l!
o& 7res. Ro6as.
Ramon &iled a pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e "oined *y Rosa and
her children. Maria and her children opposed i! on !he
gro%nd !ha! i! was proc%red *y &ra%d, %nd%e press%re and
in&l%ence. +he lower co%r! allowed pro*a!e. +he children o&
!he &irs! marriage appealed.
.ELD- +he imp%!a!ion o& *lindness has no! *een
s%*s!an!ia!ed. )hile wi!nesses !es!i&ied !ha! Carlos had !o
re,%es! !hem !o read repor! and con!rac! !o him d%e !o &ailing
eyesigh!, !hey co%ld no! ass%re !he co%r! !ha! he was in &ac!
*lind. +he deceased was s!ill signing chec$s and co%ld read
papers *y himsel&. +he deceden! also appeared !o *e in &%ll
possession o& his men!al &ac%l!ies.
+he claim !ha! !he will was o*!ained !hro%gh %nd%e
in&l%ence and improper press%re has no s%*s!an!ial *asis *%!
is more ma!!er o& con"ec!%re engendered *y s%spicion which
!he weigh! o& a%!hori!y regards as ins%&&icien! !o s%s!ain a
verdic! de&ea!ing a will on !ha! gro%nd. It is not enough that
the&e /as oo&tunity to e1e&$ise undue influen$e o&
ossibility that it 2ight ha*e been e1e&$ised. ,he&e
2ust be substantial e*iden$e that it /as a$tually
e1e&$ised.
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COSO *s. +E'NANDE)
92 7<B ?51
+AC,S- Frederico was a married man and a residen! o&
!he 7hilippines. <e me! Rosario in Spain and had illici!
rela!ions wi!h her &or many years.
+he will o& Frederico tercio de libre disposicion !o !he
illegi!ima!e son o& !he !es!a!or wi!h Rosario and !o her
paymen! *y way o& reim*%rsemen! &or !he e6penses
inc%rred *y her in !a$ing care o& !he !es!a!or when he is
alleged !o have s%&&ered &rom a sever illness.
+he CF se! aside his will on !he gro%nd o& %nd%e
in&l%ence alleged !o have *een e6ercised over !he mind o&
!he !es!a!or *y Rosario.
.ELD- +he mere or reasona*le in&l%ence over a !es!a!or
is no! s%&&icien! !o invalida!e a will. +he in&l%ence m%s! *e
%nd%e, a $ind !ha! so overpowers !he mind o& !he !es!a!or
as !o des!roy his &ree agency and ma$e him e6press !he
will o& ano!her, ra!her !han his own.
,he 2e&e fa$t that so2e influen$e e1e&$ised by a
e&son sustaining an adulte&ous &elation does not
in*alidate a /ill" unless it is fu&the& sho/n that the
influen$e dest&oys the testato&=s f&ee agen$y. +he
!es!a!or is an in!elligen! man, a lawyer *y pro&ession.
(e&e affe$tion" e*en if illegiti2ate" is not undue
influen$e and does not in*alidate a /ill.
8%! s!ill %nder !he law, !he mis!ress is incapaci!a!ed !o
inheri!.
SEC,ION 4
Institution of .ei&
A',ICLE 59F. Institution of hei& is an ac! *y vir!%e o&
which a !es!a!or designa!es in his will !he person or
persons who are !o s%cceed him in his proper!y and
!ransmissi*le righ!s and o*liga!ions. 0n3
A',ICLE 598. A will shall *e valid even !ho%gh i!
sho%ld no! con!ain an ins!i!%!ion o& an heir, or s%ch
ins!i!%!ion sho%ld no! comprise !he en!ire es!a!e, and even
!ho%gh !he person so ins!i!%!ed sho%ld no! accep! !he
inheri!ance or sho%ld *e incapaci!a!ed !o s%cceed.
n s%ch cases !he !es!amen!ary disposi!ions made in
accordance wi!h law shall *e complied wi!h and !he
remainder o& !he es!a!e shall pass !o !he legal heirs. 04193
A',ICLE 594. -ne who has no comp%lsory heirs may
dispose *y will o& all his es!a!e or any par! o& i! in &avor o&
any person having capaci!y !o s%cceed.
-ne who has comp%lsory heirs may dispose o& his
es!a!e provided he does no! con!ravene !he provisions o&
!his Code wi!h regard !o !he legi!ime o& said heirs. 041(a3
A',ICLE 59A. +he !es!a!or shall designa!e !he heir *y
his name and s%rname, and when !here are !wo persons
having !he same names, he shall indica!e some
circ%ms!ance *y which !he ins!i!%!ed heir may *e $nown.
Cven !ho%gh !he !es!a!or may have omi!!ed !he name
o& !he heir, sho%ld he designa!e him in s%ch manner !ha!
!here can *e no do%*! as !o who has *een ins!i!%!ed, !he
ins!i!%!ion shall *e valid. 04423
A',ICLE 599. An error in !he name, s%rname, or
circ%ms!ances o& !he heir shall no! vi!ia!e !he ins!i!%!ion
when i! is possi*le, in any o!her manner, !o $now wi!h
cer!ain!y !he person ins!i!%!ed.
& among persons having !he same names and
s%rnames, !here is a similari!y o& circ%ms!ances in s%ch a
way !ha!, even wi!h !he %se o& o!her proo&, !he person
ins!i!%!ed canno! *e iden!i&ied, none o& !hem shall *e an
heir. 044(a3
A',ICLE 59:. Cvery disposi!ion in &avor o& an
%n$nown person shall *e void, %nless *y some even! or
circ%ms!ance his iden!i!y *ecomes cer!ain. <owever, a
disposi!ion in &avor o& a de&ini!e class or gro%p o& persons
shall *e valid. 04?2a3
A',ICLE 59;. <eirs ins!i!%!ed wi!ho%! designa!ion o&
shares shall inheri! in e,%al par!s. 041?3
A',ICLE 593. )hen !he !es!a!or ins!i!%!es some heirs
individ%ally and o!hers collec!ively as when he says, A
designa!e as my heirs A and 8, and !he children o& C,A !hose
collec!ively designa!ed shall *e considered as individ%ally
ins!i!%!ed, %nless i! clearly appears !ha! !he in!en!ion o& !he
!es!a!or was o!herwise. 0415a3
NABLE *s. USON
March 12, 1519
+AC,S- +he codicil o& Filomena con!ains !he &ollowing#
AFirs!. declare !ha! all !he proper!y which *elongs !o
me as con"%gal proper!y, re&erred !o in my said !es!amen!,
shall *e !he proper!y o& my a&oresaid h%s*and, /on Ra&ael
SisonD in case all or par! o& said proper!y e6is!s a! my
h%s*andEs dea!h, i! is my will !ha! a! his dea!h my sis!ers and
nieces hereina&!er named s%cceed him as heirs.
ASecond. declare !o *e my sis!ers in law&%l wedloc$ !he
persons named /oQa An!onia ;son, now deceased, who has
le&! !wo da%gh!ers called Maria Rosario, widow, o& Cs!anislao
BengsonD gnacia ;son, married !o /on Ficen!e 7%zonD
C%&emia ;son, now deceased, who is s%rvived *y !hree
da%gh!ers called Maria Sal%d, Maria Amparo, and Maria
As%ncionD and Maria 7ilar ;sonD Maria Manaoag ;son,
%nmarried, iss%e had *y o%r deceased &a!her /on /aniel
;son wi!h one Beonarda Fernandez, alias Andao de
Bingayen, so !ha! !hey may have and en"oy i! in e,%al par!s
as good sis!ers and rela!ives.
.ELD- ,he &oe&ty should be di*ided e0ually bet/een
the li*ing siste&s and the $hild&en of the de$eased
siste&s" sha&e and sha&e ali<e" a nie$e ta<ing the sa2e
sha&e that a siste& &e$ei*es.
+he !es!a!ri6, in !he &irs! paragraph, declares !ha! a&!er
her h%s*andEs dea!h she desires !ha! her sis!ers and nieces
shall s%cceed him as heirs. n !he 2
nd
paragraph, !he nieces
are re&erred !o in no way di&&eren! &rom !he sis!ers.
In that final de$la&ation" the testat&i1 desi&es that the
siste&s and nie$es shall ta<e and en!oy the &oe&ty in
e0ual a&ts. +he !es!a!ri6Es in!en!ion is &airly clear.
A',ICLE 595. & !he !es!a!or sho%ld ins!i!%!e his *ro!hers
and sis!ers, and he has some o& &%ll *lood and o!hers o& hal&
*lood, !he inheri!ance shall *e dis!ri*%!ed e,%ally %nless a
di&&eren! in!en!ion appears. 0442a3
A',ICLE 59B. )hen !he !es!a!or calls !o !he s%ccession a
person and his children !hey are all deemed !o have *een
ins!i!%!ed sim%l!aneo%sly and no! s%ccessively. 04413
A',ICLE 5:F. +he s!a!emen! o& a &alse ca%se &or !he
ins!i!%!ion o& an heir shall *e considered as no! wri!!en,
%nless i! appears &rom !he will !ha! !he !es!a!or wo%ld no!
have made s%ch ins!i!%!ion i& he had $nown !he &alsi!y o& s%ch
ca%se. 0414a3
AUS,'IA *s. 'EYES
Fe*r%ary 24, 1542
+AC,S- +he *%l$ o& !he es!a!e o& 8asilia was des!ined %nder
!he will !o pass on !o !he responden!s, all o& whom had *een
ass%med and declared *y 8asilia as her own legally adop!ed
children.
7e!i!ioners &iled a pe!i!ion in in!erven!ion &or par!i!ion
alleging !ha! !hey are !he neares! o& $in o& 8asilia, and !ha!
!he responden!s had no! in &ac! *een adop!ed *y !he
deceden! in accordance wi!h law, rendering !hese
responden!s mere s!rangers !o !he deceden! and wi!ho%! any
righ! !o s%cceed as heirs. +he co%r! allowed !he in!erven!ion.
A&!er ( years a&!er !ha! !hey were allowed !o in!ervene,
pe!i!ioners moved !o se! &or hearing !he ma!!er on
gen%ineness o& !he adop!ion.
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.ELD- ,he institution of hei&s /ould &etain effi$a$y in
the e*ent the&e e1ists &oof that the adotion of the
sa2e hei&s by the de$edent is false.
+he pe!i!ioners seems !o imply, &rom !he %se o& !he
!erms, Asapili!ang !agapagmanaA 0comp%lsory heirs3 and
Asapili!ang manaA 0legi!ime3, !ha! !he impelling reason or
ca%se &or !he ins!i!%!ion o& !he responden!s was !he
!es!a!ri6Es *elie& !ha! %nder !he law she co%ld no! do
o!herwise. & !his were indeed wha! promp!ed !he !es!a!ri6
in ins!i!%!ing !he responden!s, she did no! ma$e i! $nown
in her will. & she was aware !ha! s%ccession !o !he
legi!ime !a$es place *y opera!ion o& law, independen! o&
her own wishes, she wo%ld no! have &o%nd i! convenien!
!o name her s%pposed comp%lsory heirs !o !heir legi!imes.
,he de$edent@s /ill does not state in a se$ifi$ o&
une0ui*o$al 2anne& the $ause fo& su$h institution of
hei&s. It $annot be annulled on the basis of guess/o&<
o& un$e&tain i2li$ations.
S%ch ins!i!%!ion may *e ann%lled only when one is
sa!is&ied, a&!er an e6amina!ion o& !he will, !ha! !he !es!a!or
clearly wo%ld no! have made !he ins!i!%!ion i& he had
$nown !he ca%se &or i! !o *e &alse.
A! all even!s, !he legali!y o& !he adop!ion o& !he
responden!s *y !he !es!a!ri6 can *e assailed only in a
separa!e ac!ion *ro%gh! &or !ha! p%rpose, and canno! *e
!he s%*"ec! o& a colla!eral a!!ac$.
A',ICLE 5:8. & !he !es!a!or has ins!i!%!ed only one
heir, and !he ins!i!%!ion is limi!ed !o an ali,%o! par! o& !he
inheri!ance, legal s%ccession !a$es place wi!h respec! !o
!he remainder o& !he es!a!e.
+he same r%le applies, i& !he !es!a!or has ins!i!%!ed
several heirs each *eing limi!ed !o an ali,%o! par!, and all
!he par!s do no! cover !he whole inheri!ance. 0n3
A',ICLE 5:4. & i! was !he in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or !ha!
!he ins!i!%!ed heirs sho%ld *ecome sole heirs !o !he whole
es!a!e, or !he whole &ree por!ion, as !he case may *e, and
each o& !hem has *een ins!i!%!ed !o an ali,%o! par! o& !he
inheri!ance and !heir ali,%o! par!s !oge!her do no! cover
!he whole inheri!ance, or !he whole &ree por!ion, each par!
shall *e increased propor!ionally. 0n3
A',ICLE 5:A. & each o& !he ins!i!%!ed heirs has *een
given an ali,%o! par! o& !he inheri!ance, and !he par!s
!oge!her e6ceed !he whole inheri!ance, or !he whole &ree
por!ion, as !he case may *e, each par! shall *e red%ced
propor!ionally. 0n3
A',ICLE 5:9. +he pre!eri!ion or omission o& one,
some, or all o& !he comp%lsory heirs in !he direc! line,
whe!her living a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will or
*orn a&!er !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or, shall ann%l !he
ins!i!%!ion o& heirD *%! !he devises and legacies shall *e
valid inso&ar as !hey are no! ino&&icio%s.
& !he omi!!ed comp%lsory heirs sho%ld die *e&ore !he
!es!a!or, !he ins!i!%!ion shall *e e&&ec!%al, wi!ho%! pre"%dice
!o !he righ! o& represen!a!ion. 0819a3
(ALOLES II *s. #.ILI#S
Jan%ary (1, 222
+AC,S- /r. de San!os &iled a pe!i!ion &or pro*a!e o& his
will. n his pe!i!ion, /r. /e San!os alleged !ha! he had no
comp%lsory heirs and !ha! he had named in his will as
sole lega!ee and devisee !he Ar!%ro de San!os
Fo%nda!ion, nc. +he pe!i!ion &or !he allowance o& !he said
will was approved and allowed. Maloles &iled a mo!ion
&or in!erven!ion claiming !ha!, as !he only child o& Alicia de
San!os 0!es!a!orEs sis!er3 and -c!avio B. Maloles, Sr., he
was !he sole &%ll@*looded nephew and neares! o& $in o& /r.
/e San!os. <e li$ewise alleged !ha! he was a credi!or o&
!he !es!a!or.
.ELD- Maloles is no! an heir or lega!ee %nder !he will
o& !he deceden!. .ei!her is he a comp%lsory heir o& !he
la!!er. As the only and nea&est $ollate&al &elati*e of the
de$edent" he $an inhe&it f&o2 the latte& only in $ase of
intesta$y. Since !he deceden! has le&! a will which has
already *een pro*a!ed and disposes o& all his proper!ies !he
priva!e responden! can inheri! only i& !he said will is ann%lled.
<is claim !o *eing a credi!or o& !he es!a!e is a *ela!ed
one, having *een raised &or !he &irs! !ime only in his reply !o
!he opposi!ion !o his mo!ion !o in!ervene, and, as &ar as !he
records show, no! s%ppor!ed *y evidence.
It has been held that an Einte&ested e&sonE is one
/ho /ould be benefited by the estate" su$h as an hei&" o&
one /ho has a $lai2 against the estate" su$h as a
$&edito&" and /hose inte&est is 2ate&ial and di&e$t" not
2e&ely in$idental o& $ontingent.
ACAIN *s. IAC
-c!o*er 24, 1584
+AC,S- Cons!an!ino &iled a pe!i!ion &or !he pro*a!e o& !he
will o& !he la!e .emesio. +he will provided !ha! all his shares
&rom proper!ies he earned wi!h his wi&e shall *e given !o his
*ro!her Seg%ndo 0&a!her o& Cons!an!ino3. n case Seg%ndo
dies, all s%ch proper!y shall *e given !o Seg%ndo=s children.
Seg%ndo pre@deceased .emesio.
+he opposi!ors Firginia, a legally adop!ed da%gh!er o&
!he deceased, and !he la!!erEs widow Rosa &iled a mo!ion !o
dismiss on !he &ollowing gro%nds#
013 !he pe!i!ioner has no legal capaci!y !o ins!i!%!e !hese
proceedingsD
023 he is merely a %niversal heir and
0(3 !he widow and !he adop!ed da%gh!er have *een
pre!eri!ed.
.ELD- #&ete&ition consis!s in !he omission in !he !es!a!orEs
will o& !he &orced heirs or anyone o& !hem ei!her *eca%se !hey
are no! men!ioned !herein, or, !ho%gh men!ioned, !hey are
nei!her ins!i!%!ed as heirs nor are e6pressly disinheri!ed.
nso&ar as !he widow is concerned, Ar!icle 8?9 may no!
apply as she does no! ascend or descend &rom !he !es!a!or,
al!ho%gh she is a comp%lsory heir. E*en if the su&*i*ing
souse is a $o2ulso&y hei&" the&e is no &ete&ition e*en
if she is o2itted f&o2 the inhe&itan$e" fo& she is not in
the di&e$t line.
+he same !hing canno! *e said o& !he o!her responden!
Firginia, whose legal adop!ion *y !he !es!a!or has no! *een
,%es!ioned *y pe!i!ioner. Adotion gi*es to the adoted
e&son the sa2e &ights and duties as if he /e&e a
legiti2ate $hild of the adote& and 2a<es the adoted
e&son a legal hei& of the adote&. ! canno! *e denied !ha!
she was !o!ally omi!!ed and pre!eri!ed in !he will o& !he
!es!a!or and !ha! *o!h adop!ed child and !he widow were
deprived o& a! leas! !heir legi!ime. .ei!her can i! *e denied
!ha! !hey were no! e6pressly disinheri!ed. +his is a clear case
o& pre!eri!ion o& !he legally adop!ed child.
7re!eri!ion ann%ls !he ins!i!%!ion o& an heir and
ann%lmen! !hrows open !o in!es!a!e s%ccession !he en!ire
inheri!ance. +he only provisions which do no! res%l! in
in!es!acy are !he legacies and devises made in !he will &or
!hey sho%ld s!and valid and respec!ed, e6cep! inso&ar as !he
legi!imes are concerned.
+he %niversal ins!i!%!ion o& pe!i!ioner !oge!her wi!h his
*ro!hers and sis!ers !o !he en!ire inheri!ance o& !he !es!a!or
res%l!s in !o!ally a*roga!ing !he will *eca%se !he n%lli&ica!ion
o& s%ch ins!i!%!ion o& %niversal heirs @ wi!ho%! any o!her
!es!amen!ary disposi!ion in !he will @ amo%n!s !o a declara!ion
!ha! no!hing a! all was wri!!en.
n order !ha! a person may *e allowed !o in!ervene in a
pro*a!e proceeding he m%s! have an in!eres! in !he es!a!e, or
in !he will, or in !he proper!y !o *e a&&ec!ed *y i!. 7e!i!ioner is
no! !he appoin!ed e6ec%!or, nei!her a devisee or a lega!ee
!here *eing no men!ion in !he !es!amen!ary disposi!ion o& any
gi&! o& an individ%al i!em o& personal or real proper!y he is
called %pon !o receive. A! !he o%!se!, he appears !o have an
in!eres! in !he will as an heir. <owever, in!es!acy having
res%l!ed &rom !he pre!eri!ion o& responden! adop!ed child and
!he %niversal ins!i!%!ion o& heirs, pe!i!ioner is in e&&ec! no! an
heir o& !he !es!a!or. <e has no legal s!anding !o pe!i!ion &or
!he pro*a!e o& !he will le&! *y !he deceased.
NON *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 1?, 2222
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+AC,S- 7e!i!ioners con!ended !ha! !he la!e .ilo
employed &orgery and %nd%e in&l%ence !o coerce J%lian !o
e6ec%!e !he deed o& dona!ion. 7e!i!ioner Re*ecca averred
!ha! her *ro!her .ilo employed &ra%d !o proc%re her
signa!%re !o !he deed o& e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!. She
added !ha! !he e6cl%sion o& her re!arda!e sis!er, /elia
Fiado, in !he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!, res%l!ed in !he
la!!erEs pre!eri!ion !ha! sho%ld warran! i!s ann%lmen!.
.ELD- )hen Firginia died in!es!a!e, her par! o& !he
con"%gal proper!y, !he sarog proper!y incl%ded, was
!ransmi!!ed !o her heirs I her h%s*and J%lian and !heir
children. +he inheri!ance, which ves!ed &rom !he momen!
o& dea!h o& !he deceden!, remained %nder a co@ownership
regime among !he heirs %n!il par!i!ion.
7e!i!ioners are vag%e on how and in wha! manner
&ra%d, &orgery and %nd%e in&l%ence occ%rred.
+he e6cl%sion o& pe!i!ioner /elia Fiado, alleged !o *e
a re!arda!e, &rom !he deed o& e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! verily
has had !he e&&ec! o& pre!eri!ion. +his $ind o& pre!eri!ion,
however, in !he a*sence o& proo& o& &ra%d and *ad &ai!h,
does no! "%s!i&y a colla!eral a!!ac$ on !he +C+ iss%ed. +he
relie& ins!ead res!s on Ar!icle 1129 o& !he Civil Code !o !he
e&&ec! !ha! /he&e the &ete&ition is not attended by bad
faith and f&aud" the a&tition shall not be &es$inded
but the &ete&ited hei& shall be aid the *alue of the
sha&e e&taining to he&. Again, !he appella!e co%r! has
!h%s ac!ed properly in ordering !he remand o& !he case &or
&%r!her proceedings !o ma$e !he proper val%a!ion o& !he
sarog proper!y and ascer!ainmen! o& !he amo%n! d%e
pe!i!ioner /elia Fiado.
NE'I *s. A,ULIN
May 21, 159(
+AC,S- n his will, !he !es!a!or le&! all his proper!y *y
%niversal !i!le !o !he children *y his second marriage wi!h
pre!eri!ion o& !he children *y his &irs! marriage.
.ELD- +he !es!a!or le&! all his proper!y *y %niversal !i!le
!o !he children *y his second marriage, and !ha! wi!ho%!
e6pressly disinheri!ing !he children *y his &irs! marriage,
he le&! no!hing !o !hem or, a! leas!, some o& !hem. +his is a
case o& pre!eri!ion governed *y Ar!icle 819 0Ar!icle 8?93 o&
!he Civil Code, which provides !ha! !he ins!i!%!ion o& heirs
shall *e ann%lled and in!es!a!e s%ccession sho%ld *e
declared open.
+he !heory is advanced !ha! !he *e,%es! made *y
%niversal !i!le in &avor o& !he children *y !he second
marriage sho%ld *e !rea!ed as legacy and devise and,
accordingly, i! m%s! no! *e en!irely ann%lled *%! merely
red%ced. +his !heory, i& adop!ed, will res%l! in a comple!e
a*roga!ion o& Ar!icles 819 and 8?1 o& !he Civil Code.
In a $ase of &ete&ition /he&e in /hi$h the /hole
&oe&ty is left to one o& so2e fo&$ed hei&s" the total
nullity of the testa2enta&y disosition /ould ha*e the
effe$t" not of de&i*ing totally the instituted hei& of his
sha&e in the inhe&itan$e" but of la$ing hi2 and the
othe& fo&$ed hei&s uon the basis of e0uality.
(ANINAN% *s. CA
J%ne 15, 1582
+AC,S- Clemencia, le&! a holographic will which provides
!ha! all her proper!ies shall *e inheri!ed *y /ra. Maninang
wi!h whose &amily Clemencia has lived con!in%o%sly &or
!he las! (2 years. +he will also provided !ha! she does no!
consider 8ernardo as his adop!ed son. 8ernardo, as !he
adop!ed son, claims !o *e !he sole heir o& deceden!
Clemencia Asene!a, ins!i!%!ed in!es!a!e proceedings.
.ELD- n !he ins!an! case, a cr%cial iss%e !ha! calls &or
resol%!ion is whe!her %nder !he !erms o& !he deceden!Es
)ill, priva!e responden! had *een pre!eri!ed or
disinheri!ed, and i& !he la!!er, whe!her i! was a valid
disinheri!ance. #&ete&ition and disinhe&itan$e a&e t/o
di*e&se $on$ets.
#&ete&ition consis!s in !he omission in !he !es!a!orEs
will o& !he &orced heirs or anyone o& !hem, ei!her *eca%se
!hey are no! men!ioned !herein, or, !ho%gh men!ioned,
!hey are nei!her ins!i!%!ed as heirs nor are e6pressly
disinheri!ed. Disinhe&itan$e is a !es!amen!ary disposi!ion
depriving any comp%lsory heirs o& his share in !he legi!ime &or
a ca%se a%!horized *y law.
8y vir!%e o& !he dismissal o& !he !es!a!e case, !he
de!ermina!ion o& !ha! con!roversial iss%e has no! *een
!horo%ghly considered. +he concl%sion o& !he !rial co%r! was
!ha! 8ernardo has *een pre!eri!ed. +he SC is o& opinion,
however, !ha! &rom !he &ace o& !he will, !ha! concl%sion is no!
ind%*i!a*le. S%ch pre!eri!ion is s!ill ,%es!iona*le. +he
Special 7roceeding is RCMA./C/ !o !he lower co%r!
,A(AYO *s. ,A(AYO
A%g%s! 12, 222?
07re!eri!ion no! men!ioned in !he r%ling3
+AC,S- 7e!i!ioners are hal&@si*lings o& !he responden!s.
7e!i!ioners &iled a complain! &or !he revoca!ion o& !he said
dona!ion, alleging !hey were pre!eri!ed. CA dismissed !heir
appeal &or &ail%re !o pay !he corresponding doc$e! &ees.
.ELD- CA was correc! in dismissing !he appeal. +ailu&e to
ay the &e0ui&ed do$<et fees /ill &esult to the dis2issal
of the aeal.
6L, A%'O *s. BALANSA%
March 11, 222?
+AC,S- J%lian married An!onia and !hey had 2 children.
A&!er An!onia=s dea!h, J%lian married Milagros and !hey had 9
children. A compromise agreemen! was en!ered wherein i!
was !o *e owned in common *y J%lian and his 2 children
&rom !he 1
s!
marriage.
+he ( o& !hem e6ec%!ed a /eed o& Assignmen! o& Asse!s
and Bia*ili!ies in &avor o& JB+ Agro. A S%pplemen!al /eed
was la!er e6ec%!ed !rans&erring ownership over !he lo! in
&avor o& JB+ Agro. Meanwhile, Milagros and her children
!oo$ possession over !he s%*"ec! lo!. 8alansag also *o%gh!
!he said lo! &rom Milagros.
.ELD- +he appella!e co%r! erred in holding !ha! &%!%re
legi!ime can *e de!ermined, ad"%dica!ed and reserved prior !o
!he dea!h o& /on J%lian. A! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he
deed o& assignmen! covering !he lo! in ,%es!ion in &avor o&
pe!i!ioner, J%lian remained !he owner o& !he proper!y since
ownership over !he s%*"ec! lo! wo%ld only pass !o his heirs
&rom !he second marriage a! !he !ime o& his dea!h.
/on J%lian did no! e6ec%!e a will since wha! he resor!ed
!o was a par!i!ion in!er vivos o& his proper!ies, as evidenced
*y !he co%r! approved Compromise Agreemen!. ! is
prema!%re i& no! irrelevan! !o spea$ o& pre!eri!ion prior !o !he
dea!h o& /on J%lian in !he a*sence o& a will depriving a legal
heir o& his legi!ime. 8esides, !here are o!her proper!ies which
!he heirs &rom !he second marriage co%ld inheri! &rom /on
J%lian %pon his dea!h. <ence, the total o2ission f&o2
inhe&itan$e of Don 6ulian@s hei&s f&o2 the se$ond
2a&&iage" a &e0ui&e2ent fo& &ete&ition to e1ist" is ha&dly
i2aginable as it is unfounded.
A',ICLE 5::. +he share o& a child or descendan! omi!!ed
in a will m%s! &irs! *e !a$en &rom !he par! o& !he es!a!e no!
disposed o& *y !he will, i& anyD i& !ha! is no! s%&&icien!, so m%ch
as may *e necessary m%s! *e !a$en propor!ionally &rom !he
shares o& !he o!her comp%lsory heirs. 01282a3
A',ICLE 5:;. A vol%n!ary heir who dies *e&ore !he
!es!a!or !ransmi!s no!hing !o his heirs.
A comp%lsory heir who dies *e&ore !he !es!a!or, a person
incapaci!a!ed !o s%cceed, and one who reno%nces !he
inheri!ance, shall !ransmi! no righ! !o his own heirs e6cep! in
cases e6pressly provided &or in !his Code. 0411a3
SEC,ION A
Substitution of .ei&s
A',ICLE 5:3. S%*s!i!%!ion is !he appoin!men! o& ano!her
heir so !ha! he may en!er in!o !he inheri!ance in de&a%l! o& !he
heir originally ins!i!%!ed. 0n3
A',ICLE 5:5. S%*s!i!%!ion o& heirs may *e#
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013 Simple or commonD
023 8rie& or compendio%sD
0(3 ReciprocalD or
093 Fideicommissary. 0n3
A',ICLE 5:B. +he !es!a!or may designa!e one or more
persons !o s%*s!i!%!e !he heir or heirs ins!i!%!ed in case
s%ch heir or heirs sho%ld die *e&ore him, or sho%ld no!
wish, or sho%ld *e incapaci!a!ed !o accep! !he inheri!ance.
A simple s%*s!i!%!ion, wi!ho%! a s!a!emen! o& !he
cases !o which i! re&ers, shall comprise !he !hree
men!ioned in !he preceding paragraph, %nless !he !es!a!or
has o!herwise provided. 04493
'ABADILLA *s. CA
J%ne 25, 2222
+AC,S- n !he codicil o& !es!a!ri6, Ra*adilla was ins!i!%!ed
as a devisee o& a lo!, con!aining !he &ollowing provisions#
1. Ra*adilla shall have !he o*liga!ion %n!il he dies,
every year, !o give !o 8elleza 122 pic%ls o& s%gar
%n!il 8elleza diesD
2. Sho%ld Ra*adilla die, his heir !o whom he shall
give !he lo! shall have !o o*liga!ion !o s!ill give
yearly !he s%gar as speci&ied !o 8ellezaD
(. n !he even! !ha! !he lo! is sold, leased or
mor!gaged, !he *%yer, lessee, mor!gagee, shall
have also !he o*liga!ion !o respec! and deliver
yearly s%gar !o 8elleza. Sho%ld !he command *e
no! respec!ed, 8elleza shall immedia!ely seize
!he lo! and !%rn i! over !o !he !es!a!ri6= near
descendan!s.
.ELD- ,his is not a $ase of si2le substitution. +he
codicil did no! provide !ha! sho%ld Ra*adilla de&a%l! d%e !o
predecease, incapaci!y or ren%ncia!ion, !he !es!a!ri6= near
descendan!s wo%ld s%*s!i!%!e him.
Neithe& is the&e a fidei$o22issa&y substitution.
<ere, !he ins!i!%!ed heir is in &ac! allowed %nder !he Codicil
!o aliena!e !he proper!y provided !he nego!ia!ion is wi!h
!he near descendan!s or !he sis!er o& !he !es!a!ri6. Also,
!he near descendan!s= righ! !o inheri! &rom !he !es!a!ri6 is
no! de&ini!e. ! will only pass !o !hem i& !he o*liga!ion !o
deliver is no! &%l&illed. Moreover, a &ideicommissary
s%*s!i!%!ion is void i& !he &irs! heir is no! rela!ed *y &irs!
degree !o !he second degree. n !his case, !he near
descendan!s are no! a! all rela!ed !o /r. Ra*adilla.
,his is also not a $onditional institution. +he
!es!a!ri6 did no! ma$e Ra*adilla=s inheri!ance dependen!
on !he per&ormance o& !he said o*liga!ion. Since
!es!amen!ary disposi!ions are generally ac!s o& li*erali!y,
an o*liga!ion imposed %pon !he heir sho%ld no! *e
considered a condi!ion %nless i! clearly appears &rom !he
will i!sel& !ha! s%ch was !he in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or. n
case o& do%*!, !he ins!i!%!ion sho%ld *e considered as
modal and no! condi!ional.
,he 2anne& of institution is 2odal *eca%se i!
imposes a charge %pon !he ins!i!%!ed heir wi!ho%!
a&&ec!ing !he e&&icacy o& s%ch ins!i!%!ion. A 2ode imposes
an o*liga!ion %pon !he heir or lega!ee *%! i! does no!
a&&ec! !he e&&icacy o& his righ!s !o !he s%ccession. n a
condi!ional !es!amen!ary disposi!ion, !he condi!ion m%s!
happen or *e &%l&illed in order &or !he heir !o *e en!i!led !o
s%cceed !he !es!a!or. +he condi!ion s%spends *%! does
no! o*liga!e. +he mode o*liga!es *%! does no! s%spend.
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ 'A(I'E) *s. 7DA. DE
'A(I'E)
Fe*r%ary 1?, 1582
+AC,S- +he principal *ene&iciaries o& Jose are his
widow, his 2 grandnephews and his companion )anda.
+he widow is a French who lives in 7aris, while !he
companion )anda is an A%s!rian who lives in Spain.
Moreover, !he !es!a!or provided &or s%*s!i!%!ions.
Jose, a Filipino, died in Spain wi!h only his widow as
comp%lsory heir. A pro"ec! par!i!ion was s%*mi!!ed
wherein -ne par! shall go !o !he widow and !he o!her par!
or A&ree por!ionA shall go !o !he grandnephews. ! was
provided !ha! 1'( o& !he &ree por!ion is charged wi!h !he
widowEs %s%&r%c! and !he remaining 2'( wi!h a %s%&r%c! in
&avor o& )anda.
+he grandnephews opposed !he pro"ec! o& par!i!ion and
one o& !he gro%nds was !ha! !he provisions &or
&ideicommissary s%*s!i!%!ions are invalid *eca%se !he &irs!
heirs are no! rela!ed !o !he second heirs or s%*s!i!%!es wi!hin
!he &irs! degree.
.ELD- ,he fidei$o22issa&y substitution is *oid. +he
s%*s!i!%!es are no! rela!ed !o )anda. +he se$ond hei& 2ust
be &elated to and be one gene&ation f&o2 the fi&st hei&. !
&ollows !ha! !he &ideicommissary can only *e ei!her a child or
a paren! o& !he &irs! heir.
+here&ore, 1'2 o& !he es!a!e which is !he &ree por!ion
goes !o Ro*er!o and Jorge Ramirez in na$ed ownership and
!he %s%&r%c! !o )anda de )ro*les$i wi!h a simple
s%*s!i!%!ion in &avor o& J%an 7a*lo Jan$ows$i and <orace F.
Ramirez, !he s%*s!i!%!es.
A&ti$le 5;F. +wo or more persons may *e s%*s!i!%!ed &or
one, and one person &or !wo or more heirs.
A&ti$le 5;8. & heirs ins!i!%!ed in %ne,%al shares sho%ld
*e reciprocally s%*s!i!%!ed, !he s%*s!i!%!e shall ac,%ire !he
share o& !he heir who dies, reno%nces, or is incapaci!a!ed,
%nless i! clearly appears !ha! !he in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or was
o!herwise. & !here are more !han one s%*s!i!%!e, !hey shall
have !he same share in !he s%*s!i!%!ion as in !he ins!i!%!ion.
0445a3
A',ICLE 5;4. +he s%*s!i!%!e shall *e s%*"ec! !o !he same
charges and condi!ions imposed %pon !he ins!i!%!ed heir,
%nless !he !es!a!or has e6pressly provided !he con!rary, or
!he charges or condi!ions are personally applica*le only !o
!he heir ins!i!%!ed. 04823
A',ICLE 5;A. A fidei$o22issa&y substitution *y vir!%e
o& which !he &id%ciary or &irs! heir ins!i!%!ed is en!r%s!ed wi!h
!he o*liga!ion !o preserve and !o !ransmi! !o a second heir !he
whole or par! o& !he inheri!ance, shall *e valid and shall !a$e
e&&ec!, provided s%ch s%*s!i!%!ion does no! go *eyond one
degree &rom !he heir originally ins!i!%!ed, and provided
&%r!her, !ha! !he &id%ciary or &irs! heir and !he second heir are
living a! !he !ime o& !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or. 0481a3
#CIB *s. ESCOLINM #CIB *s. #ABLICO
March 25, 1549
+AC,S- Binnie <odges died leaving a will which s!a!es !ha!
a! !he dea!h o& her h%s*and, Charles <odges, she gives,
devises and *e,%ea!hs all o& !he res!, resid%e and remainder
o& her es!a!e, *o!h real and personal, wherever si!%a!ed or
loca!ed, !o *e e,%ally divided among her *ro!hers and
sis!ers, share and share ali$e. Charles died. 8e&ore Charles=
dea!h, he e6ec%!ed an a&&idavi! wherein he ra!i&ied and
con&irmed all !ha! he s!a!ed in !he es!a!e !a6 re!%rns as !o his
having reno%nced wha! was given him *y his wi&eEs will.
7C8 con!ended !ha!, viewed as a s%*s!i!%!ion, !he
!es!amen!ary disposi!ion in &avor o& Mrs. <odgesE *ro!hers
and sis!ers may no! *e given e&&ec!.
.ELD- Mrs. <odgesE will provides neithe& fo& a si2le o&
*ulga& substitution unde& A&ti$le 5:B of the Ci*il Code
no& fo& a fidei$o22issa&y substitution unde& A&ti$le 5;A
the&eof. +here is no v%lgar s%*s!i!%!ion !herein *eca%se
!here is no provision &or ei!her 013 predecease o& !he !es!a!or
*y !he designa!ed heir or 023 re&%sal or 0(3 incapaci!y o& !he
la!!er !o accep! !he inheri!ance, as re,%ired *y Ar!icle 8?5D
and nei!her is !here a &ideicommissary s%*s!i!%!ion !herein
*eca%se no o*liga!ion is imposed !here*y %pon <odges !o
preserve !he es!a!e or any par! !hereo& &or anyone else.
+he *ro!hers and sis!ers o& Mrs. <odges are no!
s%*s!i!%!es &or <odges *eca%se, %nder her will, !hey are no!
!o inheri! wha! <odges canno!, wo%ld no! or may no! inheri!,
*%! wha! he wo%ld no! dispose o& &rom his inheri!anceD ra!her,
!here&ore, !hey are also heirs ins!i!%!ed sim%l!aneo%sly wi!h
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<odges, s%*"ec!, however, !o cer!ain condi!ions, par!ially
resol%!ory inso&ar as <odges was concerned and
correspondingly s%spensive wi!h re&erence !o his *ro!hers
and sis!ers@in@law.
! is par!ially resol%!ory, since i! *e,%ea!hs %n!o
<odges !he whole o& her es!a!e !o *e owned and en"oyed
*y him as %niversal and sole heir wi!h a*sol%!e dominion
over !hem only d%ring his li&e!ime, which means !ha! while
he co%ld comple!ely and a*sol%!ely dispose o& any por!ion
!hereo& in!er vivos !o anyone o!her !han himsel&, he was
no! &ree !o do so mor!is ca%sa, and all his righ!s !o wha!
migh! remain %pon his dea!h wo%ld cease en!irely %pon
!he occ%rrence o& !ha! con!ingency, inasm%ch as !he righ!
o& his *ro!hers and sis!ers@in@law !o !he inheri!ance,
al!ho%gh ves!ed already %pon !he dea!h o& Mrs. <odges,
wo%ld a%!oma!ically *ecome opera!ive %pon !he
occ%rrence o& !he dea!h o& <odges in !he even! o& ac!%al
e6is!ence o& any remainder o& her es!a!e !hen.
A',ICLE 5;9. A &ideicommissary s%*s!i!%!ion can
never *%rden !he legi!ime. 0482a3
A',ICLE 5;:. Cvery &ideicommissary s%*s!i!%!ion m%s!
*e e6pressly made in order !ha! i! may *e valid.
+he &id%ciary shall *e o*liged !o deliver !he
inheri!ance !o !he second heir, wi!ho%! o!her ded%c!ions
!han !hose which arise &rom legi!ima!e e6penses, credi!s
and improvemen!s, save in !he case where !he !es!a!or
has provided o!herwise. 048(3
A',ICLE 5;;. +he second heir shall ac,%ire a righ! !o
!he s%ccession &rom !he !ime o& !he !es!a!orEs dea!h, even
!ho%gh he sho%ld die *e&ore !he &id%ciary. +he righ! o& !he
second heir shall pass !o his heirs. 04893
A',ICLE 5;3. +he &ollowing shall no! !a$e e&&ec!#
013 Fideicommissary s%*s!i!%!ions which are no! made in
an e6press manner, ei!her *y giving !hem !his name, or
imposing %pon !he &id%ciary !he a*sol%!e o*liga!ion !o
deliver !he proper!y !o a second heirD
023 7rovisions which con!ain a perpe!%al prohi*i!ion !o
aliena!e, and even a !emporary one, *eyond !he limi! &i6ed
in Ar!icle 81(D
0(3 +hose which impose %pon !he heir !he charge o&
paying !o vario%s persons s%ccessively, *eyond !he limi!
prescri*ed in Ar!icle 81(, a cer!ain income or pensionD
093 +hose which leave !o a person !he whole or par! o&
!he heredi!ary proper!y in order !ha! he may apply or
inves! !he same according !o secre! ins!r%c!ions
comm%nica!ed !o him *y !he !es!a!or. 048?a3
A',ICLE 5;5. +he n%lli!y o& !he &ideicommissary
s%*s!i!%!ion does no! pre"%dice !he validi!y o& !he
ins!i!%!ion o& !he heirs &irs! designa!edD !he
&ideicommissary cla%se shall simply *e considered as no!
wri!!en. 04813

A',ICLE 5;B. A provision where*y !he !es!a!or leaves
!o a person !he whole or par! o& !he inheri!ance, and !o
ano!her !he %s%&r%c!, shall *e valid. & he gives !he
%s%&r%c! !o vario%s persons, no! sim%l!aneo%sly, *%!
s%ccessively, !he provisions o& ar!icle 81( shall apply.
0484a3
A',ICLE 53F. +he disposi!ions o& !he !es!a!or
declaring all or par! o& !he es!a!e inaliena*le &or more !han
!wen!y years are void. 0n3
SEC,ION 9
Conditional ,esta2enta&y Disositions and
,esta2enta&y Disositions With a ,e&2
A',ICLE 538. +he ins!i!%!ion o& an heir may *e made
condi!ionally, or &or a cer!ain p%rpose or ca%se. 0452a3
A',ICLE 534. +he !es!a!or canno! impose any charge,
condi!ion, or s%*s!i!%!ion wha!soever %pon !he legi!imes
prescri*ed in !his Code. Sho%ld he do so, !he same shall *e
considered as no! imposed. 081(a3
A',ICLE 53A. mpossi*le condi!ions and !hose con!rary
!o law or good c%s!oms shall *e considered as no! imposed
and shall in no manner pre"%dice !he heir, even i& !he !es!a!or
sho%ld o!herwise provide. 0452a3
A',ICLE 539. An a*sol%!e condi!ion no! !o con!rac! a &irs!
or s%*se,%en! marriage shall *e considered as no! wri!!en
%nless s%ch condi!ion has *een imposed on !he widow or
widower *y !he deceased spo%se, or *y !he la!!erEs
ascendan!s or descendan!s.
.ever!heless, !he righ! o& %s%&r%c!, or an allowance or
some personal pres!a!ion may *e devised or *e,%ea!hed !o
any person &or !he !ime d%ring which he or she sho%ld remain
%nmarried or in widowhood. 045(a3
A',ICLE 53:. Any disposi!ion made %pon !he condi!ion
!ha! !he heir shall ma$e some provision in his will in &avor o&
!he !es!a!or or o& any o!her person shall *e void. 0459a3
A',ICLE 53;. Any p%rely po!es!a!ive condi!ion imposed
%pon an heir m%s! *e &%l&illed *y him as soon as he learns o&
!he !es!a!orEs dea!h.
+his r%le shall no! apply when !he condi!ion, already
complied wi!h, canno! *e &%l&illed again.
A',ICLE 533. & !he condi!ion is cas%al or mi6ed, i! shall
*e s%&&icien! i& i! happen or *e &%l&illed a! any !ime *e&ore or
a&!er !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or, %nless he has provided
o!herwise.
Sho%ld i! have e6is!ed or sho%ld i! have *een &%l&illed a!
!he !ime !he will was e6ec%!ed and !he !es!a!or was %naware
!hereo&, i! shall *e deemed as complied wi!h.
& he had $nowledge !hereo&, !he condi!ion shall *e
considered &%l&illed only when i! is o& s%ch a na!%re !ha! i! can
no longer e6is! or *e complied wi!h again. 04513
A',ICLE 535. A disposi!ion wi!h a s%spensive !erm does
no! preven! !he ins!i!%!ed heir &rom ac,%iring his righ!s and
!ransmi!!ing !hem !o his heirs even *e&ore !he arrival o& !he
!erm. 0455a3
A',ICLE 53B. & !he po!es!a!ive condi!ion imposed %pon
!he heir is nega!ive, or consis!s in no! doing or no! giving
some!hing, he shall comply *y giving a sec%ri!y !ha! he will
no! do or give !ha! which has *een prohi*i!ed *y !he !es!a!or,
and !ha! in case o& con!raven!ion he will re!%rn wha!ever he
may have received, !oge!her wi!h i!s &r%i!s and in!eres!s.
0822a3
A',ICLE 55F. & !he heir *e ins!i!%!ed %nder a s%spensive
condi!ion or !erm, !he es!a!e shall *e placed %nder
adminis!ra!ion %n!il !he condi!ion is &%l&illed, or %n!il i!
*ecomes cer!ain !ha! i! canno! *e &%l&illed, or %n!il !he arrival
o& !he !erm.
+he same shall *e done i& !he heir does no! give !he
sec%ri!y re,%ired in !he preceding ar!icle. 0821a3
A',ICLE 558. +he appoin!men! o& !he adminis!ra!or o& !he
es!a!e men!ioned in !he preceding ar!icle, as well as !he
manner o& !he adminis!ra!ion and !he righ!s and o*liga!ions o&
!he adminis!ra!or shall *e governed *y !he R%les o& Co%r!.
0829a3
A',ICLE 554. +he s!a!emen! o& !he o*"ec! o& !he
ins!i!%!ion, or !he applica!ion o& !he proper!y le&! *y !he
!es!a!or, or !he charge imposed *y him, shall no! *e
considered as a condi!ion %nless i! appears !ha! s%ch was his
in!en!ion.
+ha! which has *een le&! in !his manner may *e claimed
a! once provided !ha! !he ins!i!%!ed heir or his heirs give
sec%ri!y &or compliance wi!h !he wishes o& !he !es!a!or and &or
!he re!%rn o& any!hing he or !hey may receive, !oge!her wi!h
38
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i!s &r%i!s and in!eres!s, i& he or !hey sho%ld disregard !his
o*liga!ion. 0454a3
A',ICLE 55A. )hen wi!ho%! !he &a%l! o& !he heir, an
ins!i!%!ion re&erred !o in !he preceding ar!icle canno! !a$e
e&&ec! in !he e6ac! manner s!a!ed *y !he !es!a!or, i! shall
*e complied wi!h in a manner mos! analogo%s !o and in
con&ormi!y wi!h his wishes.
& !he person in!eres!ed in !he condi!ion sho%ld
preven! i!s &%l&illmen!, wi!ho%! !he &a%l! o& !he heir, !he
condi!ion shall *e deemed !o have *een complied wi!h.
0458a3
A',ICLE 559. Condi!ions imposed *y !he !es!a!or
%pon !he heirs shall *e governed *y !he r%les es!a*lished
&or condi!ional o*liga!ions in all ma!!ers no! provided &or
*y !his Sec!ion. 0451a3
A',ICLE 55:. +he designa!ion o& !he day or !ime when
!he e&&ec!s o& !he ins!i!%!ion o& an heir shall commence or
cease shall *e valid.
n *o!h cases, !he legal heir shall *e considered as
called !o !he s%ccession %n!il !he arrival o& !he period or i!s
e6pira!ion. 8%! in !he &irs! case he shall no! en!er in!o
possession o& !he proper!y %n!il a&!er having given
s%&&icien! sec%ri!y, wi!h !he in!erven!ion o& !he ins!i!%!ed
heir. 082?3
SEC,ION :
Legiti2e
A',ICLE 55;. Legiti2e is !ha! par! o& !he !es!a!orEs
proper!y which he canno! dispose o& *eca%se !he law has
reserved i! &or cer!ain heirs who are, !here&ore, called
comp%lsory heirs. 08213
A',ICLE 553. +he &ollowing are $o2ulso&y hei&s#
013 Begi!ima!e children and descendan!s, wi!h respec! !o
!heir legi!ima!e paren!s and ascendan!sD
023 n de&a%l! o& !he &oregoing, legi!ima!e paren!s and
ascendan!s, wi!h respec! !o !heir legi!ima!e children
and descendan!sD
0(3 +he widow or widowerD
093 Ac$nowledged na!%ral children, and na!%ral children
*y legal &ic!ionD
0?3 -!her illegi!ima!e children re&erred !o in ar!icle 284.
Comp%lsory heirs men!ioned in .os. (, 9 and ? are
no! e6cl%ded *y !hose in .os. 1 and 2D nei!her do !hey
e6cl%de one ano!her.
n all cases o& illegi!ima!e children, !heir &ilia!ion m%s!
*e d%ly proved.
+he &a!her or mo!her o& illegi!ima!e children o& !he
!hree classes men!ioned, shall inheri! &rom !hem in !he
manner and !o !he e6!en! es!a*lished *y !his Code. 0824a3
A',ICLE 555. +he legi!ime o& legi!ima!e children and
descendan!s consis!s o& one@hal& o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e
o& !he &a!her and o& !he mo!her.
+he la!!er may &reely dispose o& !he remaining hal&,
s%*"ec! !o !he righ!s o& illegi!ima!e children and o& !he
s%rviving spo%se as hereina&!er provided. 0828a3
+'ANCISCO *s. +'ANCISCO
March 8, 2221
+AC,S- Responden! Aida is !he only da%gh!er o&
:regorio and Cirila, *o!h deceased. 7e!i!ioners are
da%gh!ers o& :regorio wi!h his common law wi&e J%lia.
:regorio sold a parcel o& land !o his illegi!ima!e children.
.ELD- +he /asulatan was sim%la!ed. +here was no
considera!ion &or !he con!rac! o& sale. Cven i& i! was no!
sim%la!ed, i! s!ill viola!ed !he Civil Code
i
provisions inso&ar
as !he !ransac!ion a&&ec!ed responden!=s legi!ime. +he
sale was e6ec%!ed in 158(, when !he applica*le law was
!he Civil Code, no! !he Family Code.
-*vio%sly, !he sale was :regorio=s way !o !rans&er
!he proper!y !o his illegi!ima!e da%gh!ers a! !he e6pense o&
his legi!ima!e da%gh!er.
& indeed !he parcels o& land involved were !he only
proper!y le&! *y !heir &a!her, !he sale in &ac! wo%ld deprive
responden! o& her share in her &a!her=s es!a!e. 8y law, she is
en!i!led !o hal& o& !he es!a!e o& her &a!her as his only
legi!ima!e child.
A',ICLE 55B. +he legi!ime o& legi!ima!e paren!s or
ascendan!s consis!s o& one@hal& o& !he heredi!ary es!a!es o&
!heir children and descendan!s.
+he children or descendan!s may &reely dispose o& !he
o!her hal&, s%*"ec! !o !he righ!s o& illegi!ima!e children and o&
!he s%rviving spo%se as hereina&!er provided. 0825a3
A',ICLE 5BF. +he legi!ime reserved &or !he legi!ima!e
paren!s shall *e divided *e!ween !hem e,%allyD i& one o& !he
paren!s sho%ld have died, !he whole shall pass !o !he
s%rvivor.
& !he !es!a!or leaves nei!her &a!her nor mo!her, *%! is
s%rvived *y ascendan!s o& e,%al degree o& !he pa!ernal and
ma!ernal lines, !he legi!ime shall *e divided e,%ally *e!ween
*o!h lines. & !he ascendan!s sho%ld *e o& di&&eren! degrees, i!
shall per!ain en!irely !o !he ones neares! in degree o& ei!her
line. 08123
A',ICLE 5B8. +he ascendan! who inheri!s &rom his
descendan! any proper!y which !he la!!er may have ac,%ired
*y gra!%i!o%s !i!le &rom ano!her ascendan!, or a *ro!her or
sis!er, is o*liged !o reserve s%ch proper!y as he may have
ac,%ired *y opera!ion o& law &or !he *ene&i! o& rela!ives who
are wi!hin !he !hird degree and who *elong !o !he line &rom
which said proper!y came. 08413
C.UA *s. C+I O+ NE%'OS OCCIDEN,AL
A%g%s! (1, 1544
+AC,S- /%ring his marriage !o his 1
s!
wi&e, a man had a son
and 2 grandchildren. <e married again when his 1
s!
wi&e died
and had a son wi!h !he 2
nd
wi&e. )hen !he man died, a
parcel o& land owned *y him was inheri!ed *y his son and 2
nd
wi&e !hro%gh in!es!a!e s%ccession. Ba!er, !he son o& !he 2
nd
marriage died and his hal&@share was inheri!ed *y his mo!her
02
nd
wi&e3 *y opera!ion o& law.
.ELD- A&!er !he mo!her=s dea!h, the son and the
g&and$hild&en $an get the half sha&e of the land that /as
held by the 4
nd
/ife by /ay of &ese&*e t&on$al. +his L has
*een inheri!ed *y !he son o& !he 2
nd
marriage *y gra!%i!o%s
!i!le and !rans&erred !o his mo!her *y opera!ion o& law. +he
presen! claiman!s are rela!ives wi!hin !he (
rd
degree
0reservees3.
! was really a gra!%i!o%s o*"ec! received &rom !he &a!her,
who had no! imposed any condi!ion or *%rden on !he lo!. +he
o*liga!ion !o pay in!eres!s, cos!s and o!her &ees was imposed
no! *y !he origin *%! *y !he co%r!. +he said L is !here&ore
reserva*le.
n case o& reserve !roncal, !he reservee=s righ! or ca%se
o& ac!ion accr%es only &rom !he momen! !he reservoir dies.
%ON)ALES *s. C+I O+ (ANILA
May 15, 1581
+AC,S- Begarda died s%rvived *y ( gro%ps o& heirs who
par!i!ioned !he real proper!ies among !hemselves in ( e,%al
por!ions# one da%gh!er, ano!her da%gh!er and heirs o& a
deceased son. +he heirs o& !he deceased son were !he
son=s widow and 4 children. -ne o& !he children, Filomena,
Jr. died in!es!a!e and wi!ho%! any child. <er mo!her
par!i!ioned !heir 1'( share in !he es!a!e o& Begarda wi!h her 1
s%rviving children and gave !he proper!ies she inheri!ed &rom
Filomena, Jr. !o her 11 grandchildren *y means o& a
holographic will.
.ELD- ,he gi*ing th&ough the holog&ahi$ /ill is not
la/ful be$ause the &oe&ties gi*en by su$h holog&ahi$
/ill /e&e &ese&*able &oe&ties *eca%se !hey were
inheri!ed gra!%i!o%sly &rom an ascendan! !ransmi!!ed !o a
descendan! 0Filomena, Jr.3 !hen given !o ano!her ascendan!
0Filomena, Sr.3 *y opera!ion o& law. Said proper!ies sho%ld
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SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
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Year : 2008-2009
no! have *een given !o !he grandchildren 0(
rd
degree
reservees3 *%! !o !he children 02
nd
degree reservees3.
Reservees may *e !he common descendan!s o& !he
reservoir and !he origin reserve !roncal con!empla!es
legi!ima!e rela!ionship. llegi!ima!e rela!ionship and
rela!ionship *y a&&ini!y are e6cl%ded.
DE #A#A *s. CA(AC.O
Sep!em*er 29, 1581
.ELD- ,he stated u&ose of the &ese&*e is
a$$o2lished on$e the &oe&ty has de*ol*ed to the
se$ified &elati*es of the line of o&igin. 8%! &rom !his
!ime on, !here is no &%r!her occasion &or i!s applica!ion.
A',ICLE 5B4. & only one legi!ima!e child or
descendan! o& !he deceased s%rvives, !he widow or
widower shall *e en!i!led !o one@&o%r!h o& !he heredi!ary
es!a!e. n case o& a legal separa!ion, !he s%rviving spo%se
may inheri! i& i! was !he deceased who had given ca%se
&or !he same.
& !here are !wo or more legi!ima!e children or
descendan!s, !he s%rviving spo%se shall *e en!i!led !o a
por!ion e,%al !o !he legi!ime o& each o& !he legi!ima!e
children or descendan!s.
n *o!h cases, !he legi!ime o& !he s%rviving spo%se
shall *e !a$en &rom !he por!ion !ha! can *e &reely disposed
o& *y !he !es!a!or. 08(9a3
A',ICLE 5BA. & !he !es!a!or leaves no legi!ima!e
descendan!s, *%! leaves legi!ima!e ascendan!s, !he
s%rviving spo%se shall have a righ! !o one@&o%r!h o& !he
heredi!ary es!a!e.
+his &o%r!h shall *e !a$en &rom !he &ree por!ion o& !he
es!a!e. 08(1a3
A',ICLE 5B9. & !he !es!a!or leaves illegi!ima!e
children, !he s%rviving spo%se shall *e en!i!led !o one@!hird
o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e o& !he deceased and !he
illegi!ima!e children !o ano!her !hird. +he remaining !hird
shall *e a! !he &ree disposal o& !he !es!a!or. 0n3
A',ICLE 5B:. +he legi!ime o& each o& !he
ac$nowledged na!%ral children and each o& !he na!%ral
children *y legal &ic!ion shall consis! o& one@hal& o& !he
legi!ime o& each o& !he legi!ima!e children or descendan!s.
+he legi!ime o& an illegi!ima!e child who is nei!her an
ac$nowledged na!%ral, nor a na!%ral child *y legal &ic!ion,
shall *e e,%al in every case !o &o%r@&i&!hs o& !he legi!ime o&
an ac$nowledged na!%ral child.
+he legi!ime o& !he illegi!ima!e children shall *e !a$en
&rom !he por!ion o& !he es!a!e a! !he &ree disposal o& !he
!es!a!or, provided !ha! in no case shall !he !o!al legi!ime o&
s%ch illegi!ima!e children e6ceed !ha! &ree por!ion, and
!ha! !he legi!ime o& !he s%rviving spo%se m%s! &irs! *e &%lly
sa!is&ied. 0892a3
A',ICLE 5B;. llegi!ima!e children who may s%rvive
wi!h legi!ima!e paren!s or ascendan!s o& !he deceased
shall *e en!i!led !o one@&o%r!h o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e !o
*e !a$en &rom !he por!ion a! !he &ree disposal o& !he
!es!a!or. 0891a3
A',ICLE 5B3. )hen !he widow or widower s%rvives
wi!h legi!ima!e children or descendan!s, and
ac$nowledged na!%ral children, or na!%ral children *y
legal &ic!ion, s%ch s%rviving spo%se shall *e en!i!led !o a
por!ion e,%al !o !he legi!ime o& each o& !he legi!ima!e
children which m%s! *e !a$en &rom !ha! par! o& !he es!a!e
which !he !es!a!or can &reely dispose o&. 0n3
A',ICLE 5B5. & !he widow or widower s%rvives wi!h
legi!ima!e children or descendan!s, and wi!h illegi!ima!e
children o!her !han ac$nowledged na!%ral, or na!%ral
children *y legal &ic!ion, !he share o& !he s%rviving spo%se
shall *e !he same as !ha! provided in !he preceding
ar!icle. 0n3
DEL 'OSA'IO *s. CONANAN
March (2, 1544
+AC,S- /oro!ea is !he legi!ima!e s%rviving wi&e o& !he
deceased Feli6. Marilo% is !he legally adop!ed children o&
Feli6 and /oro!ea. :er!r%des, mo!her o& Feli6 &iled a pe!i!ion
&or se!!lemen! and par!i!ion o& es!a!e o& Feli6 who died in a
plane crash.
+he lower co%r! dismissed !he pe!i!ion holding !ha! !he
law on in!es!a!e s%ccession is clear !ha! an adop!ed child
conc%rring wi!h !he s%rviving spo%se o& !he adop!er e6cl%des
!he legi!ima!e ascendan!s &rom s%ccession.
.ELD- :er!r%des has a righ! over !he proper!ies so%gh! !o
*e par!i!ioned. It is un!ust to e1$lude the adote&=s
a&ents f&o2 the inhe&itan$e in fa*o& of an adoted
e&son. ! is %n&air !o accord more s%ccessional righ!s !o !he
adop!ed, who is only rela!ed ar!i&icially *y &ic!ion o& law !o !he
deceased, !han !hose who are na!%rally rela!ed !o him *y
*lood in !he direc! ascending line.
n in!es!a!e s%ccession, where legi!ima!e paren!s or
ascendan!s conc%r wi!h !he s%rviving spo%se o& !he
deceased, !he la!!er does no! necessarily e6cl%de !he &ormer
&rom !he inheri!ance.
An adoted $hild su&*i*ing /ith legiti2ate a&ents of
the de$eased adote& has the sa2e su$$essional &ights
as an a$<no/ledged natu&al $hild.
& legi!ima!e ascendan!s, !he s%rviving spo%se, and
illegi!ima!e children are le&!, !he ascendan!s shall *e en!i!led
!o one@hal& o& !he inheri!ance, and !he o!her hal& shall *e
divided *e!ween !he s%rviving spo%se and !he illegi!ima!e
children so !ha! s%ch widow or widower shall have one@&o%r!h
o& !he es!a!e, and !he illegi!ima!e children !he o!her &o%r!h.
A',ICLE 5BB. )hen !he widow or widower s%rvives wi!h
legi!ima!e paren!s or ascendan!s and wi!h illegi!ima!e
children, s%ch s%rviving spo%se shall *e en!i!led !o one@
eigh!h o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e o& !he deceased which m%s!
*e !a$en &rom !he &ree por!ion, and !he illegi!ima!e children
shall *e en!i!led !o one@&o%r!h o& !he es!a!e which shall *e
!a$en also &rom !he disposa*le por!ion. +he !es!a!or may
&reely dispose o& !he remaining one@eigh!h o& !he es!a!e. 0n3
A',ICLE BFF. & !he only s%rvivor is !he widow or
widower, she or he shall *e en!i!led !o one@hal& o& !he
heredi!ary es!a!e o& !he deceased spo%se, and !he !es!a!or
may &reely dispose o& !he o!her hal&. 08(4a3
& !he marriage *e!ween !he s%rviving spo%se and !he
!es!a!or was solemnized in ar!ic%lo mor!is, and !he !es!a!or
died wi!hin !hree mon!hs &rom !he !ime o& !he marriage, !he
legi!ime o& !he s%rviving spo%se as !he sole heir shall *e one@
!hird o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e, e6cep! when !hey have *een
living as h%s*and and wi&e &or more !han &ive years. n !he
la!!er case, !he legi!ime o& !he s%rviving spo%se shall *e !ha!
speci&ied in !he preceding paragraph. 0n3
A',ICLE BF8. )hen !he !es!a!or dies leaving illegi!ima!e
children and no o!her comp%lsory heirs, s%ch illegi!ima!e
children shall have a righ! !o one@hal& o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e
o& !he deceased.
+he o!her hal& shall *e a! !he &ree disposal o& !he
!es!a!or. 0892a3
A',ICLE BF4. +he righ!s o& illegi!ima!e children se! &or!h
in !he preceding ar!icles are !ransmi!!ed %pon !heir dea!h !o
!heir descendan!s, whe!her legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e. 089(a3
A',ICLE BFA. +he legi!ime o& !he paren!s who have an
illegi!ima!e child, when s%ch child leaves nei!her legi!ima!e
descendan!s, nor a s%rviving spo%se, nor illegi!ima!e
children, is one@hal& o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e o& s%ch
illegi!ima!e child. & only legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e children are
le&!, !he paren!s are no! en!i!led !o any legi!ime wha!soever. &
only !he widow or widower s%rvives wi!h paren!s o& !he
illegi!ima!e child, !he legi!ime o& !he paren!s is one@&o%r!h o&
!he heredi!ary es!a!e o& !he child, and !ha! o& !he s%rviving
spo%se also one@&o%r!h o& !he es!a!e. 0n3
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A',ICLE BF9. +he !es!a!or canno! deprive his
comp%lsory heirs o& !heir legi!ime, e6cep! in cases
e6pressly speci&ied *y law.
.ei!her can he impose %pon !he same any *%rden,
enc%m*rance, condi!ion, or s%*s!i!%!ion o& any $ind
wha!soever. 081(a3
A',ICLE BF:. Cvery ren%ncia!ion or compromise as
regards a &%!%re legi!ime *e!ween !he person owing i! and
his comp%lsory heirs is void, and !he la!!er may claim !he
same %pon !he dea!h o& !he &ormerD *%! !hey m%s! *ring !o
colla!ion wha!ever !hey may have received *y vir!%e o& !he
ren%ncia!ion or compromise. 08113
A',ICLE BF;. Any comp%lsory heir !o whom !he
!es!a!or has le&! *y any !i!le less !han !he legi!ime
*elonging !o him may demand !ha! !he same *e &%lly
sa!is&ied. 081?3
A',ICLE BF3. +es!amen!ary disposi!ions !ha! impair or
diminish !he legi!ime o& !he comp%lsory heirs shall *e
red%ced on pe!i!ion o& !he same, inso&ar as !hey may *e
ino&&icio%s or e6cessive. 08143
A',ICLE BF5. +o de!ermine !he legi!ime, !he val%e o&
!he proper!y le&! a! !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or shall *e
considered, ded%c!ing all de*!s and charges, which shall
no! incl%de !hose imposed in !he will.
+o !he ne! val%e o& !he heredi!ary es!a!e, shall *e
added !he val%e o& all dona!ions *y !he !es!a!or !ha! are
s%*"ec! !o colla!ion, a! !he !ime he made !hem. 0818a3
A',ICLE BFB. /ona!ions given !o children shall *e
charged !o !heir legi!ime.
/ona!ions made !o s!rangers shall *e charged !o !ha!
par! o& !he es!a!e o& which !he !es!a!or co%ld have
disposed *y his las! will.
nso&ar as !hey may *e ino&&icio%s or may e6ceed !he
disposa*le por!ion, !hey shall *e red%ced according !o !he
r%les es!a*lished *y !his Code. 0815a3
A',ICLE B8F. /ona!ions which an illegi!ima!e child
may have received d%ring !he li&e!ime o& his &a!her or
mo!her, shall *e charged !o his legi!ime.
Sho%ld !hey e6ceed !he por!ion !ha! can *e &reely
disposed o&, !hey shall *e red%ced in !he manner
prescri*ed *y !his Code. 0894a3
A',ICLE B88. A&!er !he legi!ime has *een de!ermined
in accordance wi!h !he !hree preceding ar!icles, !he
red%c!ion shall *e made as &ollows#
013 /ona!ions shall *e respec!ed as long as !he legi!ime
can *e covered, red%cing or ann%lling, i& necessary, !he
devises or legacies made in !he willD
023 +he red%c!ion o& !he devises or legacies shall *e pro
ra!a, wi!ho%! any dis!inc!ion wha!ever.
& !he !es!a!or has direc!ed !ha! a cer!ain devise
or legacy *e paid in pre&erence !o o!hers, i! shall no!
s%&&er any red%c!ion %n!il !he la!!er have *een applied in
&%ll !o !he paymen! o& !he legi!ime.
0(3 & !he devise or legacy consis!s o& a %s%&r%c! or li&e
ann%i!y, whose val%e may *e considered grea!er !han
!ha! o& !he disposa*le por!ion, !he comp%lsory heirs
may choose *e!ween complying wi!h !he !es!amen!ary
provision and delivering !o !he devisee or lega!ee !he
par! o& !he inheri!ance o& which !he !es!a!or co%ld
&reely dispose. 0822a3
A',ICLE B84. & !he devise s%*"ec! !o red%c!ion sho%ld
consis! o& real proper!y, which canno! *e convenien!ly
divided, i! shall go !o !he devisee i& !he red%c!ion does no!
a*sor* one@hal& o& i!s val%eD and in a con!rary case, !o !he
comp%lsory heirsD *%! !he &ormer and !he la!!er shall
reim*%rse each o!her in cash &or wha! respec!ively
*elongs !o !hem.
+he devisee who is en!i!led !o a legi!ime may re!ain
!he en!ire proper!y, provided i!s val%e does no! e6ceed
!ha! o& !he disposa*le por!ion and o& !he share per!aining !o
him as legi!ime. 08213
DI)ON>'I7E'A *s. DI)ON
J;.C (2, 1542
+AC,S- +he !es!a!ri6 died and was s%rvived *y 4
comp%lsory heirs @ 1 legi!ima!e children and a legi!ima!e
grandda%gh!er. +he !es!a!ri6 le&! a las! will and named
*ene&iciaries in her will !he 4 comp%lsory heirs pl%s 4 o!her
legi!ima!e grandchildren.
A pro"ec! par!i!ion was &iled red%cing !he share o& Marina
and +omas= share 0children3 as !hey are admi!!edly
considered !o have received in !he will more !han !heir
respec!ive legi!ime. +he o!her children proposed !heir own
pro"ec! par!i!ion where*y !hey wo%ld red%ce !he !es!amen!ary
disposi!ion or par!i!ion made *y !he !es!a!ri6 !o L and limi! !he
same, which !hey wo%ld consider as mere devises or
legacies !o L o& !he es!a!e as !he disposa*le &ree por!ion.
.ELD- ,he testa2enta&y disositions 2ade in the
testat&i1= /ill a&e not in the natu&e of de*ises i2utable
to the f&ee o&tion of he& estate. It is not sub!e$t to
&edu$tion.
+he 2
nd
paragraph o& Ar!icle 512 covers precisely !he
case o& Marina, who admi!!edly was &avored *y !he !es!a!ri6
wi!h !he large *%l$ o& her es!a!e in providing !ha! S!he devisee
who is en!i!led !o a legi!ime may re!ain !he en!ire proper!y,
provided i!s val%e does no! e6ceed !ha! o& !he disposa*le
por!ion and o& !he share per!aining !o !he legi!ime. For
diversi!y o& appor!ionmen! is !he %s%al reason &or ma$ing a
!es!amen!, o!herwise, !he deceden! migh! as well die
in!es!a!e.
A',ICLE B8A. & !he heirs or devisees do no! choose !o
avail !hemselves o& !he righ! gran!ed *y !he preceding ar!icle,
any heir or devisee who did no! have s%ch righ! may e6ercise
i!D sho%ld !he la!!er no! ma$e %se o& i!, !he proper!y shall *e
sold a! p%*lic a%c!ion a! !he ins!ance o& any one o& !he
in!eres!ed par!ies. 08223
A',ICLE B89. +he !es!a!or may devise and *e,%ea!h !he
&ree por!ion as he may deem &i!. 0n3
SEC,ION ;
Disinhe&itan$e
A',ICLE B8:. A comp%lsory heir may, in conse,%ence o&
disinheri!ance, *e deprived o& his legi!ime, &or ca%ses
e6pressly s!a!ed *y law. 0898a3
A',ICLE B8;. /isinheri!ance can *e e&&ec!ed only
!hro%gh a will wherein !he legal ca%se !here&or shall *e
speci&ied. 08953
A',ICLE B83. +he *%rden o& proving !he !r%!h o& !he
ca%se &or disinheri!ance shall res! %pon !he o!her heirs o& !he
!es!a!or, i& !he disinheri!ed heir sho%ld deny i!. 08?23
A',ICLE B85. /isinheri!ance wi!ho%! a speci&ica!ion o& !he
ca%se, or &or a ca%se !he !r%!h o& which, i& con!radic!ed, is no!
proved, or which is no! one o& !hose se! &or!h in !his Code,
shall ann%l !he ins!i!%!ion o& heirs inso&ar as i! may pre"%dice
!he person disinheri!edD *%! !he devises and legacies and
o!her !es!amen!ary disposi!ions shall *e valid !o s%ch e6!en!
as will no! impair !he legi!ime. 08?1a3
A',ICLE B8B. +he &ollowing shall *e s%&&icien! ca%ses &or
!he disinheri!ance o& children and descendan!s, legi!ima!e as
well as illegi!ima!e#
013 )hen a child or descendan! has *een &o%nd g%il!y o& an
a!!emp! agains! !he li&e o& !he !es!a!or, his or her spo%se,
descendan!s, or ascendan!sD
023 )hen a child or descendan! has acc%sed !he !es!a!or o&
a crime &or which !he law prescri*es imprisonmen! &or si6
years or more, i& !he acc%sa!ion has *een &o%nd gro%ndlessD
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0(3 )hen a child or descendan! has *een convic!ed o&
ad%l!ery or conc%*inage wi!h !he spo%se o& !he
!es!a!orD
093 )hen a child or descendan! *y &ra%d, violence,
in!imida!ion, or %nd%e in&l%ence ca%ses !he !es!a!or !o
ma$e a will or !o change one already madeD
0?3 A re&%sal wi!ho%! "%s!i&ia*le ca%se !o s%ppor! !he
paren! or ascendan! who disinheri!s s%ch child or
descendan!D
013 Mal!rea!men! o& !he !es!a!or *y word or deed, *y !he
child or descendan!D
043 )hen a child or descendan! leads a dishonora*le or
disgrace&%l li&eD
083 Convic!ion o& a crime which carries wi!h i! !he penal!y
o& civil in!erdic!ion. 04?1, 8?(, 149a3
A',ICLE B4F. +he &ollowing shall *e s%&&icien! ca%ses
&or !he disinheri!ance o& paren!s or ascendan!s, whe!her
legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e#
013 )hen !he paren!s have a*andoned !heir children or
ind%ced !heir da%gh!ers !o live a corr%p! or immoral
li&e, or a!!emp!ed agains! !heir vir!%eD
023 )hen !he paren! or ascendan! has *een convic!ed o&
an a!!emp! agains! !he li&e o& !he !es!a!or, his or her
spo%se, descendan!s, or ascendan!sD
0(3 )hen !he paren! or ascendan! has acc%sed !he
!es!a!or o& a crime &or which !he law prescri*es
imprisonmen! &or si6 years or more, i& !he
acc%sa!ion has *een &o%nd !o *e &alseD
093 )hen !he paren! or ascendan! has *een convic!ed o&
ad%l!ery or conc%*inage wi!h !he spo%se o& !he
!es!a!orD
0?3 )hen !he paren! or ascendan! *y &ra%d, violence,
in!imida!ion, or %nd%e in&l%ence ca%ses !he !es!a!or !o
ma$e a will or !o change one already madeD
013 +he loss o& paren!al a%!hori!y &or ca%ses speci&ied in
!his CodeD
043 +he re&%sal !o s%ppor! !he children or descendan!s
wi!ho%! "%s!i&ia*le ca%seD
083 An a!!emp! *y one o& !he paren!s agains! !he li&e o&
!he o!her, %nless !here has *een a reconcilia!ion
*e!ween !hem. 04?1, 8?9, 149a3
A',ICLE B48. +he &ollowing shall *e s%&&icien! ca%ses
&or disinheri!ing a spo%se#
013 )hen !he spo%se has *een convic!ed o& an a!!emp!
agains! !he li&e o& !he !es!a!or, his or her
descendan!s, or ascendan!sD
023 )hen !he spo%se has acc%sed !he !es!a!or o& a crime
&or which !he law prescri*es imprisonmen! o& si6
years or more, and !he acc%sa!ion has *een &o%nd !o
*e &alseD
0(3 )hen !he spo%se *y &ra%d, violence, in!imida!ion, or
%nd%e in&l%ence ca%se !he !es!a!or !o ma$e a will or !o
change one already madeD
093 )hen !he spo%se has given ca%se &or legal
separa!ionD
0?3 )hen !he spo%se has given gro%nds &or !he loss o&
paren!al a%!hori!yD
013 ;n"%s!i&ia*le re&%sal !o s%ppor! !he children or !he
o!her spo%se. 04?1, 8??, 149a3
A',ICLE B44. A s%*se,%en! reconcilia!ion *e!ween
!he o&&ender and !he o&&ended person deprives !he la!!er
o& !he righ! !o disinheri!, and renders ine&&ec!%al any
disinheri!ance !ha! may have *een made. 08?13
A',ICLE B4A. +he children and descendan!s o& !he
person disinheri!ed shall !a$e his or her place and shall
preserve !he righ!s o& comp%lsory heirs wi!h respec! !o !he
legi!imeD *%! !he disinheri!ed paren! shall no! have !he
%s%&r%c! or adminis!ra!ion o& !he proper!y which
cons!i!%!es !he legi!ime. 08?43
SEC,ION 3
Lega$ies and De*ises
A',ICLE B49. All !hings and righ!s which are wi!hin !he
commerce o& man may *e *e,%ea!hed or devised. 081?a3
A',ICLE B4:. A !es!a!or may charge wi!h legacies and
devises no! only his comp%lsory heirs *%! also !he lega!ees
and devisees.
+he la!!er shall *e lia*le &or !he charge only !o !he e6!en! o&
!he val%e o& !he legacy or !he devise received *y !hem. +he
comp%lsory heirs shall no! *e lia*le &or !he charge *eyond
!he amo%n! o& !he &ree por!ion given !hem. 08?8a3
A',ICLE B4;. )hen !he !es!a!or charges one o& !he heirs
wi!h a legacy or devise, he alone shall *e *o%nd.
Sho%ld he no! charge anyone in par!ic%lar, all shall *e
lia*le in !he same propor!ion in which !hey may inheri!. 08?53
A',ICLE B43. & !wo or more heirs !a$e possession o& !he
es!a!e, !hey shall *e solidarily lia*le &or !he loss or des!r%c!ion
o& a !hing devised or *e,%ea!hed, even !ho%gh only one o&
!hem sho%ld have *een negligen!. 0n3
A',ICLE B45. +he heir who is *o%nd !o deliver !he legacy
or devise shall *e lia*le in case o& evic!ion, i& !he !hing is
inde!ermina!e and is indica!ed only *y i!s $ind. 08123
A',ICLE B4B. & !he !es!a!or, heir, or lega!ee owns only a
par! o&, or an in!eres! in !he !hing *e,%ea!hed, !he legacy or
devise shall *e %nders!ood limi!ed !o s%ch par! or in!eres!,
%nless !he !es!a!or e6pressly declares !ha! he gives !he !hing
in i!s en!ire!y. 0819a3
A',ICLE BAF. +he legacy or devise o& a !hing *elonging
!o ano!her person is void, i& !he !es!a!or erroneo%sly *elieved
!ha! !he !hing per!ained !o him. 8%! i& !he !hing *e,%ea!hed,
!ho%gh no! *elonging !o !he !es!a!or when he made !he will,
a&!erwards *ecomes his, *y wha!ever !i!le, !he disposi!ion
shall !a$e e&&ec!. 0812a3
A',ICLE BA8. & !he !es!a!or orders !ha! a !hing *elonging
!o ano!her *e ac,%ired in order !ha! i! *e given !o a lega!ee or
devisee, !he heir %pon whom !he o*liga!ion is imposed or !he
es!a!e m%s! ac,%ire i! and give !he same !o !he lega!ee or
deviseeD *%! i& !he owner o& !he !hing re&%ses !o aliena!e !he
same, or demands an e6cessive price !here&or, !he heir or
!he es!a!e shall only *e o*liged !o give !he "%s! val%e o& !he
!hing. 0811a3
A',ICLE BA4. +he legacy or devise o& a !hing which a!
!he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will already *elonged !o !he
lega!ee or devisee shall *e ine&&ec!ive, even !ho%gh ano!her
person may have some in!eres! !herein.
& !he !es!a!or e6pressly orders !ha! !he !hing *e &reed
&rom s%ch in!eres! or enc%m*rance, !he legacy or devise
shall *e valid !o !ha! e6!en!. 0811a3
A',ICLE BAA. & !he !hing *e,%ea!hed *elonged !o !he
lega!ee or devisee a! !he !ime o& !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will, !he
legacy or devise shall *e wi!ho%! e&&ec!, even !ho%gh i! may
have s%*se,%en!ly aliena!ed *y him.
& !he lega!ee or devisee ac,%ires i! gra!%i!o%sly a&!er
s%ch !ime, he can claim no!hing *y vir!%e o& !he legacy or
deviseD *%! i& i! has *een ac,%ired *y onero%s !i!le he can
demand reim*%rsemen! &rom !he heir or !he es!a!e. 0848a3
A',ICLE BA9. & !he !es!a!or sho%ld *e,%ea!h or devise
some!hing pledged or mor!gaged !o sec%re a recovera*le
de*! *e&ore !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will, !he es!a!e is o*liged !o
pay !he de*!, %nless !he con!rary in!en!ion appears.
+he same r%le applies when !he !hing is pledged or
mor!gaged a&!er !he e6ec%!ion o& !he will.
Any o!her charge, perpe!%al or !emporary, wi!h which !he
!hing *e,%ea!hed is *%rdened, passes wi!h i! !o !he lega!ee
or devisee. 0814a3
A',ICLE BA:. +he legacy o& a credi! agains! a !hird
person or o& !he remission or release o& a de*! o& !he lega!ee
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shall *e e&&ec!ive only as regards !ha! par! o& !he credi! or
de*! e6is!ing a! !he !ime o& !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or.
n !he &irs! case, !he es!a!e shall comply wi!h !he
legacy *y assigning !o !he lega!ee all righ!s o& ac!ion i!
may have agains! !he de*!or. n !he second case, *y
giving !he lega!ee an ac,%i!!ance, sho%ld he re,%es! one.
n *o!h cases, !he legacy shall comprise all in!eres!s
on !he credi! or de*! which may *e d%e !he !es!a!or a! !he
!ime o& his dea!h. 0842a3
A',ICLE BA;. +he legacy re&erred !o in !he preceding
ar!icle shall lapse i& !he !es!a!or, a&!er having made i!,
sho%ld *ring an ac!ion agains! !he de*!or &or !he paymen!
o& his de*!, even i& s%ch paymen! sho%ld no! have *een
e&&ec!ed a! !he !ime o& his dea!h.
+he legacy !o !he de*!or o& !he !hing pledged *y him
is %nders!ood !o discharge only !he righ! o& pledge. 08413
A',ICLE BA3. A generic legacy o& release or remission
o& de*!s comprises !hose e6is!ing a! !he !ime o& !he
e6ec%!ion o& !he will, *%! no! s%*se,%en! ones. 08423
A',ICLE BA5. A legacy or devise made !o a credi!or
shall no! *e applied !o his credi!, %nless !he !es!a!or so
e6pressly declares.
n !he la!!er case, !he credi!or shall have !he righ! !o
collec! !he e6cess, i& any, o& !he credi! or o& !he legacy or
devise. 084(a3
A',ICLE BAB. & !he !es!a!or orders !he paymen! o&
wha! he *elieves he owes *%! does no! in &ac! owe, !he
disposi!ion shall *e considered as no! wri!!en. & as
regards a speci&ied de*! more !han !he amo%n! !hereo& is
ordered paid, !he e6cess is no! d%e, %nless a con!rary
in!en!ion appears.
+he &oregoing provisions are wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o !he
&%l&illmen! o& na!%ral o*liga!ions. 0n3
A',ICLE B9F. n al!erna!ive legacies or devises, !he
choice is pres%med !o *e le&! !o !he heir %pon whom !he
o*liga!ion !o give !he legacy or devise may *e imposed, or
!he e6ec%!or or adminis!ra!or o& !he es!a!e i& no par!ic%lar
heir is so o*liged.
& !he heir, lega!ee or devisee, who may have *een
given !he choice, dies *e&ore ma$ing i!, !his righ! shall
pass !o !he respec!ive heirs.
-nce made, !he choice is irrevoca*le.
n !he al!erna!ive legacies or devises, e6cep! as
herein provided, !he provisions o& !his Code reg%la!ing
o*liga!ions o& !he same $ind shall *e o*served, save s%ch
modi&ica!ions as may appear &rom !he in!en!ion e6pressed
*y !he !es!a!or. 0849a3
A',ICLE B98. A legacy o& generic personal proper!y
shall *e valid even i& !here *e no !hings o& !he same $ind
in !he es!a!e.
A devise o& inde!ermina!e real proper!y shall *e valid
only i& !here *e immova*le proper!y o& i!s $ind in !he
es!a!e.
+he righ! o& choice shall *elong !o !he e6ec%!or or
adminis!ra!or who shall comply wi!h !he legacy *y !he
delivery o& a !hing which is nei!her o& in&erior nor o&
s%perior ,%ali!y. 084?a3
A',ICLE B94. )henever !he !es!a!or e6pressly leaves
!he righ! o& choice !o !he heir, or !o !he lega!ee or devisee,
!he &ormer may give or !he la!!er may choose whichever
he may pre&er. 0841a3
A',ICLE B9A. & !he heir, lega!ee or devisee canno!
ma$e !he choice, in case i! has *een gran!ed him, his
righ! shall pass !o his heirsD *%! a choice once made shall
*e irrevoca*le. 0844a3
A',ICLE B99. A legacy &or ed%ca!ion las!s %n!il !he
lega!ee is o& age, or *eyond !he age o& ma"ori!y in order
!ha! !he lega!ee may &inish some pro&essional, voca!ional or
general co%rse, provided he p%rs%es his co%rse diligen!ly.
A legacy &or s%ppor! las!s d%ring !he li&e!ime o& !he
lega!ee, i& !he !es!a!or has no! o!herwise provided.
& !he !es!a!or has no! &i6ed !he amo%n! o& s%ch legacies,
i! shall *e &i6ed in accordance wi!h !he social s!anding and
!he circ%ms!ances o& !he lega!ee and !he val%e o& !he es!a!e.
& !he !es!a!or d%ring his li&e!ime %sed !o give !he lega!ee
a cer!ain s%m o& money or o!her !hings *y way o& s%ppor!, !he
same amo%n! shall *e deemed *e,%ea!hed, %nless i! *e
mar$edly dispropor!iona!e !o !he val%e o& !he es!a!e. 0845a3
A',ICLE B9:. & a periodical pension, or a cer!ain ann%al,
mon!hly, or wee$ly amo%n! is *e,%ea!hed, !he lega!ee may
pe!i!ion !he co%r! &or !he &irs! ins!allmen! %pon !he dea!h o& !he
!es!a!or, and &or !he &ollowing ones which shall *e d%e a! !he
*eginning o& each periodD s%ch paymen! shall no! *e
re!%rned, even !ho%gh !he lega!ee sho%ld die *e&ore !he
e6pira!ion o& !he period which has commenced. 0882a3
A',ICLE B9;. & !he !hing *e,%ea!hed sho%ld *e s%*"ec!
!o a %s%&r%c!, !he lega!ee or devisee shall respec! s%ch righ!
%n!il i! is legally e6!ing%ished. 0818a3
A',ICLE B93. +he lega!ee or devisee ac,%ires a righ! !o
!he p%re and simple legacies or devises &rom !he dea!h o& !he
!es!a!or, and !ransmi!s i! !o his heirs. 0881a3
A',ICLE B95. & !he legacy or devise is o& a speci&ic and
de!ermina!e !hing per!aining !o !he !es!a!or, !he lega!ee or
devisee ac,%ires !he ownership !hereo& %pon !he dea!h o& !he
!es!a!or, as well as any growing &r%i!s, or %n*orn o&&spring o&
animals, or %ncollec!ed incomeD *%! no! !he income which
was d%e and %npaid *e&ore !he la!!erEs dea!h.
From !he momen! o& !he !es!a!orEs dea!h, !he !hing
*e,%ea!hed shall *e a! !he ris$ o& !he lega!ee or devisee,
who shall, !here&ore, *ear i!s loss or de!eriora!ion, and shall
*e *ene&i!ed *y i!s increase or improvemen!, wi!ho%!
pre"%dice !o !he responsi*ili!y o& !he e6ec%!or or
adminis!ra!or. 0882a3
A',ICLE B9B. & !he *e,%es! sho%ld no! *e o& a speci&ic
and de!ermina!e !hing, *%! is generic or o& ,%an!i!y, i!s &r%i!s
and in!eres!s &rom !he !ime o& !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or shall
per!ain !o !he lega!ee or devisee i& !he !es!a!or has e6pressly
so ordered. 0889a3
A',ICLE B:F. & !he es!a!e sho%ld no! *e s%&&icien! !o
cover all !he legacies or devises, !heir paymen! shall *e
made in !he &ollowing order#
013 Rem%nera!ory legacies or devisesD
023 Begacies or devises declared *y !he !es!a!or !o *e
pre&eren!ialD
0(3 Begacies &or s%ppor!D
093 Begacies &or ed%ca!ionD
0?3 Begacies or devises o& a speci&ic, de!ermina!e !hing
which &orms a par! o& !he es!a!eD
013 All o!hers pro ra!a. 0884a3
A',ICLE B:8. +he !hing *e,%ea!hed shall *e delivered
wi!h all i!s accessions and accessories and in !he condi!ion in
which i! may *e %pon !he dea!h o& !he !es!a!or. 088(a3
A',ICLE B:4. +he heir, charged wi!h a legacy or devise,
or !he e6ec%!or or adminis!ra!or o& !he es!a!e, m%s! deliver
!he very !hing *e,%ea!hed i& he is a*le !o do so and canno!
discharge !his o*liga!ion *y paying i!s val%e.
Begacies o& money m%s! *e paid in cash, even !ho%gh
!he heir or !he es!a!e may no! have any.
+he e6penses necessary &or !he delivery o& !he !hing
*e,%ea!hed shall *e &or !he acco%n! o& !he heir or !he es!a!e,
*%! wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o !he legi!ime. 0881a3
A',ICLE B:A. +he lega!ee or devisee canno! !a$e
possession o& !he !hing *e,%ea!hed %pon his own a%!hori!y,
*%! shall re,%es! i!s delivery and possession o& !he heir
charged wi!h !he legacy or devise, or o& !he e6ec%!or or
43
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adminis!ra!or o& !he es!a!e sho%ld he *e a%!horized *y !he
co%r! !o deliver i!. 088?a3
A',ICLE B:9. +he lega!ee or devisee canno! accep! a
par! o& !he legacy or devise and rep%dia!e !he o!her, i& !he
la!!er *e onero%s.
Sho%ld he die *e&ore having accep!ed !he legacy or
devise, leaving several heirs, some o& !he la!!er may
accep! and !he o!hers may rep%dia!e !he share
respec!ively *elonging !o !hem in !he legacy or devise.
0885a3
A',ICLE B::. +he lega!ee or devisee o& !wo legacies
or devises, one o& which is onero%s, canno! reno%nce !he
onero%s one and accep! !he o!her. & *o!h are onero%s or
gra!%i!o%s, he shall *e &ree !o accep! or reno%nce *o!h, or
!o reno%nce ei!her. 8%! i& !he !es!a!or in!ended !ha! !he !wo
legacies or devises sho%ld *e insepara*le &rom each
o!her, !he lega!ee or devisee m%s! ei!her accep! or
reno%nce *o!h.
Any comp%lsory heir who is a! !he same !ime a
lega!ee or devisee may waive !he inheri!ance and accep!
!he legacy or devise, or reno%nce !he la!!er and accep!
!he &ormer, or waive or accep! *o!h. 0852a3
A',ICLE B:;. & !he lega!ee or devisee canno! or is
%nwilling !o accep! !he legacy or devise, or i& !he legacy or
devise &or any reason sho%ld *ecome ine&&ec!ive, i! shall
*e merged in!o !he mass o& !he es!a!e, e6cep! in cases o&
s%*s!i!%!ion and o& !he righ! o& accre!ion. 0888a3
A',ICLE B:3. +he legacy or devise shall *e wi!ho%!
e&&ec!#
013 & !he !es!a!or !rans&orms !he !hing *e,%ea!hed in
s%ch a manner !ha! i! does no! re!ain ei!her !he &orm or
!he denomina!ion i! hadD
023 & !he !es!a!or *y any !i!le or &or any ca%se aliena!es
!he !hing *e,%ea!hed or any par! !hereo&, i! *eing
%nders!ood !ha! in !he la!!er case !he legacy or devise
shall *e wi!ho%! e&&ec! only wi!h respec! !o !he par!
!h%s aliena!ed. & a&!er !he aliena!ion !he !hing
sho%ld again *elong !o !he !es!a!or, even i& i! *e *y
reason o& n%lli!y o& !he con!rac!, !he legacy or
devise shall no! !herea&!er *e valid, %nless !he
reac,%isi!ion shall have *een e&&ec!ed *y vir!%e o& !he
e6ercise o& !he righ! o& rep%rchaseD
0(3 & !he !hing *e,%ea!hed is !o!ally los! d%ring !he
li&e!ime o& !he !es!a!or, or a&!er his dea!h wi!ho%! !he
heirEs &a%l!. .ever!heless, !he person o*liged !o pay !he
legacy or devise shall *e lia*le &or evic!ion i& !he !hing
*e,%ea!hed sho%ld no! have *een de!ermina!e as !o i!s
$ind, in accordance wi!h !he provisions o& Ar!icle 528.
0815a3
A',ICLE B:5. A mis!a$e as !o !he name o& !he !hing
*e,%ea!hed or devised, is o& no conse,%ence, i& i! is
possi*le !o iden!i&y !he !hing which !he !es!a!or in!ended !o
*e,%ea!h or devise. 0n3

A',ICLE B:B. A disposi!ion made in general !erms in
&avor o& !he !es!a!orEs rela!ives shall *e %nders!ood !o *e
in &avor o& !hose neares! in degree. 04?13
C.A#,E' A
Legal o& Intestate Su$$ession
SEC,ION 8
%ene&al #&o*isions
A',ICLE B;F. Legal o& intestate su$$ession !a$es
place#
013 & a person dies wi!ho%! a will, or wi!h a void will, or
one which has s%*se,%en!ly los! i!s validi!yD
023 )hen !he will does no! ins!i!%!e an heir !o, or dispose
o& all !he proper!y *elonging !o !he !es!a!or. n
s%ch case, legal s%ccession shall !a$e place only wi!h
respec! !o !he proper!y o& which !he !es!a!or has no!
disposedD
0(3 & !he s%spensive condi!ion a!!ached !o !he ins!i!%!ion o&
heir does no! happen or is no! &%l&illed, or i& !he heir dies
*e&ore !he !es!a!or, or rep%dia!es !he inheri!ance,
!here *eing no s%*s!i!%!ion, and no righ! o& accre!ion !a$es
placeD
093 )hen !he heir ins!i!%!ed is incapa*le o& s%cceeding,
e6cep! in cases provided in !his Code. 0512a3
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ 'I%O' *s. 'I%O'
April (2, 1545
+AC,S- Fa!her Rigor *e,%ea!hed !he ricelands !o anyone o&
his neares! male rela!ives who wo%ld p%rs%e an
ecclesias!ical career %n!il his ordina!ion as a pries!. & !here is
no ,%ali&ied devisee or !he !es!a!orEs nephew *ecame a pries!
and he was e6comm%nica!ed, !he adminis!ra!ion o& !he
ricelands wo%ld *e %nder !he responsi*ili!y o& !he inc%m*en!
parish pries! o& Fic!oria and his s%ccessors.
.ELD- +he *e,%es! re&ers !o !he !es!a!orEs neares! male
rela!ive li"ing at the time of his death and not to any indefinite
time thereafter.
+he parish pries! o& Fic!oria co%ld *ecome a !r%s!ee only
when !he !es!a!orEs nephew living a! !he !ime o& his dea!h,
who desired !o *ecome a pries!, had no! ye! en!ered !he
seminary or, having *een ordained a pries!, he was
e6comm%nica!ed. +hose !wo con!ingencies did no! arise.
+here *eing no s%*s!i!%!ion nor accre!ion as !o !he said
ricelands !he same sho%ld *e dis!ri*%!ed among !he
!es!a!orEs legal heirs. +he e&&ec! is as i& !he !es!a!or had made
no disposi!ion as !o !he said ricelands.
A',ICLE B;8. n de&a%l! o& !es!amen!ary heirs, !he law
ves!s !he inheri!ance, in accordance wi!h !he r%les hereina&!er
se! &or!h, in !he legi!ima!e and illegi!ima!e rela!ives o& !he
deceased, in !he s%rviving spo%se, and in !he S!a!e. 051(a3
A',ICLE B;4. n every inheri!ance, !he rela!ive neares! in
degree e6cl%des !he more dis!an! ones, saving !he righ! o&
represen!a!ion when i! properly !a$es place.
Rela!ives in !he same degree shall inheri! in e,%al
shares, s%*"ec! !o !he provisions o& ar!icle 1221 wi!h respec!
!o rela!ives o& !he &%ll and hal& *lood, and o& ar!icle 584,
paragraph 2, concerning division *e!ween !he pa!ernal and
ma!ernal lines. 0521a3
BA%UNU *s. #IEDAD
/CCCM8CR 8, 2222
+AC,S- A%g%s!o died wi!ho%! direc! descendan!s or
ascendan!s. 7as!ora 0(
rd
degree3 is his ma!ernal a%n!, while
-&elia 0?
!h
degree3 is !he da%gh!er o& !he 1
s!
co%sin o&
A%g%s!o.
.ELD# -&elia canno! inheri! alongside a 7as!ora.
+he r%le on pro6imi!y is a concep! !ha! &avors !he neares!
rela!ives neares! in degree !o !he deceden! and e6cl%des !he
more dis!an! ones e6cep! when and !o !he e6!en! !ha! !he
righ! o& represen!a!ion can apply.
Among colla!eral rela!ives, e6cep! only in !he case o&
nephews and nieces o& !he deceden! conc%rring wi!h !heir
%ncles or a%n!s, !he r%le o& pro6imi!y, e6pressed in Ar!icle
512, is an a*sol%!e r%le.
+h%s, 7as!ora e6cl%des -&elia &rom s%cceeding a*
in!es!a!e !o !he es!a!e o& A%g%s!o. n &ine, a ma!ernal a%n!
can inheri! e,%ally wi!h a &irs! co%sin o& !he hal& *lood *%! an
%ncle or an a%n!, *eing a (
rd
degree rela!ive, e6cl%des !he
co%sins o& !he deceden!, *eing in !he 9
!h
degree in
rela!ionship, !he la!!er in !%rn wo%ld have priori!y in
s%ccession !o a ?
!h
degree rela!ive.
SUBSEC,ION 8
'elationshi
A',ICLE B;A. 7ro6imi!y o& rela!ionship is de!ermined *y
!he n%m*er o& genera!ions. Cach genera!ion &orms a degree.
051?3
A',ICLE B;9. A series o& degrees &orms a line, which
may *e ei!her direc! or colla!eral.
A direc! line is !ha! cons!i!%!ed *y !he series o& degrees
among ascendan!s and descendan!s.
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Year : 2008-2009
A colla!eral line is !ha! cons!i!%!ed *y !he series o&
degrees among persons who are no! ascendan!s and
descendan!s, *%! who come &rom a common ances!or.
0511a3
A',ICLE B;:. +he direc! line is ei!her descending or
ascending.
+he &ormer %ni!es !he head o& !he &amily wi!h !hose
who descend &rom him.
+he la!!er *inds a person wi!h !hose &rom whom he
descends. 05143
A',ICLE B;;. n !he line, as many degrees are
co%n!ed as !here are genera!ions or persons, e6cl%ding
!he progeni!or.
n !he direc! line, ascen! is made !o !he common
ances!or. +h%s, !he child is one degree removed &rom !he
paren!, !wo &rom !he grand&a!her, and !hree &rom !he
grea!@grandparen!.
n !he colla!eral line, ascen! is made !o !he common
ances!or and !hen descen! is made !o !he person wi!h
whom !he comp%!a!ion is !o *e made. +h%s, a person is
!wo degrees removed &rom his *ro!her, !hree &rom his
%ncle, who is !he *ro!her o& his &a!her, &o%r &rom his &irs!
co%sin, and so &or!h. 0518a3
A',ICLE B;3. F%ll *lood rela!ionship is !ha! e6is!ing
*e!ween persons who have !he same &a!her and !he same
mo!her.
<al& *lood rela!ionship is !ha! e6is!ing *e!ween
persons who have !he same &a!her, *%! no! !he same
mo!her, or !he same mo!her, *%! no! !he same &a!her.
0522a3
A',ICLE B;5. & !here are several rela!ives o& !he
same degree, and one or some o& !hem are %nwilling or
incapaci!a!ed !o s%cceed, his por!ion shall accr%e !o !he
o!hers o& !he same degree, save !he righ! o&
represen!a!ion when i! sho%ld !a$e place. 05223
A',ICLE B;B. & !he inheri!ance sho%ld *e rep%dia!ed
*y !he neares! rela!ive, sho%ld !here *e one only, or *y all
!he neares! rela!ives called *y law !o s%cceed, sho%ld
!here *e several, !hose o& !he &ollowing degree shall
inheri! in !heir own righ! and canno! represen! !he person
or persons rep%dia!ing !he inheri!ance. 052(3
SUBSEC,ION 4
'ight of 'e&esentation
A',ICLE B3F. 'e&esentation is a righ! crea!ed *y
&ic!ion o& law, *y vir!%e o& which !he represen!a!ive is
raised !o !he place and !he degree o& !he person
represen!ed, and ac,%ires !he righ!s which !he la!!er
wo%ld have i& he were living or i& he co%ld have inheri!ed.
0529a3
BA%UNU *s. #IEDAD
/CCCM8CR 8, 2222
.ELD# 8y &ight of represen!a!ion, a more dis!an! *lood
rela!ive o& a deceden! is, *y opera!ions o& law, raised !o
!he same place and degree o& rela!ions as !ha! o& a closer
*lood rela!ive o& !he same deceden!. +he represen!a!ive
!here*y s!eps in!o !he shoes o& !he person he represen!s
and s%cceeds, no! &rom !he la!!er, *%! &rom !he person !o
whose es!a!e !he person represen!ed wo%ld have
s%cceeded.
+he righ! o& represen!a!ion does no! apply !o
o!her colla!eral rela!ives wi!hin !he &i&!h civil degree.
IN,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ #E,'A 'OSALES *s.
'OSALES
FC8R;AR> 24, 1584
+AC,S- 7e!ra died and was s%rvived *y her h%s*and
and 2 children Magna and An!onio. Car!erio, ano!her
child, predeceased her, leaving *ehind a child,
Maci$e,%ero6, and his widow, renea. renea insis!ed in
ge!!ing a share o& !he es!a!e in her capaci!y as !he s%rviving
spo%se o& Car!erio, claiming !ha! she is a comp%lsory heir o&
her mo!her@in@law !oge!her wi!h her son.
.ELD- +he widow whose h%s*and predeceased his mo!her
canno! inheri! &rom her mo!her@in@law. +here is no provision
in !he Civil Code which s!a!es !ha! a widow 0s%rviving
spo%se3 o& an in!es!a!e heir o& her mo!her@in@law.
+he essence and na!%re o& !he righ! o& represen!a!ion is
e6plained *y Ar!icles 542 and 541 o& !he Civil Code.
A',ICLE B38. +he represen!a!ive is called !o !he
s%ccession *y !he law and no! *y !he person represen!ed.
+he represen!a!ive does no! s%cceed !he person represen!ed
*%! !he one whom !he person represen!ed wo%ld have
s%cceeded. 0n3
IN,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ #E,'A 'OSALES *s. 'OSALES
FC8R;AR> 24, 1584
.ELD- Ar!icle 541 e6plici!ly declares !ha! Maci$e,%ero6 is
called !o s%ccession *y law *eca%se o& his *lood rela!ionship.
<e does no! s%cceed his &a!her, Car!erio , *%! 7e!ra whom
his &a!her wo%ld have s%cceeded. renea canno! asser! !he
same righ! o& represen!a!ion as she has no &ilia!ion *y *lood
wi!h her mo!her@in@law.
A',ICLE B34. +he righ! o& represen!a!ion !a$es place in
!he direc! descending line, *%! never in !he ascending.
n !he colla!eral line, i! !a$es place only in &avor o& !he
children o& *ro!hers or sis!ers, whe!her !hey *e o& !he &%ll or
hal& *lood. 052?3
A',ICLE B3A. n order !ha! represen!a!ion may !a$e
place, i! is necessary !ha! !he represen!a!ive himsel& *e
capa*le o& s%cceeding !he deceden!. 0n3
A',ICLE B39. )henever !here is s%ccession *y
represen!a!ion, !he division o& !he es!a!e shall *e made per
s!irpes, in s%ch manner !ha! !he represen!a!ive or
represen!a!ives shall no! inheri! more !han wha! !he person
!hey represen! wo%ld inheri!, i& he were living or co%ld inheri!.
0521a3
A',ICLE B3:. )hen children o& one or more *ro!hers or
sis!ers o& !he deceased s%rvive, !hey shall inheri! &rom !he
la!!er *y represen!a!ion, i& !hey s%rvive wi!h !heir %ncles or
a%n!s. 8%! i& !hey alone s%rvive, !hey shall inheri! in e,%al
por!ions. 05243
BICO(ON% *s. AL(AN)A
.ovem*er 25, 1544
+AC,S- Simeon was married !o Sisenanda and !hey had (
children. )hen Sisenanda died, Simeon remarried !o
Silves!ra and !hey had 2 children. +he plain!i&&s are !he
grandchildren o& Simeon wi!h his children in his &irs!
marriage. Responden!s are !he heirs o& !he children o&
Simeon in his second marriage.
.ELD- ! appearing !ha! Ma%ra 8agsic, child o& !he 2
nd
marriage in which her share is in disp%!e, died in!es!a!e
wi!ho%! an iss%e, and her h%s*and and all her ascendan!s
had died ahead o& her, she is s%cceeded *y !he s%rviving
colla!eral rela!ives, namely !he da%gh!er o& her sis!er o& &%ll
*lood and !he 12 children o& her *ro!her and 2 sis!ers o& hal&
*lood in accordance wi!h !he provision o& Ar!. 54? o& !he .ew
Civil Code.
8y vir!%e o& said provision, !he a&oremen!ioned nephews
and nieces are en!i!led !o inheri! in !heir own righ!. .ephews
and nieces alone do no! inheri! *y righ! o& represen!a!ion
0!ha! is per s!irpes3 %nless conc%rring wi!h *ro!hers or sis!ers
o& !he deceased.
Ar!icle 54? ma$es no ,%ali&ica!ion as !o whe!her !he
nephews or nieces are on !he ma!ernal or pa!ernal line and
wi!ho%! pre&erence as !o whe!her !heir rela!ionship !o !he
deceased is *y whole or hal& *lood, !he sole niece o& whole
*lood o& !he deceased does no! e6cl%de !he !en nephews
and 2 sis!ers o& hal& *lood.
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A',ICLE B3;. A person may represen! him whose
inheri!ance he has reno%nced. 0528a3
A',ICLE B33. <eirs who rep%dia!e !heir share may no!
*e represen!ed. 0525a3
SEC,ION 4
O&de& of Intestate Su$$ession
SUBSEC,ION 8
Des$ending Di&e$t Line
A',ICLE B35. S%ccession per!ains, in !he &irs! place,
!o !he descending direc! line. 05(23
A',ICLE B3B. Begi!ima!e children and !heir
descendan!s s%cceed !he paren!s and o!her ascendan!s,
wi!ho%! dis!inc!ion as !o se6 or age, and even i& !hey
sho%ld come &rom di&&eren! marriages.
An adop!ed child s%cceeds !o !he proper!y o& !he
adop!ing paren!s in !he same manner as a legi!ima!e
child. 05(1a3
A',ICLE B5F. +he children o& !he deceased shall
always inheri! &rom him in !heir own righ!, dividing !he
inheri!ance in e,%al shares. 05(23
A',ICLE B58. Sho%ld children o& !he deceased and
descendan!s o& o!her children who are dead, s%rvive, !he
&ormer shall inheri! in !heir own righ!, and !he la!!er *y
righ! o& represen!a!ion. 05(9a3
A',ICLE B54. +he grandchildren and o!her
descendan!s shall inheri! *y righ! o& represen!a!ion, and i&
any one o& !hem sho%ld have died, leaving several heirs,
!he por!ion per!aining !o him shall *e divided among !he
la!!er in e,%al por!ions. 05((3
A',ICLE B5A. & illegi!ima!e children s%rvive wi!h
legi!ima!e children, !he shares o& !he &ormer shall *e in !he
propor!ions prescri*ed *y ar!icle 85?. 0n3
A',ICLE B59. n case o& !he dea!h o& an adop!ed child,
leaving no children or descendan!s, his paren!s and
rela!ives *y consang%ini!y and no! *y adop!ion, shall *e
his legal heirs. 0n3
SUBSEC,ION 4
As$ending Di&e$t Line
A',ICLE B5:. n de&a%l! o& legi!ima!e children and
descendan!s o& !he deceased, his paren!s and
ascendan!s shall inheri! &rom him, !o !he e6cl%sion o&
colla!eral rela!ives. 05(?a3
A',ICLE B5;. +he &a!her and mo!her, i& living, shall
inheri! in e,%al shares.
Sho%ld one only o& !hem s%rvive, he or she shall
s%cceed !o !he en!ire es!a!e o& !he child. 05(13
A',ICLE B53. n de&a%l! o& !he &a!her and mo!her, !he
ascendan!s neares! in degree shall inheri!.
Sho%ld !here *e more !han one o& e,%al degree
*elonging !o !he same line !hey shall divide !he
inheri!ance per capi!aD sho%ld !hey *e o& di&&eren! lines *%!
o& e,%al degree, one@hal& shall go !o !he pa!ernal and !he
o!her hal& !o !he ma!ernal ascendan!s. n each line !he
division shall *e made per capi!a. 05(43
SUBSEC,ION A
Illegiti2ate Child&en
A',ICLE B55. n !he a*sence o& legi!ima!e
descendan!s or ascendan!s, !he illegi!ima!e children shall
s%cceed !o !he en!ire es!a!e o& !he deceased. 05(5a3
A',ICLE B5B. &, !oge!her wi!h illegi!ima!e children, !here
sho%ld s%rvive descendan!s o& ano!her illegi!ima!e child who
is dead, !he &ormer shall s%cceed in !heir own righ! and !he
la!!er *y righ! o& represen!a!ion. 0592a3
A',ICLE BBF. +he heredi!ary righ!s gran!ed *y !he !wo
preceding ar!icles !o illegi!ima!e children shall *e !ransmi!!ed
%pon !heir dea!h !o !heir descendan!s, who shall inheri! *y
righ! o& represen!a!ion &rom !heir deceased grandparen!.
0591a3
A',ICLE BB8. & legi!ima!e ascendan!s are le&!, !he
illegi!ima!e children shall divide !he inheri!ance wi!h !hem,
!a$ing one@hal& o& !he es!a!e, wha!ever *e !he n%m*er o& !he
ascendan!s or o& !he illegi!ima!e children. 0592, 891a3
A',ICLE BB4. An illegi!ima!e child has no righ! !o inheri!
a* in!es!a!o &rom !he legi!ima!e children and rela!ives o& his
&a!her or mo!herD nor shall s%ch children or rela!ives inheri! in
!he same manner &rom !he illegi!ima!e child. 059(a3
DIA)" et al *s. IAC" et al
J;.C 14, 1584
.ELD- Ar!icle 552 provides a *arrier or iron c%r!ain in !ha! i!
prohi*i!s a*sol%!ely a s%ccession a* in!es!a!o *e!ween !he
illegi!ima!e child and !he legi!ima!e children and rela!ives o&
!he &a!her or mo!her o& said legi!ima!e child. +hey may have
a na!%ral !ie o& *lood, *%! !his is no! recognized *y law.
8e!ween !he legi!ima!e &amily and !he illegi!ima!e &amily,
!here is pres%med !o *e an in!ervening an!agonism and
incompa!i*ili!y.
#ASCUAL *s. #ASCUAL>BAU,IS,A
March 2?, 1552
+AC,S- 7e!i!ioners -livia and <ermes are !he
ac$nowledged na!%ral children o& !he la!e Cligio, !he la!!er
*eing !he &%ll *lood *ro!her o& !he deceden! /on Andres.
/on Andres was s%rvived *y his spo%se, !he children o& his
*ro!hers, incl%ding !he ac$nowledged na!%ral children o&
Cligio .
.ELD- Cligio is a legi!ima!e child *%! pe!i!ioners are his
illegi!ima!e children. 7e!i!ioners canno! represen! !heir &a!her
Cligio in !he s%ccession o& !he la!!er !o !he in!es!a!e es!a!e o&
!he deceden! Andres, &%ll *lood *ro!her o& !heir &a!her. +he
!erm Aillegi!ima!eA re&ers !o *o!h na!%ral and sp%rio%s.
CO'#US *s. ES,A,E O+ YAN%CO
-C+-8CR 2(, 1548
.ELD- Begi!ima!e da%gh!er canno! inheri! a* in!es!a!o &rom
illegi!ima!e da%gh!er o& !he deceased *eca%se o& *arrier
%nder Ar!icle 552. +he son o& !he legi!ima!e da%gh!er canno!
par!icipa!e in !he said in!es!a!e es!a!e. +he r%le is premised
on !he !heory !ha! !he legi!ima!e &amily loo$s down on !he
illegi!ima!e &amily, and !he la!!er ha!es and resen!s !he
&ormer. +o avoid &%r!her gro%nds o& resen!men!, !he law
pre&ers !o ignore !he e6is!ing *lood !ie.
A',ICLE BBA. & an illegi!ima!e child sho%ld die wi!ho%!
iss%e, ei!her legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e, his &a!her or mo!her
shall s%cceed !o his en!ire es!a!eD and i& !he childEs &ilia!ion is
d%ly proved as !o *o!h paren!s, who are *o!h living, !hey shall
inheri! &rom him share and share ali$e. 0599a3
A',ICLE BB9. n de&a%l! o& !he &a!her or mo!her, an
illegi!ima!e child shall *e s%cceeded *y his or her s%rviving
spo%se, who shall *e en!i!led !o !he en!ire es!a!e.
& !he widow or widower sho%ld s%rvive wi!h *ro!hers and
sis!ers, nephews and nieces, she or he shall inheri! one@hal&
o& !he es!a!e, and !he la!!er !he o!her hal&. 059?a3
.EI'S of SANDE6AS *s. LINA
Fe*r%ary 1, 2221
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.ELD- S%ccession laws and "%rispr%dence re,%ire !ha!
when a marriage is dissolved *y !he dea!h o& !he h%s*and
or !he wi&e, !he deceden!=s en!ire es!a!e N %nder !he
concep! o& con"%gal proper!ies o& gains @@ m%s! *e divided
e,%ally, wi!h one hal& going !o !he s%rviving spo%se and
!he o!her hal& !o !he heirs o& !he deceased. A&!er !he
se!!lemen! o& !he de*!s and o*liga!ions, !he remaining hal&
o& !he es!a!e is !hen dis!ri*%!ed !o !he legal heirs, lega!ees
and devices.
SUBSEC,ION 9
Su&*i*ing Souse
A',ICLE BB:. n !he a*sence o& legi!ima!e
descendan!s and ascendan!s, and illegi!ima!e children
and !heir descendan!s, whe!her legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e,
!he s%rviving spo%se shall inheri! !he en!ire es!a!e, wi!ho%!
pre"%dice !o !he righ!s o& *ro!hers and sis!ers, nephews
and nieces, sho%ld !here *e any, %nder Ar!icle 1221.
0591a3
CALIS,E'IO *s. CALIS,E'IO
A7RB 1, 2222
+AC,S- +eodorico died in!es!a!e and was s%rvived *y his
wi&e, Marie!!a. +eodorico was !he 2
nd
h%s*and o& Marie!!a
who had *een previo%sly married !o James, who
disappeared wi!ho%! a !race. +eodorico and Marie!!a
were married wi!ho%! having sec%red a co%r! declara!ion
!ha! James was pres%mp!ively dead. An!onia, s%rviving
sis!er o& +eodorico, claiming !o *e sole s%rviving heir o&
+eodorico, alleged !ha! !he marriage *e!ween +eodorico
and Marie!a was *igamo%s and !h%s, n%ll and void.
.ELD- +he 2
nd
marriage, having *een con!rac!ed d%ring
!he regime o& !he Civil Code, is valid no!wi!hs!anding !he
a*sence o& a "%dicial declara!ion o& pres%mp!ive dea!h o&
James.
+he con"%gal proper!y o& +eodorico and Marie!!a, no
evidence having *een add%ced !o indica!e ano!her
proper!y regime *e!ween !he spo%ses, per!ains !o !hem in
common. ;pon !he dissol%!ion wi!h !he dea!h o&
+eodorico, !he proper!y sho%ld *e divided in!o 2 e,%al
por!ions# one por!ion !o !he s%rviving spo%se and !he
o!her por!ion !o !he es!a!e o& !he deceased spo%se. +he
s%ccessional righ! in in!es!acy o& a s%rviving spo%se over
!he ne! es!a!e o& !he deceased, conc%rring wi!h !he
legi!ima!e *ro!hers and sis!ers or nephews and nieces
0!he la!!er *y righ! o& represen!a!ion3, is L o& !he
inheri!ance, !he *ro!her and sis!ers or nephews and
nieces, *eing en!i!led !o !he o!her hal&. 8ro!hers and
sis!ers e6cl%de nephews and nieces e6cep! only in
represen!a!ion *y !he la!!er o& !heir paren!s who
predeceased or are incapaci!a!ed !o s%cceed.
A',ICLE BB;. & a widow or widower and legi!ima!e
children or descendan!s are le&!, !he s%rviving spo%se has
in !he s%ccession !he same share as !ha! o& each o& !he
children. 08(9a3
A',ICLE BB3. )hen !he widow or widower s%rvives
wi!h legi!ima!e paren!s or ascendan!s, !he s%rviving
spo%se shall *e en!i!led !o one@hal& o& !he es!a!e, and !he
legi!ima!e paren!s or ascendan!s !o !he o!her hal&. 08(1a3
A',ICLE BB5. & a widow or widower s%rvives wi!h
illegi!ima!e children, s%ch widow or widower shall *e
en!i!led !o one@hal& o& !he inheri!ance, and !he illegi!ima!e
children or !heir descendan!s, whe!her legi!ima!e or
illegi!ima!e, !o !he o!her hal&. 0n3
A',ICLE BBB. )hen !he widow or widower s%rvives
wi!h legi!ima!e children or !heir descendan!s and
illegi!ima!e children or !heir descendan!s, whe!her
legi!ima!e or illegi!ima!e, s%ch widow or widower shall *e
en!i!led !o !he same share as !ha! o& a legi!ima!e child. 0n3
A',ICLE 8FFF. & legi!ima!e ascendan!s, !he s%rviving
spo%se, and illegi!ima!e children are le&!, !he ascendan!s
shall *e en!i!led !o one@hal& o& !he inheri!ance, and !he o!her
hal& shall *e divided *e!ween !he s%rviving spo%se and !he
illegi!ima!e children so !ha! s%ch widow or widower shall have
one@&o%r!h o& !he es!a!e, and !he illegi!ima!e children !he
o!her &o%r!h. 0891a3
DEL 'OSA'IO *s. CONANAN
MARC< (2, 1544
+AC,S- +he deceased died in!es!a!e leaving his wi&e, his
legi!ima!e mo!her and an adop!ed da%gh!er.
.ELD- )i&e ge!s T, !he adop!ed da%gh!er ge!s T and !he
legi!ima!e mo!her ge!s L. +he adop!ed child ge!s !he righ!s
o& an ac$nowledged na!%ral child 0illegi!ima!e3, no! !ha! o& a
legi!ima!e child, o!herwise, !he legi!ima!e ascendan! 0!he
mo!her3 wo%ld *e e6cl%ded. +he presence o& !he adop!ed
child does no! e6cl%de !he legi!ima!e paren! or ascendan!.
A',ICLE 8FF8. Sho%ld *ro!hers and sis!ers or !heir
children s%rvive wi!h !he widow or widower, !he la!!er shall *e
en!i!led !o one@hal& o& !he inheri!ance and !he *ro!hers and
sis!ers or !heir children !o !he o!her hal&. 05?(, 8(4a3
A',ICLE 8FF4. n case o& a legal separa!ion, i& !he
s%rviving spo%se gave ca%se &or !he separa!ion, he or she
shall no! have any o& !he righ!s gran!ed in !he preceding
ar!icles. 0n3
SUBSEC,ION :
Collate&al 'elati*es
A',ICLE 8FFA. & !here are no descendan!s, ascendan!s,
illegi!ima!e children, or a s%rviving spo%se, !he colla!eral
rela!ives shall s%cceed !o !he en!ire es!a!e o& !he deceased in
accordance wi!h !he &ollowing ar!icles. 0591a3
BA'ANDA *s. BA'ANDA
MA> 22, 1584
+AC,S- 7a%lina died in!es!a!e wi!ho%! leaving any direc!
descendan!s, ascendan!s or comp%lsory heirs. She was
s%rvived *y her 2 *ro!hers and several nephews and nieces,
incl%ding priva!e responden!s as well as pe!i!ioners who are
children o& 2 deceased *ro!hers and a sis!er.
.ELD- As heirs, pe!i!ioners have !he legal s!anding !o
challenge !he deeds o& sale p%rpor!edly signed *y 7a%lina,
&or o!herwise, proper!y claimed !o *elong !o her es!a!e, will
*e e6cl%ded !here&rom !o !heir pre"%dice. +heir claims are
no! merely con!ingen! or e6pec!an!. )hile !hey are no!
comp%lsory heirs, !hey are none!heless legi!ima!e heirs and
so, since !hey s!and !o *e *ene&i!ed or in"%red *y !he
"%dgmen! or s%i!, and are !h%s, en!i!led !o pro!ec! !heir share
o& a s%ccessional righ!.
+here *eing no pending special proceeding &or !he
se!!lemen! o& !he 7a%lina=s es!a!e, !he pe!i!ioners, as
in!es!a!e heirs, had !he righ! !o s%e &or !he reconveyance o&
!he disp%!ed proper!ies, no! !o !hem, *%! !o !he es!a!e i!sel& o&
!he deceden!, &or !he dis!ri*%!ion la!er in accordance wi!h law.
A',ICLE 8FF9. Sho%ld !he only s%rvivors *e *ro!hers and
sis!ers o& !he &%ll *lood, !hey shall inheri! in e,%al shares.
05943
A',ICLE 8FF:. Sho%ld *ro!hers and sis!ers s%rvive
!oge!her wi!h nephews and nieces, who are !he children o&
!he descendan!Es *ro!hers and sis!ers o& !he &%ll *lood, !he
&ormer shall inheri! per capi!a, and !he la!!er per s!irpes. 05983
A',ICLE 8FF;. Sho%ld *ro!hers and sis!ers o& !he &%ll
*lood s%rvive !oge!her wi!h *ro!hers and sis!ers o& !he hal&
*lood, !he &ormer shall *e en!i!led !o a share do%*le !ha! o&
!he la!!er. 05953
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Year : 2008-2009
BICO(ON% *s. AL(AN)A
.-FCM8CR 25, 1544
+AC,S- +he deceased had a sis!er o& !he &%ll *lood and
a *ro!her and 2 sis!ers o& !he hal&@*lood, all o& whom had
predeceased her. S%rviving were# 0a3 a da%gh!er o& her
sis!er o& !he &%ll *lood, and 0*3 12 children o& her *ro!her
and 2 sis!ers o& !he hal&@*lood.
.ELD- +he niece o& !he whole *lood ge!s a share do%*le
o& !ha! o& each o& !he nephews and nieces o& !he hal&@
*lood. All o& !hem inheri! in !heir own righ!, and no! *y !he
righ! o& represen!a!ion *eca%se !he nephews and nieces
here do no! conc%r wi!h any *ro!her or sis!er o& !he
deceased. +he rela!ive o& !he &%ll *lood does no! e6cl%de
!he rela!ives o& !he hal&@*lood.
A',ICLE 8FF3. n case *ro!hers and sis!ers o& !he hal&
*lood, some on !he &a!herEs and some on !he mo!herEs
side, are !he only s%rvivors, all shall inheri! in e,%al
shares wi!ho%! dis!inc!ion as !o !he origin o& !he proper!y.
05?23
A',ICLE 8FF5. Children o& *ro!hers and sis!ers o& !he
hal& *lood shall s%cceed per capi!a or per s!irpes, in
accordance wi!h !he r%les laid down &or *ro!hers and
sis!ers o& !he &%ll *lood. 051?3
A',ICLE 8FFB. Sho%ld !here *e nei!her *ro!hers nor
sis!ers, nor children o& *ro!hers or sis!ers, !he o!her
colla!eral rela!ives shall s%cceed !o !he es!a!e.
+he la!!er shall s%cceed wi!ho%! dis!inc!ion o& lines or
pre&erence among !hem *y reason o& rela!ionship *y !he
whole *lood. 05?9a3
A',ICLE 8F8F. +he righ! !o inheri! a* in!es!a!o shall no!
e6!end *eyond !he &i&!h degree o& rela!ionship in !he
colla!eral line. 05??a3
SUBSEC,ION ;
,he State
A',ICLE 8F88. n de&a%l! o& persons en!i!led !o s%cceed
in accordance wi!h !he provisions o& !he preceding
Sec!ions, !he S!a!e shall inheri! !he whole es!a!e. 05?1a3
A',ICLE 8F84. n order !ha! !he S!a!e may !a$e
possession o& !he proper!y men!ioned in !he preceding
ar!icle, !he per!inen! provisions o& !he R%les o& Co%r! m%s!
*e o*served. 05?8a3
A',ICLE 8F8A. A&!er !he paymen! o& de*!s and charges,
!he personal proper!y shall *e assigned !o !he m%nicipali!y
or ci!y where !he deceased las! resided in !he 7hilippines,
and !he real es!a!e !o !he m%nicipali!ies or ci!ies,
respec!ively, in which !he same is si!%a!ed.
& !he deceased never resided in !he 7hilippines, !he
whole es!a!e shall *e assigned !o !he respec!ive
m%nicipali!ies or ci!ies where !he same is loca!ed.
S%ch es!a!e shall *e &or !he *ene&i! o& p%*lic schools,
and p%*lic chari!a*le ins!i!%!ions and cen!ers, in s%ch
m%nicipali!ies or ci!ies. +he co%r! shall dis!ri*%!e !he
es!a!e as !he respec!ive needs o& each *ene&iciary may
warran!.
+he co%r!, a! !he ins!ance o& an in!eres!ed par!y, or
on i!s own mo!ion, may order !he es!a*lishmen! o& a
permanen! !r%s!, so !ha! only !he income &rom !he proper!y
shall *e %sed. 05?1a3
A',ICLE 8F89. & a person legally en!i!led !o !he es!a!e
o& !he deceased appears and &iles a claim !here!o wi!h !he
co%r! wi!hin &ive years &rom !he da!e !he proper!y was
delivered !o !he S!a!e, s%ch person shall *e en!i!led !o !he
possession o& !he same, or i& sold, !he m%nicipali!y or ci!y
shall *e acco%n!a*le !o him &or s%ch par! o& !he proceeds
as may no! have *een law&%lly spen!. 0n3
C.A#,E' 9
#&o*isions Co22on to ,estate and Intestate
Su$$essions
SEC,ION 8
'ight of A$$&etion
A',ICLE 8F8:. A$$&etion is a righ! *y vir!%e o& which,
when !wo or more persons are called !o !he same
inheri!ance, devise or legacy, !he par! assigned !o !he one
who reno%nces or canno! receive his share, or who died
*e&ore !he !es!a!or, is added or incorpora!ed !o !ha! o& his co@
heirs, co@devisees, or co@lega!ees. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F8;. n order !ha! !he righ! o& accre!ion may !a$e
place in a !es!amen!ary s%ccession, i! shall *e necessary#
013 +ha! !wo or more persons *e called !o !he same
inheri!ance, or !o !he same por!ion !hereo&, pro indivisoD and
023 +ha! one o& !he persons !h%s called die *e&ore !he
!es!a!or, or reno%nce !he inheri!ance, or *e
incapaci!a!ed !o receive i!. 0582a3
A',ICLE 8F83. +he words Aone@hal& &or eachA or Ain e,%al
sharesA or any o!hers which, !ho%gh designa!ing an ali,%o!
par!, do no! iden!i&y i! *y s%ch descrip!ion as shall ma$e each
heir !he e6cl%sive owner o& de!ermina!e proper!y, shall no!
e6cl%de !he righ! o& accre!ion.
n case o& money or &%ngi*le goods, i& !he share o& each
heir is no! earmar$ed, !here shall *e a righ! o& accre!ion.
058(a3
A',ICLE 8F85. n legal s%ccession !he share o& !he person
who rep%dia!es !he inheri!ance shall always accr%e !o his co@
heirs. 05813
A',ICLE 8F8B. +he heirs !o whom !he por!ion goes *y !he
righ! o& accre!ion !a$e i! in !he same propor!ion !ha! !hey
inheri!. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F4F. +he heirs !o whom !he inheri!ance accr%es
shall s%cceed !o all !he righ!s and o*liga!ions which !he heir
who reno%nced or co%ld no! receive i! wo%ld have had. 05893
A',ICLE 8F48. Among !he comp%lsory heirs !he righ! o&
accre!ion shall !a$e place only when !he &ree por!ion is le&! !o
!wo or more o& !hem, or !o any one o& !hem and !o a s!ranger.
Sho%ld !he par! rep%dia!ed *e !he legi!ime, !he o!her co@
heirs shall s%cceed !o i! in !heir own righ!, and no! *y !he righ!
o& accre!ion. 058?3
A',ICLE 8F44. n !es!amen!ary s%ccession, when !he righ!
o& accre!ion does no! !a$e place, !he vacan! por!ion o& !he
ins!i!%!ed heirs, i& no s%*s!i!%!e has *een designa!ed, shall
pass !o !he legal heirs o& !he !es!a!or, who shall receive i! wi!h
!he same charges and o*liga!ions. 05813
A',ICLE 8F4A. Accre!ion shall also !a$e place among
devisees, lega!ees and %s%&r%c!%aries %nder !he same
condi!ions es!a*lished &or heirs. 0584a3
SEC,ION 4
Caa$ity to Su$$eed by Will o& by Intesta$y
A',ICLE 8F49. 7ersons no! incapaci!a!ed *y law may
s%cceed *y will or a* in!es!a!o.
+he provisions rela!ing !o incapaci!y *y will are e,%ally
applica*le !o in!es!a!e s%ccession. 0499, 5193
A',ICLE 8F4:. n order !o *e capaci!a!ed !o inheri!, !he
heir, devisee or lega!ee m%s! *e living a! !he momen! !he
s%ccession opens, e6cep! in case o& represen!a!ion, when i!
is proper.
A child already conceived a! !he !ime o& !he dea!h o& !he
deceden! is capa*le o& s%cceeding provided i! *e *orn la!er
%nder !he condi!ions prescri*ed in ar!icle 91. 0n3
,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ 'I%O' *s. 'I%O'
April (2, 1545
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.ELD- +he said *e,%es! re&ers !o !he !es!a!orEs neares!
male rela!ive li"ing at the time of his death and not to any
indefinite time thereafter.
A',ICLE 8F4;. A !es!amen!ary disposi!ion may *e
made !o !he S!a!e, provinces, m%nicipal corpora!ions,
priva!e corpora!ions, organiza!ions, or associa!ions &or
religio%s, scien!i&ic, c%l!%ral, ed%ca!ional, or chari!a*le
p%rposes.
All o!her corpora!ions or en!i!ies may s%cceed %nder
a will, %nless !here is a provision !o !he con!rary in !heir
char!er or !he laws o& !heir crea!ion, and always s%*"ec! !o
!he same. 0491a3
A',ICLE 8F43. +he &ollowing are in$aable of
su$$eeding#
013 +he pries! who heard !he con&ession o& !he !es!a!or
d%ring his las! illness, or !he minis!er o& !he gospel who
e6!ended spiri!%al aid !o him d%ring !he same periodD
023 +he rela!ives o& s%ch pries! or minis!er o& !he gospel
wi!hin !he &o%r!h degree, !he ch%rch, order,
chap!er, comm%ni!y, organiza!ion, or ins!i!%!ion !o
which s%ch pries! or minis!er may *elongD
0(3 A g%ardian wi!h respec! !o !es!amen!ary disposi!ions
given *y a ward in his &avor *e&ore !he &inal
acco%n!s o& !he g%ardianship have *een approved,
even i& !he !es!a!or sho%ld die a&!er !he approval
!hereo&D never!heless, any provision made *y !he ward in
&avor o& !he g%ardian when !he la!!er is his ascendan!,
descendan!, *ro!her, sis!er, or spo%se, shall *e validD
093 Any a!!es!ing wi!ness !o !he e6ec%!ion o& a will, !he
spo%se, paren!s, or children, or any one claiming %nder
s%ch wi!ness, spo%se, paren!s, or childrenD
0?3 Any physician, s%rgeon, n%rse, heal!h o&&icer or
dr%ggis! who !oo$ care o& !he !es!a!or d%ring his
las! illnessD a
013 ndivid%als, associa!ions and corpora!ions no!
permi!!ed *y law !o inheri!. 049?, 4?2, 4?(, 4?9a3
A',ICLE 8F45. +he prohi*i!ions men!ioned in ar!icle
4(5, concerning dona!ions in!er vivos shall apply !o
!es!amen!ary provisions. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F4B. Sho%ld !he !es!a!or dispose o& !he whole
or par! o& his proper!y &or prayers and pio%s wor$s &or !he
*ene&i! o& his so%l, in general !erms and wi!ho%! speci&ying
i!s applica!ion, !he e6ec%!or, wi!h !he co%r!Es approval shall
deliver one@hal& !hereo& or i!s proceeds !o !he ch%rch or
denomina!ion !o which !he !es!a!or may *elong, !o *e
%sed &or s%ch prayers and pio%s wor$s, and !he o!her hal&
!o !he S!a!e, &or !he p%rposes men!ioned in ar!icle 121(.
0494a3
A',ICLE 8FAF. +es!amen!ary provisions in &avor o& !he
poor in general, wi!ho%! designa!ion o& par!ic%lar persons
or o& any comm%ni!y, shall *e deemed limi!ed !o !he poor
living in !he domicile o& !he !es!a!or a! !he !ime o& his
dea!h, %nless i! sho%ld clearly appear !ha! his in!en!ion
was o!herwise.
+he designa!ion o& !he persons who are !o *e
considered as poor and !he dis!ri*%!ion o& !he proper!y
shall *e made *y !he person appoin!ed *y !he !es!a!or &or
!he p%rposeD in de&a%l! o& s%ch person, *y !he e6ec%!or,
and sho%ld !here *e no e6ec%!or, *y !he "%s!ice o& !he
peace, !he mayor, and !he m%nicipal !reas%rer, who shall
decide *y a ma"ori!y o& vo!es all ,%es!ions !ha! may arise.
n all !hese cases, !he approval o& !he Co%r! o& Firs!
ns!ance shall *e necessary.
+he preceding paragraph shall apply when !he
!es!a!or has disposed o& his proper!y in &avor o& !he poor
o& a de&ini!e locali!y. 0495a3
A',ICLE 8FA8. A !es!amen!ary provision in &avor o& a
dis,%ali&ied person, even !ho%gh made %nder !he g%ise o&
an onero%s con!rac!, or made !hro%gh an in!ermediary,
shall *e void. 04??3
A',ICLE 8FA4. +he &ollowing are incapa*le o& s%cceeding
*y reason o& %nwor!hiness#
013 7aren!s who have a*andoned !heir children or ind%ced
!heir da%gh!ers !o lead a corr%p! or immoral li&e, or
a!!emp!ed agains! !heir vir!%eD
023 Any person who has *een convic!ed o& an a!!emp!
agains! !he li&e o& !he !es!a!or, his or her spo%se,
descendan!s, or ascendan!sD
0(3 Any person who has acc%sed !he !es!a!or o& a crime &or
which !he law prescri*es imprisonmen! &or si6 years
or more, i& !he acc%sa!ion has *een &o%nd gro%ndlessD
093 Any heir o& &%ll age who, having $nowledge o& !he violen!
dea!h o& !he !es!a!or, sho%ld &ail !o repor! i! !o an o&&icer o& !he
law wi!hin a mon!h, %nless !he a%!hori!ies have already
!a$en ac!ionD !his prohi*i!ion shall no! apply !o cases
wherein, according !o law, !here is no o*liga!ion !o ma$e an
acc%sa!ionD
0?3 Any person convic!ed o& ad%l!ery or conc%*inage wi!h
!he spo%se o& !he !es!a!orD
013 Any person who *y &ra%d, violence, in!imida!ion, or
%nd%e in&l%ence sho%ld ca%se !he !es!a!or !o ma$e a will or
!o change one already madeD
043 Any person who *y !he same means preven!s ano!her
&rom ma$ing a will, or &rom revo$ing one already made,
or who s%pplan!s, conceals, or al!ers !he la!!erEs willD
083 Any person who &alsi&ies or &orges a s%pposed will o& !he
deceden!. 04?1, 14(, 149a3
A',ICLE 8FAA. +he ca%ses o& %nwor!hiness shall *e
wi!ho%! e&&ec! i& !he !es!a!or had $nowledge !hereo& a! !he
!ime he made !he will, or i&, having $nown o& !hem
s%*se,%en!ly, he sho%ld condone !hem in wri!ing. 04?4a3
A',ICLE 8FA9. n order !o "%dge !he capaci!y o& !he heir,
devisee or lega!ee, his ,%ali&ica!ion a! !he !ime o& !he dea!h o&
!he deceden! shall *e !he cri!erion.
n cases &alling %nder .os. 2, (, or ? o& ar!icle 12(2, i!
shall *e necessary !o wai! %n!il &inal "%dgmen! is rendered,
and in !he case &alling %nder .o. 9, !he e6pira!ion o& !he
mon!h allowed &or !he repor!.
& !he ins!i!%!ion, devise or legacy sho%ld *e condi!ional,
!he !ime o& !he compliance wi!h !he condi!ion shall also *e
considered. 04?8a3
A',ICLE 8FA:. & !he person e6cl%ded &rom !he inheri!ance
*y reason o& incapaci!y sho%ld *e a child or descendan! o&
!he deceden! and sho%ld have children or descendan!s, !he
la!!er shall ac,%ire his righ! !o !he legi!ime.
+he person so e6cl%ded shall no! en"oy !he %s%&r%c! and
adminis!ra!ion o& !he proper!y !h%s inheri!ed *y his children.
0411a3
A',ICLE 8FA;. Aliena!ions o& heredi!ary proper!y, and ac!s
o& adminis!ra!ion per&ormed *y !he e6cl%ded heir, *e&ore !he
"%dicial order o& e6cl%sion, are valid as !o !he !hird persons
who ac!ed in good &ai!hD *%! !he co@heirs shall have a righ! !o
recover damages &rom !he dis,%ali&ied heir. 0n3
A',ICLE 8FA3. +he %nwor!hy heir who is e6cl%ded &rom
!he s%ccession has a righ! !o demand indemni!y &or any
e6penses inc%rred in !he preserva!ion o& !he heredi!ary
proper!y, and !o en&orce s%ch credi!s as he may have agains!
!he es!a!e. 0n3
A',ICLE 8FA5. Any person incapa*le o& s%ccession, who,
disregarding !he prohi*i!ion s!a!ed in !he preceding ar!icles,
en!ered in!o !he possession o& !he heredi!ary proper!y, shall
*e o*liged !o re!%rn i! !oge!her wi!h i!s accessions.
<e shall *e lia*le &or all !he &r%i!s and ren!s he may have
received, or co%ld have received !hro%gh !he e6ercise o& d%e
diligence. 0412a3
A',ICLE 8FAB. Capaci!y !o s%cceed is governed *y !he
law o& !he na!ion o& !he deceden!. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F9F. +he ac!ion &or a declara!ion o& incapaci!y
and &or !he recovery o& !he inheri!ance, devise or legacy shall
*e *ro%gh! wi!hin &ive years &rom !he !ime !he dis,%ali&ied
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person !oo$ possession !hereo&. ! may *e *ro%gh! *y any
one who may have an in!eres! in !he s%ccession. 0412a3
SEC,ION A
A$$etan$e and 'eudiation of the Inhe&itan$e
A',ICLE 8F98. +he accep!ance or rep%dia!ion o& !he
inheri!ance is an ac! which is p%rely vol%n!ary and &ree.
05883
A',ICLE 8F94. +he e&&ec!s o& !he accep!ance or
rep%dia!ion shall always re!roac! !o !he momen! o& !he
dea!h o& !he deceden!. 05853
A',ICLE 8F9A. .o person may accep! or rep%dia!e an
inheri!ance %nless he is cer!ain o& !he dea!h o& !he person
&rom whom he is !o inheri!, and o& his righ! !o !he
inheri!ance. 05513
IN,ES,A,E ES,A,E O+ BO''O(EO *s. BO''O(EO
J%ly 2(, 1584
.ELD- +he prevailing "%rispr%dence on waiver o&
heredi!ary righ!s is !ha! !he proper!ies incl%ded in an
e6is!ing inheri!ance canno! *e considered as *elonging !o
!hird persons wi!h respec! !o !he heirs, who *y &ic!ion o&
law con!in%e !he personali!y o& !he &ormer. .or do s%ch
proper!ies have !he charac!er o& &%!%re proper!y, *eca%se
!he heirs ac,%ire a righ! !o s%ccession &rom !he momen! o&
!he dea!h o& !he deceased.
A',ICLE 8F99. Any person having !he &ree disposal o&
his proper!y may accep! or rep%dia!e an inheri!ance.
Any inheri!ance le&! !o minors or incapaci!a!ed
persons may *e accep!ed *y !heir paren!s or g%ardians.
7aren!s or g%ardians may rep%dia!e !he inheri!ance le&! !o
!heir wards only *y "%dicial a%!horiza!ion.
+he righ! !o accep! an inheri!ance le&! !o !he poor
shall *elong !o !he persons designa!ed *y !he !es!a!or !o
de!ermine !he *ene&iciaries and dis!ri*%!e !he proper!y, or
in !heir de&a%l!, !o !hose men!ioned in ar!icle 12(2. 0552a3
A',ICLE 8F9:. +he law&%l represen!a!ives o&
corpora!ions, associa!ions, ins!i!%!ions and en!i!ies
,%ali&ied !o ac,%ire proper!y may accep! any inheri!ance
le&! !o !he la!!er, *%! in order !o rep%dia!e i!, !he approval o&
!he co%r! shall *e necessary. 055(a3
A',ICLE 8F9;. 7%*lic o&&icial es!a*lishmen!s can
nei!her accep! nor rep%dia!e an inheri!ance wi!ho%! !he
approval o& !he governmen!. 05593
A',ICLE 8F93. A married woman o& age may rep%dia!e
an inheri!ance wi!ho%! !he consen! o& her h%s*and. 055?a3
A',ICLE 8F95. /ea&@m%!es who can read and wri!e
may accep! or rep%dia!e !he inheri!ance personally or
!hro%gh an agen!. Sho%ld !hey no! *e a*le !o read and
wri!e, !he inheri!ance shall *e accep!ed *y !heir
g%ardians. +hese g%ardians may rep%dia!e !he same wi!h
"%dicial approval. 0551a3
A',ICLE 8F9B. Accep!ance may *e e6press or !aci!.
An e1&ess a$$etan$e m%s! *e made in a p%*lic or
priva!e doc%men!.
A ta$it a$$etan$e is one res%l!ing &rom ac!s *y
which !he in!en!ion !o accep! is necessarily implied, or
which one wo%ld have no righ! !o do e6cep! in !he
capaci!y o& an heir.
Ac!s o& mere preserva!ion or provisional
adminis!ra!ion do no! imply an accep!ance o& !he
inheri!ance i&, !hro%gh s%ch ac!s, !he !i!le or capaci!y o& an
heir has no! *een ass%med. 0555a3
A',ICLE 8F:F. An inheri!ance is deemed accep!ed#
013 & !he heirs sells, dona!es, or assigns his righ! !o a
s!ranger, or !o his co@heirs, or !o any o& !hemD
023 & !he heir reno%nces !he same, even !ho%gh
gra!%i!o%sly, &or !he *ene&i! o& one or more o& his co@heirsD
0(3 & he reno%nces i! &or a price in &avor o& all his co@heirs
indiscrimina!elyD *%! i& !his ren%ncia!ion sho%ld *e
gra!%i!o%s, and !he co@heirs in whose &avor i! is made
are !hose %pon whom !he por!ion reno%nced sho%ld
devolve *y vir!%e o& accre!ion, !he inheri!ance shall no!
*e deemed as accep!ed. 012223
A',ICLE 8F:8. +he rep%dia!ion o& an inheri!ance shall *e
made in a p%*lic or a%!hen!ic ins!r%men!, or *y pe!i!ion
presen!ed !o !he co%r! having "%risdic!ion over !he
!es!amen!ary or in!es!a!e proceedings. 012283
I(#E'IAL *s. CA
-C+-8CR 8, 1555
+AC,S- Beoncio sold his land !o his na!%ral son. 8%! i! was
alleged !ha! !he sale was in &ac! a dona!ion. 2 years a&!er !he
dona!ion, Beoncio &iled a complain! &or ann%lmen! o& !he said
/eed o& A*sol%!e Sale on !he gro%nd !ha! he was deceived
in!o signing !he said doc%men!. 8%! said disp%!e was
resolved !hro%gh a compromise agreemen!. 7ending
e6ec%!ion o& !he said "%dgmen!, Beoncio died, leaving only 2
heirs N his na!%ral son and an adop!ed son, Fic!or. n 1512,
Fic!or was s%*s!i!%!ed in place o& Beoncio in !he said case
and i! was he who moved &or e6ec%!ion o& "%dgmen!. 1?
years !herea&!er, Fic!or died single and wi!ho%! iss%e,
s%rvived only *y his na!%ral &a!her, Ricardo. 9 years a&!er,
Ricardo died, leaving as his only heirs 2 children, Cesar and
+eresa. 8o!h &iled a complain! see$ing !o n%lli&y !he /eed o&
A*sol%!e Sale alleging !ha! !he conveyance o& said proper!y
impaired !he legi!ima!e o& Fic!or, !heir na!%ral *ro!her and
predecessor@in@in!eres!. )hen Beoncio died, i! was only
Fic!or who was en!i!led !o ,%es!ion !he dona!ion. 8%! ins!ead
o& &iling an ac!ion !o con!es! !he dona!ion, Fic!or as$ed !o *e
s%*s!i!%!ed as plain!i&& and even moved &or !he e6ec%!ion o&
!he "%dgmen!.
ISSUE- )he!her or no! Fic!or was deemed !o have
reno%nced his legi!ime
.ELD- .o ren%ncia!ion o& legi!ima!e may *e pres%med &rom
!he &oregoing ac!s. A! !he !ime o& !he s%*s!i!%!ion, !he
"%dgmen! approving !he compromise agreemen! has already
*een rendered. Fic!or merely par!icipa!ed in !he e6ec%!ion o&
!he compromise "%dgmen!. <e was no! a par!y !o !he
compromise agreemen!.
-%r law on s%ccession does no! co%n!enance !aci!
rep%dia!ion o& inheri!ance. ! re,%ires an e6press ac! on !he
par! o& !he heir. Fic!or=s ac! o& moving &or e6ec%!ion o& !he
compromise "%dgmen! canno! *e considered an ac! o&
ren%ncia!ion o& his legi!ime. <e was, !here&ore, no! precl%ded
or es!opped &orm s%*se,%en!ly see$ing !he red%c!ion o& !he
dona!ion. .or are Fic!or=s heirs, %pon his dea!h, precl%ded
&rom doing so, as !heir righ! !o do so is e6pressly recognized.
& !he heir sho%ld die wi!ho%! having accep!ed or
rep%dia!ed !he inheri!ance, his righ! shall *e !ransmi!!ed !o
his heirs.
A',ICLE 8F:4. & !he heir rep%dia!es !he inheri!ance !o !he
pre"%dice o& his own credi!ors, !he la!!er may pe!i!ion !he
co%r! !o a%!horize !hem !o accep! i! in !he name o& !he heir.
+he accep!ance shall *ene&i! !he credi!ors only !o an
e6!en! s%&&icien! !o cover !he amo%n! o& !heir credi!s. +he
e6cess, sho%ld !here *e any, shall in no case per!ain !o !he
reno%ncer, *%! shall *e ad"%dica!ed !o !he persons !o whom,
in accordance wi!h !he r%les es!a*lished in !his Code, i! may
*elong. 012213
A',ICLE 8F:A. & !he heir sho%ld die wi!ho%! having
accep!ed or rep%dia!ed !he inheri!ance his righ! shall *e
!ransmi!!ed !o his heirs. 012213
A',ICLE 8F:9. Sho%ld !here *e several heirs called !o !he
inheri!ance, some o& !hem may accep! and !he o!hers may
rep%dia!e i!. 01224a3
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A',ICLE 8F::. & a person, who is called !o !he same
inheri!ance as an heir *y will and a* in!es!a!o, rep%dia!es
!he inheri!ance in his capaci!y as a !es!amen!ary heir, he
is %nders!ood !o have rep%dia!ed i! in *o!h capaci!ies.
Sho%ld he rep%dia!e i! as an in!es!a!e heir, wi!ho%!
$nowledge o& his *eing a !es!amen!ary heir, he may s!ill
accep! i! in !he la!!er capaci!y. 012253
A',ICLE 8F:;. +he accep!ance or rep%dia!ion o& an
inheri!ance, once made, is irrevoca*le, and canno! *e
imp%gned, e6cep! when i! was made !hro%gh any o& !he
ca%ses !ha! vi!ia!e consen!, or when an %n$nown will
appears. 05543
A',ICLE 8F:3. )i!hin !hir!y days a&!er !he co%r! has
iss%ed an order &or !he dis!ri*%!ion o& !he es!a!e in
accordance wi!h !he R%les o& Co%r!, !he heirs, devisees
and lega!ees shall signi&y !o !he co%r! having "%risdic!ion
whe!her !hey accep! or rep%dia!e !he inheri!ance.
& !hey do no! do so wi!hin !ha! !ime, !hey are deemed
!o have accep!ed !he inheri!ance. 0n3
SEC,ION 9
E1e$uto&s and Ad2inist&ato&s
A',ICLE 8F:5. All ma!!ers rela!ing !o !he appoin!men!,
powers and d%!ies o& e6ec%!ors and adminis!ra!ors and
concerning !he adminis!ra!ion o& es!a!es o& deceased
persons shall *e governed *y !he R%les o& Co%r!. 0n3
CO'ONA *s. CA
A%g%s! (2, 1582
+AC,S- /olores died leaving !wo wills# a holographic will
da!ed -c!o*er (, 1582, which e6cl%ded her h%s*and as
one o& her heirs, and a &ormal will da!ed -c!o*er 29,
1582, which e6pressly disinheri!ed her h%s*and *eca%se
o& conc%*inage.
Rowena, /olores= niece and e6ec%!ri6, &iled a pe!i!ion
&or pro*a!e and &or !he appoin!men! o& .eni!a as
adminis!ra!or since she 0Rowena3 is presen!ly employed
in .ew >or$ Ci!y. Romarico, !he h%s*and, &iled an
opposi!ion and prayed !ha! he *e appoin!ed as special
adminis!ra!or *eca%se !he special adminis!ra!ri6 is no!
rela!ed !o !he heirs and has no in!eres! !o *e pro!ec!ed.
.ELD- +he SC held !ha! .eni!a sho%ld *e appoin!ed as
Special Adminis!ra!or. +he e6ec%!ri6Es choice o& Special
Adminis!ra!or, considering her own ina*ili!y !o serve and
!he wide la!i!%de o& discre!ion given her *y !he !es!a!ri6 in
her )ill is en!i!led !o !he highes! considera!ion.
-*"ec!ions !o .eni!aEs appoin!men! on gro%nds o&
imprac!icali!y and lac$ o& $inship are over@shadowed *y
!he &ac! !ha! "%s!ice and e,%i!y demand !ha! !he side o& !he
deceased wi&e and !he &ac!ion o& !he s%rviving h%s*and *e
represen!ed in !he managemen! o& !he deceden!Es es!a!e.
! is apropos !o remind !he Special Adminis!ra!ors !ha!
while !hey may have respec!ive in!eres!s !o pro!ec!, !hey
are o&&icers o& !he Co%r! s%*"ec! !o !he s%pervision and
con!rol o& !he 7ro*a!e Co%r! and are e6pec!ed !o wor$ &or
!he *es! in!eres!s o& !he en!ire es!a!e, i!s smoo!h
adminis!ra!ion, and i!s earlies! se!!lemen!.
A',ICLE 8F:B. & !he asse!s o& !he es!a!e o& a deceden!
which can *e applied !o !he paymen! o& de*!s are no!
s%&&icien! &or !ha! p%rpose, !he provisions o& ar!icles 22(5
!o 22?1 on 7re&erence o& Credi!s shall *e o*served,
provided !ha! !he e6penses re&erred !o in ar!icle 2299, .o.
8, shall *e !hose involved in !he adminis!ra!ion o& !he
deceden!Es es!a!e. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F;F. A corpora!ion or associa!ion a%!horized
!o cond%c! !he *%siness o& a !r%s! company in !he
7hilippines may *e appoin!ed as an e6ec%!or,
adminis!ra!or, g%ardian o& an es!a!e, or !r%s!ee, in li$e
manner as an individ%alD *%! i! shall no! *e appoin!ed
g%ardian o& !he person o& a ward. 0n3
SEC,ION :
Collation
A',ICLE 8F;8. Cvery comp%lsory heir, who s%cceeds wi!h
o!her comp%lsory heirs, m%s! *ring in!o !he mass o& !he
es!a!e any proper!y or righ! which he may have received &rom
!he deceden!, d%ring !he li&e!ime o& !he la!!er, *y way o&
dona!ion, or any o!her gra!%i!o%s !i!le, in order !ha! i! may *e
comp%!ed in !he de!ermina!ion o& !he legi!ime o& each heir,
and in !he acco%n! o& !he par!i!ion. 012(?a3
7DA. DE ,U#AS *s. ',C O+ NE%'OS OCCIDEN,AL
-C+-8CR (, 1581
+AC,S- +%pas Fo%nda!ion, nc. *eing a s!ranger and no! a
comp%lsory heir, alleged !ha! !he dona!ion in!er vivos made in
i!s &avor was no! s%*"ec! !o colla!ion.
.ELD- An ino&&icio%s dona!ion is colla!iona*le, i.e. i!s val%e
is imp%!a*le in!o !he heredi!ary es!a!e o& !he donor a! !he !ime
o& his dea!h &or !he p%rpose o& de!ermining !he legi!ime o& !he
&orced or comp%lsory heirs and !he &reely disposa*le por!ion
o& !he es!a!e. +his is !r%e as well o& dona!ion !o s!rangers as
o& gi&!s !o comp%lsory hers, al!ho%gh !he lang%age o& Ar!icle
1211 o& !he Civil Code wo%ld seem !o limi! colla!ion !o !he
la!!er class o& dona!ions. Colla!iona*le gi&!s sho%ld incl%de
gi&!s made no! only in &avor o& !he &orced heirs, *%! even
!hose made in &avor o& s!rangers, so !ha! in comp%!ing !he
legi!ima!es, !he val%e o& !he proper!y dona!ed sho%ld *e
considered par! o& !he donor=s es!a!e.
/ed%c!ing !he legi!imes &rom !he ne! val%e o& !he
heredi!ary es!a!e leaves !he &reely disposa*le por!ion *y
which !he dona!ion in ,%es!ion here m%s! *e meas%red. &
!he val%e o& !he dona!ion a! !he !ime i! was made does no!
e6ceed !ha! di&&erence, !hen, i! m%s! *e allowed !o s!and. 8%!
i& i! does, !he dona!ion is ino&&icio%s as !o !he e6cess and
m%s! *e red%ced *y !he amo%n! o& said e6cess. n !his case,
i& any e6cess *e shown, i! shall *e re!%rned or rever!ed !o !he
sole comp%lsory heir o& !he deceased +%pas.
)A'A%O)A *s. CA
SC7+CMC8CR 25, 2222
+AC,S- +he &a!her, d%ring his li&e!ime, par!i!ioned his
proper!ies !o his children N :loria, Uacariaz, and Floren!ino,
*y way o& /eeds o& A*sol%!e Sale e6cep! !ha! in respec! !o
da%gh!er Al*er!a *eca%se o& her marriage, she *ecame an
American ci!izen and was prohi*i!ed !o ac,%ire lands in !he
7hilippines, e6cep! *y heredi!ary s%ccession. A&!er !he &a!her
died wi!ho%! a will, Al*er!a s%ed Floren!ino &or !he delivery o&
her inheri!ance, consis!ing o& Bo!s 841 and 59(. Floren!ino
claimed !ha! Bo! 841 is s!ill regis!ered in !heir &a!her=s name
while Bo! 59( was sold !o him &or a val%a*le considera!ion.
.ELD- +he par!i!ion done d%ring !he li&e!ime o& !he &a!her is
valid as long as i! is done wi!ho%! impairing !he legi!ime o&
comp%lsory heirs. S%ch legi!ime is de!ermined a&!er colla!ion
*y comp%lsory heirs o& wha! !hey received d%ring !he li&e!ime
o& !he deceased *y way o& dona!ion or any o!her gra!%i!o%s
!i!le.
n !his case, however, colla!ion co%ld no! *e done
*eca%se !he o!her comp%lsory heirs were no! impleaded in
!he case. +he SC dismissed !he case wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o
!he ins!i!%!ion o& a new proceeding where all !he
indispensa*le par!ies are presen! &or !he righ!&%l
de!ermina!ion o& !heir respec!ive legi!ime and i& !he
par!i!ioning in!er vivos pre"%diced !he legi!imes.
A',ICLE 8F;4. Colla!ion shall no! !a$e place among
comp%lsory heirs i& !he donor sho%ld have so e6pressly
provided, or i& !he donee sho%ld rep%dia!e !he inheri!ance,
%nless !he dona!ion sho%ld *e red%ced as ino&&icio%s. 012(13
BU.AY DE 'O(A *s. CA
J;B> 2(, 1584
.ELD# +here is no!hing in !he provisions e6pressly
prohi*i!ing !he colla!ion o& !he dona!ed proper!ies. +he
phrase Jsa pamamagi!an ng pag*i*igay na di na
ma*a*awing m%liK merely descri*ed !he dona!ion as
51
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
th
Year : 2008-2009
Jirrevoca*leK and sho%ld no! *e cons!r%ed as an e6press
prohi*i!ion agains! colla!ion. +he &ac! !ha! a dona!ion is
irrevoca*le does no! necessarily e6emp! !he s%*"ec!
!hereo& &rom !he colla!ion re,%ired %nder Ar!icle 1211.
+he in!en!ion !o e6emp! &rom colla!ion sho%ld *e
e6pressed plainly and %ne,%ivocally as an e6cep!ion !o
!he general r%le anno%nced in Ar!icle 1212. +he
s%gges!ion !ha! !here was an implied prohi*i!ion *eca%se
!he proper!ies dona!ed were imp%!a*le !o !he &ree por!ion
o& !he deceden!=s es!a!e meri!s li!!le considera!ion.
mp%!a!ion is no! !he ,%es!ion here, nor is i! claimed !ha!
!he disp%!ed dona!ion is o&&icio%s. +he sole iss%e is
whe!her or no! !here was an e6press prohi*i!ion !o colla!e,
and !here was none. :iven !he precise lang%age o& !he
deed o& dona!ion, !he deceden!@donor wo%ld have
incl%ded an e6press prohi*i!ion !o colla!e, i& !ha! had *een
!he donor=s in!en!ion.
A',ICLE 8F;A. 7roper!y le&! *y will is no! deemed
s%*"ec! !o colla!ion, i& !he !es!a!or has no! o!herwise
provided, *%! !he legi!ime shall in any case remain
%nimpaired. 012(43
A',ICLE 8F;9. )hen grandchildren, who s%rvive wi!h
!heir %ncles, a%n!s, or co%sins, inheri! &rom !heir
grandparen!s in represen!a!ion o& !heir &a!her or mo!her,
!hey shall *ring !o colla!ion all !ha! !heir paren!s, i& alive,
wo%ld have *een o*liged !o *ring, even !ho%gh s%ch
grandchildren have no! inheri!ed !he proper!y.
+hey shall also *ring !o colla!ion all !ha! !hey may
have received &rom !he deceden! d%ring his li&e!ime,
%nless !he !es!a!or has provided o!herwise, in which case
his wishes m%s! *e respec!ed, i& !he legi!ime o& !he co@
heirs is no! pre"%diced. 012(83
A',ICLE 8F3F. )edding gi&!s *y paren!s and
ascendan!s consis!ing o& "ewelry, clo!hing, and o%!&i!, shall
no! *e red%ced as ino&&icio%s e6cep! inso&ar as !hey may
e6ceed one@!en!h o& !he s%m which is disposa*le *y will.
012993
A',ICLE 8F;:. 7aren!s are no! o*liged !o *ring !o
colla!ion in !he inheri!ance o& !heir ascendan!s any
proper!y which may have *een dona!ed *y !he la!!er !o
!heir children. 012(53
A',ICLE 8F;;. .ei!her shall dona!ions !o !he spo%se o&
!he child *e *ro%gh! !o colla!ionD *%! i& !hey have *een
given *y !he paren! !o !he spo%ses "oin!ly, !he child shall
*e o*liged !o *ring !o colla!ion one@hal& o& !he !hing
dona!ed. 012923
A',ICLE 8F;3. C6penses &or s%ppor!, ed%ca!ion,
medical a!!endance, even in e6!raordinary illness,
appren!iceship, ordinary e,%ipmen!, or c%s!omary gi&!s
are no! s%*"ec! !o colla!ion. 012913
A',ICLE 8F;5. C6penses inc%rred *y !he paren!s in
giving !heir children a pro&essional, voca!ional or o!her
career shall no! *e *ro%gh! !o colla!ion %nless !he paren!s
so provide, or %nless !hey impair !he legi!imeD *%! when
!heir colla!ion is re,%ired, !he s%m which !he child wo%ld
have spen! i& he had lived in !he ho%se and company o&
his paren!s shall *e ded%c!ed !here&rom. 01292a3
A',ICLE 8F;B. Any s%ms paid *y a paren! in
sa!is&ac!ion o& !he de*!s o& his children, elec!ion
e6penses, &ines, and similar e6penses shall *e *ro%gh! !o
colla!ion. 0129(a3
A',ICLE 8F38. +he same !hings dona!ed are no! !o *e
*ro%gh! !o colla!ion and par!i!ion, *%! only !heir val%e a!
!he !ime o& !he dona!ion, even !ho%gh !heir "%s! val%e may
no! !hen have *een assessed.
+heir s%*se,%en! increase or de!eriora!ion and even
!heir !o!al loss or des!r%c!ion, *e i! acciden!al or c%lpa*le,
shall *e &or !he *ene&i! or acco%n! and ris$ o& !he donee.
0129?a3
A',ICLE 8F34. n !he colla!ion o& a dona!ion made *y *o!h
paren!s, one@hal& shall *e *ro%gh! !o !he inheri!ance o& !he
&a!her, and !he o!her hal&, !o !ha! o& !he mo!her. +ha! given *y
one alone shall *e *ro%gh! !o colla!ion in his or her
inheri!ance. 01291a3
A',ICLE 8F3A. +he doneeEs share o& !he es!a!e shall *e
red%ced *y an amo%n! e,%al !o !ha! already received *y himD
and his co@heirs shall receive an e,%ivalen!, as m%ch as
possi*le, in proper!y o& !he same na!%re, class and ,%ali!y.
012943
A',ICLE 8F39. Sho%ld !he provisions o& !he preceding
ar!icle *e imprac!ica*le, i& !he proper!y dona!ed was
immova*le, !he co@heirs shall *e en!i!led !o receive i!s
e,%ivalen! in cash or sec%ri!ies, a! !he ra!e o& ,%o!a!ionD and
sho%ld !here *e nei!her cash nor mar$e!a*le sec%ri!ies in !he
es!a!e, so m%ch o& !he o!her proper!y as may *e necessary
shall *e sold a! p%*lic a%c!ion.
& !he proper!y dona!ed was mova*le, !he co@heirs shall
only have a righ! !o selec! an e,%ivalen! o& o!her personal
proper!y o& !he inheri!ance a! i!s "%s! price. 012983
A',ICLE 8F3:. +he &r%i!s and in!eres! o& !he proper!y
s%*"ec! !o colla!ion shall no! per!ain !o !he es!a!e e6cep! &rom
!he day on which !he s%ccession is opened.
For !he p%rpose o& ascer!aining !heir amo%n!, !he &r%i!s
and in!eres! o& !he proper!y o& !he es!a!e o& !he same $ind
and ,%ali!y as !ha! s%*"ec! !o colla!ion shall *e made !he
s!andard o& assessmen!. 012953
A',ICLE 8F3;. +he co@heirs are *o%nd !o reim*%rse !o !he
donee !he necessary e6penses which he has inc%rred &or !he
preserva!ion o& !he proper!y dona!ed !o him, !ho%gh !hey may
no! have a%gmen!ed i!s val%e.
+he donee who colla!es in $ind an immova*le, which
has *een given !o him, m%s! *e reim*%rsed *y his co@heirs
&or !he improvemen!s which have increased !he val%e o& !he
proper!y, and which e6is! a! !he !ime !he par!i!ion is e&&ec!ed.
As !o wor$s made on !he es!a!e &or !he mere pleas%re o&
!he donee, no reim*%rsemen! is d%e him &or !hemD he has,
however, !he righ! !o remove !hem, i& he can do so wi!ho%!
in"%ring !he es!a!e. 0n3
A',ICLE 8F33. Sho%ld any ,%es!ion arise among !he co@
heirs %pon !he o*liga!ion !o *ring !o colla!ion or as !o !he
!hings which are s%*"ec! !o colla!ion, !he dis!ri*%!ion o& !he
es!a!e shall no! *e in!err%p!ed &or !his reason, provided
ade,%a!e sec%ri!y is given. 012?23
SEC,ION ;
#a&tition and Dist&ibution of the Estate
SUBSEC,ION 8
#a&tition
A',ICLE 8F35. )here !here are !wo or more heirs, !he
whole es!a!e o& !he deceden! is, *e&ore i!s par!i!ion, owned in
common *y s%ch heirs, s%*"ec! !o !he paymen! o& de*!s o&
!he deceased. 0n3
NOCEDA *s. CA
Sep!em*er 2, 1555
.ELD- n !his case, !he so%rce o& co@ownership among !he
heirs was in!es!a!e s%ccession. 7ar!i!ion, in general, is !he
separa!ion, division and assignmen! o& a !hing held in
common among !hose !o whom i! may *elong. +he p%rpose
o& par!i!ion is !o p%! an end !o co@ownership. And one way o&
e&&ec!ing a par!i!ion o& !he deceden!Es es!a!e is *y !he heirs
!hemselves e6!ra"%dicially.
+he heirs o& !he la!e Celes!ino en!ered in!o an
e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e on A%g%s! 14, 1581 and
agreed !o ad"%dica!e among !hemselves !he proper!y le&! *y
!heir predecessor@in@in!eres!.
+he areas allo!!ed !o each heir are speci&ically
delinea!ed in !he s%rvey plan. +here is no co@ownership
where por!ion owned is concre!ely de!ermined and
iden!i&ia*le, !ho%gh no! !echnically descri*ed, or !ha! said
por!ions are s!ill em*raced in one and !he same cer!i&ica!e o&
52
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
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Year : 2008-2009
!i!le does no! ma$e said por!ions less de!ermina*le or
iden!i&ia*le, or dis!ing%isha*le, one &rom !he o!her, nor
!ha! dominion over each por!ion less e6cl%sive, in !heir
respec!ive owners. A par!i!ion legally made con&ers %pon
each heir !he e6cl%sive ownership o& !he proper!y
ad"%dica!ed !o him.
A',ICLE 8F3B. #a&tition, in general, is !he separa!ion,
division and assignmen! o& a !hing held in common among
!hose !o whom i! may *elong. +he !hing i!sel& may *e
divided, or i!s val%e. 0n3
.EI'S O+ ,E7ES *s. CA
(11 SCRA 1(2
.ELD- +he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!s e6ec%!ed *y !he
heirs o& Joa,%in +eves and Marcelina Cima&ranca are
legally valid and *inding. +he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! o& a
deceden!=s es!a!e is a%!horized *y Sec!ion 1 o& R%le 49 o&
!he R%les o& Co%r!. For a par!i!ion !o *e valid, !he
&ollowing condi!ions m%s! conc%r# 013 !he deceden! le&! no
willD 023 !he deceden! le&! no de*!s, or i& !here were de*!s
le&!, all had *een paidD 0(3 !he heirs are all o& age, or i&
!hey are minors, !he la!!er are represen!ed *y !heir "%dicial
g%ardian or legal represen!a!ivesD 093 !he par!i!ion was
made *y means o& a p%*lic ins!r%men! or a&&idavi! d%ly
&iled wi!h !he Regis!er o& /eeds.
Al!ho%gh Cresenciano, Ricardo=s predecessor@in@
in!eres!, was no! a signa!ory !o !he e6!ra"%dicial
se!!lemen!s, !he par!i!ion o& Bo! 415@A among !he heirs
was made in accordance wi!h !heir in!es!a!e shares %nder
!he law. -ral par!i!ion is valid. +he non@regis!ra!ion o& an
e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! does no! a&&ec! i!s in!rinsic validi!y
when !here are no credi!ors or !he righ!s o& !he credi!ors
are no! a&&ec!ed.
.EI'S of SE'AS#I *s. CA
April 28, 2222
+AC,S- Marcelino con!rac!ed ( marriages. A! !he !ime o&
his dea!h in 159(, he had 1? children &rom his (
marriages. n 1598, his in!es!a!e es!a!e was par!i!ioned
in!o ( par!s *y his heirs, each par! corresponding !o !he
share o& !he heirs in each marriage.
n !he same year, 7a!ronicio, represen!ing !he heirs o&
!he 1
s!
marriage, sold !he share o& !he heirs in !he es!a!e
!o /ominador, an heir o& !he 2
nd
marriage. /ominador
!hen sold said share !o H%irico and 7%r&icacion Seraspi.
+hey !hen o*!ained a loan *%! &ailed !o pay i!. As s%ch,
!he lands were sold !o Rali*o R%ral 8an$ and !hen
s%*se,%en!ly sold !o Man%el. Ra!a allowed H%irico !o
adminis!er !he proper!y.
Simeon, Marcelino=s child *y his !hird wi&e, !a$ing
advan!age o& !he illness o& H%irico, ho had *een
paralyzed d%e !o a s!ro$e, &orci*ly en!ered !he lands in
,%es!ion and !oo$ possession !hereo&.
+he Seraspis p%rchased !he lands &rom Man%el Ra!a
and a&!erwards &iled a complain! agains! Simeon &or
recovery o& possession o& !he lands.
.ELD- Simeon canno! *ase his ownership on s%ccession
&or !he proper!y was no! par! o& !hose dis!ri*%!ed !o !he
heirs o& !he !hird marriage, !o which he *elongs. n !he
par!i!ion o& !he in!es!a!e es!a!e o& Marcelino, !he
proper!ies were divided in!o ( par!s, each par! *eing
reserved &or each gro%p o& heirs *elonging !o one o& !he (
marriages Marcelino en!ered in!o. Since !he con!es!ed
parcels o& land were ad"%dica!ed !o !he heirs o& !he &irs!
and second marriages, i! &ollows !ha! priva!e responden!,
as heir o& !he (
rd
marriage, has no righ! over !he parcels o&
land. )hile, as heir !o !he in!es!a!e es!a!e o& his &a!her,
priva!e responden! was co@owner o& all o& his &a!her=s
proper!ies, s%ch co@ownership righ!s were e&&ec!ively
dissolved *y !he par!i!ion agreed %pon *y !he heirs o&
Marcelino.
A',ICLE 8F5F. Sho%ld a person ma$e a par!i!ion o& his
es!a!e *y an ac! in!er vivos, or *y will, s%ch par!i!ion shall
*e respec!ed, inso&ar as i! does no! pre"%dice !he legi!ime
o& !he comp%lsory heirs.
A paren! who, in !he in!eres! o& his or her &amily, desires
!o $eep any agric%l!%ral, ind%s!rial, or man%&ac!%ring
en!erprise in!ac!, may avail himsel& o& !he righ! gran!ed him in
!his ar!icle, *y ordering !ha! !he legi!ime o& !he o!her children
!o whom !he proper!y is no! assigned, *e paid in cash.
012?1a3
)A'A%O)A *s. CA
Sep!em*er 25, 2222
.ELD- A a&tition inte& *i*os 2ay be done fo& as long as
legiti2es a&e not &e!udi$ed. Ar!icle 1282 is clear on !his.
+he legi!ime o& !he comp%lsory heirs is de!ermined a&!er
colla!ion. ;n&or!%na!ely, colla!ion canno! *e done in !his case
where !he original pe!i!ion &or delivery o& inheri!ance share
only impleaded one o& !he o!her comp%lsory heirs. +he
pe!i!ion m%s! *e dismissed wi!ho%! pre"%dice !o !he ins!i!%!ion
o& a new proceedings wherein all !he indispensa*le par!ies
are presen! &or !he righ!&%l de!ermina!ion o& !heir respec!ive
legi!ime and i& !he legi!imes were pre"%diced *y !he
par!i!ioning in!er vivos.
A',ICLE 8F58. A person may, *y an ac! in!er vivos or
mor!is ca%sa, in!r%s! !he mere power !o ma$e !he par!i!ion
a&!er his dea!h !o any person who is no! one o& !he co@heirs.
+he provisions o& !his and o& !he preceding ar!icle shall
*e o*served even sho%ld !here *e among !he co@heirs a
minor or a person s%*"ec! !o g%ardianshipD *%! !he
manda!ory, in s%ch case, shall ma$e an inven!ory o& !he
proper!y o& !he es!a!e, a&!er no!i&ying !he co@heirs, !he
credi!ors, and !he lega!ees or devisees. 012?4a3
A',ICLE 8F54. Cvery ac! which is in!ended !o p%! an end
!o indivision among co@heirs and lega!ees or devisees is
deemed !o *e a par!i!ion, al!ho%gh i! sho%ld p%rpor! !o *e a
sale, an e6change, a compromise, or any o!her !ransac!ion.
0n3
C'UCILLO *s. IAC
(14 SCRA (?1
.ELD- +he heirs o& 8al*ino Cr%cillo agreed !o orally par!i!ion
!he es!a!e among !hemselves, as evinced *y !heir
possession o& !he inheri!ed premises, !heir cons!r%c!ion o& !he
improvemen! !hereon, and !heir having declared in !heir
names &or !a6 p%rposes !heir respec!ive shares. +hese are
indica!ions !ha! !he said heirs agreed !o divide !he s%*"ec!
es!a!e among !hemselves. ! is cer!ainly &oolhardy &or !he
pe!i!ioners !o claim !ha! no oral par!i!ion was made when !heir
ac!s showed o!herwise. Moreover, i! is %n*elieva*le !ha! !he
possession o& !he heirs was *y mere !olerance, "%dging &rom
!he in!rod%c!ion o& !he improvemen! !hereon and !he leng!h o&
!ime !ha! s%ch improvemen!s have *een in e6is!ence. Afte&
e1e&$ising a$ts of o/ne&shi o*e& thei& &ese$ti*e
o&tions of the $ontested estate" etitione&s a&e stoed
f&o2 denying o& $ontesting the e1isten$e of an o&al
a&tition. +he oral agreemen! &or !he par!i!ion o& !he
proper!y owned in common is valid, *inding and en&orcea*le
on !he par!ies.
#ADA>LILA'IO *s. CA
Jan%ary 15, 2222
.ELD- +he e6!ra"%dicial par!i!ion o& !he es!a!e o& Jacin!o
7ada among his heirs made in 15?1 is valid, al*ei! e6ec%!ed
in an %nregis!ered priva!e doc%men!. No la/ &e0ui&es
a&tition a2ong hei&s to be in /&iting and &egiste&ed in
o&de& to be *alid. +he re,%iremen! in Sec!ion 1, R%le 49 o&
!he Revised R%les o& Co%r! !ha! par!i!ion *e p%! in a p%*lic
doc%men! and regis!ered is &or !he pro!ec!ion o& credi!ors and
!he heirs !hemselves agains! !ardy claims. ! &ollows !hen !ha!
!he in!rinsic validi!y o& par!i!ion no! e6ec%!ed wi!h !he
prescri*ed &ormali!ies is no! %ndermined when no credi!ors
are involved. )i!ho%! credi!ors !o consider, i! is compe!en!
&or !he heirs !o en!er in!o an agreemen! &or !he dis!ri*%!ion o&
!he es!a!e in a manner and %pon a plan di&&eren! &rom !hose
provided *y !he r%les &rom which no!hing can *e in&erred !ha!
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a wri!ing or o!her &ormali!y is essen!ial &or !he par!i!ion !o
*e valid. +he par!i!ion o& inheri!ed proper!y need no! *e
em*odied in a p%*lic doc%men! so as !o *e e&&ec!ive as
regards !he heirs !ha! par!icipa!ed !herein.
S!a!%!e o& Fra%ds does no! apply *eca%se par!i!ion
among heirs is no! legally deemed a conveyance o& real
proper!y *%! ra!her a con&irma!ion or ra!i&ica!ion o& !i!le or
righ! o& proper!y !ha! an heir is reno%ncing in &avor o&
ano!her heir who accep!s and receives !he inheri!ance.
.EI'S O+ 6OAJUIN ,E7ES *s. CA
-c!o*er 1(, 1555
.ELD- An o&al a&tition of a de$edent=s estate is
*alid and !he non@regis!ra!ion o& an e6!ra"%dicial
se!!lemen! does no! a&&ec! i!s in!rinsic validi!y when !here
are no credi!ors or !he righ!s o& credi!ors are no! a&&ec!ed.
UNION BANL *s. SAN,IBAOE)
Fe*r%ary 2(, 222?
.ELD- +he pro*a!e proceeding already ac,%ired
"%risdic!ion over all !he proper!ies o& !he deceased,
incl%ding !he ( !rac!ors. +o dispose o& !hem in any way
wi!ho%! !he pro*a!e co%r!=s approval is !an!amo%n! !o
dives!ing i! wi!h "%risdic!ion which !he SC canno! allow. In
e1e$uting any !oint ag&ee2ent /hi$h aea&s to be in
the natu&e of an e1t&a>!udi$ial a&tition" $ou&t a&o*al
is i2e&ati*e and !he heirs canno! "%s! dives! !he co%r! o&
i!s "%risdic!ion over !ha! par! o& !he es!a!e. ! is wi!hin !he
"%risdic!ion o& !he pro*a!e co%r! !o de!ermine !he iden!i!y o&
!he heirs o& !he deceden!. n !he ins!an! case, !here is no
showing !ha! !he signa!ories in !he "oin! agreemen! were
!he only heirs o& !he deceden!. )hen i! was e6ec%!ed, !he
pro*a!e co%r! has !o de!ermine ye! who !he heirs o& !he
deceden! were. +h%s, &or Cdm%nd and Florence !o
ad"%dica!e %n!o !hemselves !he ( !rac!ors was a
prema!%re ac!, and pre"%dicial !o !he o!her possi*le heirs
and credi!ors who may have a valid claim agains! !he
es!a!e o& !he deceased.
A',ICLE 8F5A. Cvery co@heir has a righ! !o demand !he
division o& !he es!a!e %nless !he !es!a!or sho%ld have
e6pressly &or*idden i!s par!i!ion, in which case !he period
o& indivision shall no! e6ceed !wen!y years as provided in
ar!icle 959. +his power o& !he !es!a!or !o prohi*i! division
applies !o !he legi!ime.
Cven !ho%gh &or*idden *y !he !es!a!or, !he co@
ownership !ermina!es when any o& !he ca%ses &or which
par!nership is dissolved !a$es place, or when !he co%r!
&inds &or compelling reasons !ha! division sho%ld *e
ordered, %pon pe!i!ion o& one o& !he co@heirs. 012?1a3
SAN,OS *s. SAN,OS
-c!o*er 12, 2222
+AC,S- Badislao &iled a complain! agains! his *ro!her,
Cliseo, and !he la!!er=s son 7hillip. Badislao averred !ha!
when his and Cliseo=s sis!er, sidra, died, !hey inheri!ed
her parcel o& land. A parcel o& land le&! *y sidra was
conveyed *y Cliseo !o Firgilio, who &rom in&ancy had *een
%nder !he care o& sidra. Firgilio e6ec%!ed a /eed o&
A*sol%!e Sale in &avor o& 7hilip, his *ro!her and a +a6
/eclara!ion was iss%ed in &avor o& 7hilip. 7hilip and !he
heirs o& Cliseo aver !ha! ac,%ired sidra=s proper!y *y
ac,%isi!ive prescrip!ion.
.ELD- #&es$&ition" as a 2ode of te&2inating a
&elation of $o>o/ne&shi" 2ust ha*e been &e$eded
by &eudiation of the $o>o/ne&shi. +he ac! o&
rep%dia!ion is s%*"ec! !o cer!ain condi!ionsD
1. A co@owner rep%dia!es !he co@ownership
2. S%ch an ac! o& rep%dia!ion is clearly made $nown !o
!he o!her co@owners
(. +he evidence is clear and concl%sive
9. <e has *een in possession !hro%gh open,
con!in%o%s, e6cl%sive and no!orio%s possession o&
!he proper!y &or !he period re,%ired *y law.
+here was no showing !ha! Cliseo had complied wi!h
!hese re,%isi!es. Ac!s o& possessory charac!er e6ec%!ed
in vir!%e o& license or !olerance o& !he owners shall no! *e
availa*le &or !he p%rposes o& possession.
Filipino &amily !ies *eing close and well@$ni! as !hey are,
and considering !ha! Firgilio was !he ward o& sidra ever since
when Firgilio was s!ill an in&an!, i! was *%! na!%ral !ha!
Badislao did no! in!erpose any o*"ec!ion !o !he con!in%ed s!ay
o& Firgilio and his &amily on !he proper!y and even
ac,%iesced !here!o. Badislao m%s! have ass%med !oo, !ha!
his *ro!her, Cliseo, allowed his son !o occ%py !he proper!y
and %se !he same &or !he !ime *eing. <ence, s%ch
possession *y Firgilio and 7hilip o& !he proper!y did no!
cons!i!%!e a rep%dia!ion o& !he co@ownership *y Cliseo and o&
his privies &or !ha! ma!!er. 7en%l!ima!ely, !he a$tion fo&
a&tition is not ba&&ed by la$hes. Cach co@owner may
demand a! any !ime !he par!i!ion o& !he common proper!y.
A',ICLE 8F59. Fol%n!ary heirs %pon whom some condi!ion
has *een imposed canno! demand a par!i!ion %n!il !he
condi!ion has *een &%l&illedD *%! !he o!her co@heirs may
demand i! *y giving s%&&icien! sec%ri!y &or !he righ!s which !he
&ormer may have in case !he condi!ion sho%ld *e complied
wi!hD and %n!il i! is $nown !ha! !he condi!ion has no! *een
&%l&illed or can never *e complied wi!h, !he par!i!ion shall *e
%nders!ood !o *e provisional. 012?9a3
A',ICLE 8F5:. n !he par!i!ion o& !he es!a!e, e,%ali!y shall
*e o*served as &ar as possi*le, dividing !he proper!y in!o lo!s,
or assigning !o each o& !he co@heirs !hings o& !he same
na!%re, ,%ali!y and $ind. 012113
A',ICLE 8F5;. Sho%ld a !hing *e indivisi*le, or wo%ld *e
m%ch impaired *y i!s *eing divided, i! may *e ad"%dica!ed !o
one o& !he heirs, provided he shall pay !he o!hers !he e6cess
in cash.
.ever!heless, i& any o& !he heirs sho%ld demand !ha! !he
!hing *e sold a! p%*lic a%c!ion and !ha! s!rangers *e allowed
!o *id, !his m%s! *e done. 012123
A',ICLE 8F53. n !he par!i!ion !he co@heirs shall reim*%rse
one ano!her &or !he income and &r%i!s which each one o& !hem
may have received &rom any proper!y o& !he es!a!e, &or any
%se&%l and necessary e6penses made %pon s%ch proper!y,
and &or any damage !here!o !hro%gh malice or neglec!.
0121(3
A',ICLE 8F55. Sho%ld any o& !he heirs sell his heredi!ary
righ!s !o a s!ranger *e&ore !he par!i!ion, any or all o& !he co@
heirs may *e s%*roga!ed !o !he righ!s o& !he p%rchaser *y
reim*%rsing him &or !he price o& !he sale, provided !hey do so
wi!hin !he period o& one mon!h &rom !he !ime !hey were
no!i&ied in wri!ing o& !he sale *y !he vendor. 01214a3
%A'CIA *s. CALALI(AN
April 14, 1585
+AC,S- Responden!s claim !ha! !he (2@day period
prescri*ed in Ar!icle 1288 &or pe!i!ioners !o e6ercise !he righ!
!o legal redemp!ion had already elapsed and !ha! !he
re,%iremen! o& Ar!icle 1288 !ha! no!ice m%s! *e in wri!ing is
deemed sa!is&ied *eca%se wri!!en no!ice wo%ld *e
s%per&l%o%s, !he p%rpose o& !he law having *een &%lly served
when pe!i!ioner :arcia wen! !o !he -&&ice o& !he Regis!er o&
/eeds and was &or himsel&, read and %nders!ood !he
con!en!s o& !he /eeds o& Sale.
.ELD- +he Co%r! !oo$ no!e o& !he &ac! !ha! !he regis!ra!ion o&
!he deed o& sale as s%&&icien! no!ice o& sale %nder !he
provision o& Sec!ion ?1 o& Ac! .o. 951 applies only !o
regis!ered lands and has no applica!ion wha!soever !o a case
where !he proper!y involved is %nregis!ered land.
& !he in!en!ion o& !he law had *een !o incl%de ver*al
no!ice or nay o!her means o& in&orma!ion as s%&&icien! !o give
!he e&&ec! o& !his no!ice, !hen !here wo%ld have *een no
necessi!y or reasons !o speci&y in Ar!icle 1288 !ha! !he said
no!ice *e made in wri!ing &or, %nder !he old law, a ver*al
no!ice or in&orma!ion was s%&&icien!. n !he in!erpre!a!ion o& a
rela!ed provision 0Ar!icle 112(3 /&itten noti$e is
indisensable, ac!%al $nowledge o& !he sale ac,%ired in
some o!her manners *y !he redemp!ioner, no!wi!hs!anding.
<e or she is s!ill en!i!led !o wri!!en no!ice, as e6ac!ed *y !he
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Code, !o remove all %ncer!ain!y as !o !he sale, i!s !erms
and i!s validi!y, and !o ,%ie! any do%*! !ha! !he aliena!ion
is no! de&ini!ive. +he law no! having provided &or any
al!erna!ive me!hod o& no!i&ica!ions remains e6cl%sive,
!ho%gh! !he Code does no! prescri*ed any par!ic%lar &orm
o& wri!!en no!ice nor any dis!inc!ive me!hod &or wri!!en
no!i&ica!ion o& redemp!ion.
BAYLON *s. A(ADO'
Fe*r%ary 5, 2229
.ELD- +he re,%iremen! o& a /&itten noti$e is
2andato&y. +he SC has long es!a*lished !he r%le !ha!,
no!wi!hs!anding ac!%al $nowledge o& a co@owner, !he la!!er
is s!ill en!i!led !o a wri!!en no!ice &rom !he selling co@owner
in order !o remove all %ncer!ain!ies a*o%! !he sale, i!s
!erms and condi!ions as wells as i!s e&&icacy and s!a!%s.
7riva!e responden! was never given s%ch wri!!en
no!ice. <e !h%s s!ill has !he righ! !o redeem said 1'(
por!ion o& !he s%*"ec! proper!y. -n acco%n! o& !he lac$ o&
wri!!en no!ice o& !he sale *y !he o!her co@heirs, !he (2@day
period never commenced.
:xception !case where the 06 held otherwise#:
ALON)O *s. IAC
1?5 SCRA 2?5
.ELD- A$tual <no/ledge /as $onside&ed an
e0ui*alent to a /&itten noti$e o& sale *eca%se !he righ!
o& legal redemp!ion was invo$ed more !han 1( years a&!er
!he sales were concl%ded.
06 rules that written notice is mandatory, as a general
rule:
#'I(A'Y S,'UC,U'ES CO'#. *s. S#S. 7ALENCIA
A%g%s! 15, 222(

.ELD- +he (2@day period o& redemp!ion had ye! !o
commence when priva!e responden! Rosales so%gh! !o
e6ercise !he righ! o& redemp!ion on March (1, 1584, a day
a&!er she discovered !he sale &rom !he -&&ice o& !he Ci!y
+reas%rer o& 8%!%an Ci!y or when !he case was ini!ia!ed
on -c!o*er 11, 1584, *e&ore !he !rial co%r!.
+he wri!!en no!ice is manda!ory. +he SC has long
es!a*lished !he r%le !ha! not/ithstanding the a$tual
<no/ledge of a $o>o/ne&" the latte& is still entitled to a
/&itten noti$e fo&2 the selling $o>o/ne& in order !o
remove all %ncer!ain!ies a*o%! !he sale, i!s !erms and
condi!ions, as well as i!s e&&icacy and s!a!%s. Cven in
Alon)o "s IA6, relied %pon *y !he pe!i!ioner in
con!ending !ha! ac!%al $nowledge sho%ld *e an e,%ivalen!
!o a wri!!en no!ice o& sale, !he SC made i! clear !ha! i! was
no! reversing !he prevailing "%rispr%dence. +he SC simply
adop!ed an e6cep!ion !o !he general r%le in view o& !he
pec%liar circ%ms!ances o& !his case. n Alon)o, !he righ! o&
legal redemp!ion was invo$ed several years, no! "%s! days
or mon!hs, a&!er !he cons%mma!ion o& !he con!rac!s o& sale
*%! more !han 1( years a&!er !he sales were concl%ded.
A',ICLE 8F5B. +he !i!les o& ac,%isi!ion or ownership o&
each proper!y shall *e delivered !o !he co@heir !o whom
said proper!y has *een ad"%dica!ed. 0121?a3
A',ICLE 8FBF. )hen !he !i!le comprises !wo or more
pieces o& land which have *een assigned !o !wo or more
co@heirs, or when i! covers one piece o& land which has
*een divided *e!ween !wo or more co@heirs, !he !i!le shall
*e delivered !o !he one having !he larges! in!eres!, and
a%!hen!ic copies o& !he !i!le shall *e &%rnished !o !he o!her
co@heirs a! !he e6pense o& !he es!a!e. & !he in!eres! o&
each co@heir sho%ld *e !he same, !he oldes! shall have
!he !i!le. 01211a3
SUBSEC,ION 4
Effe$ts of #a&tition
A',ICLE 8FB8. A par!i!ion legally made con&ers %pon each
heir !he e6cl%sive ownership o& !he proper!y ad"%dica!ed !o
him. 012183
.EI'S O+ 6OAJUIN ,E7ES *s. CA
-c!o*er 1(, 1555
.ELD- +he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!s e6ec%!ed *y !he heirs o&
Joa,%in +eves and Marcelina Cima&ranca are legally valid
and *inding. +he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen! o& a deceden!=s
es!a!e is a%!horized *y Sec!ion 1 o& R%le 49 o& !he R%les o&
Co%r!. For a par!i!ion p%rs%an! !o Sec!ion 1 o& R%le 49 !o *e
valid, !he &ollowing condi!ions m%s! conc%r#
1. +he deceden! le&! no will
2. +he deceden! le&! no de*!s, or i& !here were de*!s
le&!, all had *een paid
(. +he heirs are all o& age, or i& !hey are minors, !he
la!!er are represen!ed *y !heir "%dicial
g%ardian or legal represen!a!ives
9. +he par!i!ion was made *y means o& a p%*lic
ins!r%men! or a&&idavi! d%ly &iled wi!h !he
Regis!er o& /eeds
Al!ho%gh Cresenciano, Ricardo=s predecessor@in@
in!eres!, was no! a signa!ory !o !he e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!s,
!he par!i!ion o& !he Bo! 415@A among !he heirs was made in
accordance wi!h !heir in!es!a!e shares %nder !he law. +he
e6!ra"%dicial se!!lemen!s covering Bo! 415@A were never
regis!ered. <owever, an o&al a&tition of a de$edent=s
estate is *alid and the non>&egist&ation of an e1t&a!udi$ial
settle2ent does not affe$t its int&insi$ *alidity /hen
the&e a&e no $&edito&s o& the &ights of $&edito&s a&e not
affe$ted.
A',ICLE 8FB4. A&!er !he par!i!ion has *een made, !he co@
heirs shall *e reciprocally *o%nd !o warran! !he !i!le !o, and
!he ,%ali!y o&, each proper!y ad"%dica!ed. 01215a3
A',ICLE 8FBA. +he reciprocal o*liga!ion o& warran!y
re&erred !o in !he preceding ar!icle shall *e propor!iona!e !o
!he respec!ive heredi!ary shares o& !he co@heirs, *%! i& any
one o& !hem sho%ld *e insolven!, !he o!her co@heirs shall *e
lia*le &or his par! in !he same propor!ion, ded%c!ing !he par!
corresponding !o !he one who sho%ld *e indemni&ied.
+hose who pay &or !he insolven! heir shall have a righ! o&
ac!ion agains! him &or reim*%rsemen!, sho%ld his &inancial
condi!ion improve. 012413
A',ICLE 8FB9. An ac!ion !o en&orce !he warran!y among
co@heirs m%s! *e *ro%gh! wi!hin !en years &rom !he da!e !he
righ! o& ac!ion accr%es. 0n3
A',ICLE 8FB:. & a credi! sho%ld *e assigned as
collec!i*le, !he co@heirs shall no! *e lia*le &or !he s%*se,%en!
insolvency o& !he de*!or o& !he es!a!e, *%! only &or his
insolvency a! !he !ime !he par!i!ion is made.
+he warran!y o& !he solvency o& !he de*!or can only *e
en&orced d%ring !he &ive years &ollowing !he par!i!ion.
Co@heirs do no! warran! *ad de*!s, i& so $nown !o, and
accep!ed *y, !he dis!ri*%!ee. 8%! i& s%ch de*!s are no!
assigned !o a co@heir, and sho%ld *e collec!ed, in whole or in
par!, !he amo%n! collec!ed shall *e dis!ri*%!ed propor!iona!ely
among !he heirs. 01242a3
A',ICLE 8FB;. +he o*liga!ion o& warran!y among co@heirs
shall cease in !he &ollowing cases#
013 )hen !he !es!a!or himsel& has made !he par!i!ion, %nless
i! appears, or i! may *e reasona*ly pres%med, !ha! his
in!en!ion was o!herwise, *%! !he legi!ime shall
always remain %nimpairedD
023 )hen i! has *een so e6pressly s!ip%la!ed in !he
agreemen! o& par!i!ion, %nless !here has *een *ad &ai!hD
0(3 )hen !he evic!ion is d%e !o a ca%se s%*se,%en! !o !he
par!i!ion, or has *een ca%sed *y !he &a%l! o& !he
dis!ri*%!ee o& !he proper!y. 01242a3
SUBSEC,ION A
'es$ission and Nullity of #a&tition
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A',ICLE 8FB3. A par!i!ion may *e rescinded or
ann%lled &or !he same ca%ses as con!rac!s. 0124(a3
A',ICLE 8FB5. A par!i!ion, "%dicial or e6!ra@"%dicial, may
also *e rescinded on acco%n! o& lesion, when any one o&
!he co@heirs received !hings whose val%e is less, *y a!
leas! one@&o%r!h, !han !he share !o which he is en!i!led,
considering !he val%e o& !he !hings a! !he !ime !hey were
ad"%dica!ed. 01249a3
A',ICLE 8FBB. +he par!i!ion made *y !he !es!a!or
canno! *e imp%gned on !he gro%nd o& lesion, e6cep! when
!he legi!ime o& !he comp%lsory heirs is !here*y pre"%diced,
or when i! appears or may reasona*ly *e pres%med, !ha!
!he in!en!ion o& !he !es!a!or was o!herwise. 0124?3
A',ICLE 88FF. +he ac!ion &or rescission on acco%n! o&
lesion shall prescri*e a&!er &o%r years &rom !he !ime !he
par!i!ion was made. 012413
A',ICLE 88F8. +he heir who is s%ed shall have !he
op!ion o& indemni&ying !he plain!i&& &or !he loss, or
consen!ing !o a new par!i!ion.
ndemni!y may *e made *y paymen! in cash or *y !he
delivery o& a !hing o& !he same $ind and ,%ali!y as !ha!
awarded !o !he plain!i&&.
& a new par!i!ion is made, i! shall a&&ec! nei!her !hose
who have no! *een pre"%diced nor !hose have no!
received more !han !heir "%s! share. 01244a3
A',ICLE 88F4. An heir who has aliena!ed !he whole or
a considera*le par! o& !he real proper!y ad"%dica!ed !o him
canno! main!ain an ac!ion &or rescission on !he gro%nd o&
lesion, *%! he shall have a righ! !o *e indemni&ied in cash.
01248a3
A',ICLE 88FA. +he omission o& one or more o*"ec!s or
sec%ri!ies o& !he inheri!ance shall no! ca%se !he rescission
o& !he par!i!ion on !he gro%nd o& lesion, *%! !he par!i!ion
shall *e comple!ed *y !he dis!ri*%!ion o& !he o*"ec!s or
sec%ri!ies which have *een omi!!ed. 01245a3
A',ICLE 88F9. A par!i!ion made wi!h pre!eri!ion o& any
o& !he comp%lsory heirs shall no! *e rescinded, %nless i!
*e proved !ha! !here was *ad &ai!h or &ra%d on !he par! o&
!he o!her persons in!eres!edD *%! !he la!!er shall *e
propor!iona!ely o*liged !o pay !o !he person omi!!ed !he
share which *elongs !o him. 012823
NON *s. CA
Fe*r%ary 1?, 2222
.ELD- +he e6cl%sion o& /elia, alleged !o *e a re!arda!e,
&rom !he /eed o& C6!ra"%dicial Se!!lemen! verily had !he
e&&ec! o& pre!eri!ion. +his $ind o& pre!eri!ion, however, in
!he a*sence o& proo& o& &ra%d and *ad &ai!h, does no!
"%s!i&y a colla!eral a!!ac$ on !he +rans&er Cer!i&ica!e o&
+i!le.
+he relie& res!s on Ar!icle 1129 !o !he e&&ec! that
/he&e the &ete&ition is not attended by bad faith and
f&aud" the a&tition shall not be &es$inded but the
&ete&ited hei& shall be aid the *alue of the sha&e
e&taining to he&.
+he appella!e co%r! has ac!ed properly in ordering !he
remand o& !he case &or &%r!her proceedings !o ma$e !he
proper val%a!ion o& !he proper!y and !he ascer!ainmen! o&
!he amo%n! d%e !o /elia.
A',ICLE 88F:. A par!i!ion which incl%des a person
*elieved !o *e an heir, *%! who is no!, shall *e void only
wi!h respec! !o s%ch person. 01281a3
LANDAYAN *s. BACANI
Sep!em*er (2, 1582
+AC,S- An e6!ra@"%dicial par!i!ion was en!ered in!o *y
Ma6ima, wi&e o& !he deceased +eodoro, and Severino.
7e!i!ioners con!ended !ha! !hey are !he legal heirs o&
!he deceased since !hey are !he children o& :%illerma,
who was !he only child o& !he deceased and his &irs! wi&e
Florencia. +hey averred !ha! Severino is an illegi!ima!e child
o& :%illerma.
8%! Severino alleged !ha! he is !he ac$nowledged
na!%ral child o& +eodoro and Florencia. 7riva!e responden!s
also alleged !ha! !he ac!ion o& !he pe!i!ioners had prescri*ed
since i! has *een more !han 18 years a&!er !he e6ec%!ion o&
!he doc%men! !hey see$ !o ann%l. +he lower co%r! r%led !ha!
!he ac!ion is *arred *y prescrip!ion.
.ELD- +he dismissal o& !he ac!ion is erroneo%s. +he
0uestion if it is *oid &e0ui&es a legal in0ui&y into the legal
status of Se*e&ino.
Sho%ld !he pe!i!ioners *e a*le !o s%*s!an!ia!e !heir
con!en!ion !ha! Severino is an illegi!ima!e son o& :%illerma,
he is no! a legal heir o& +eodoro. +he righ! o& represen!a!ion
is denied *y law !o an illegi!ima!e child who is dis,%ali&ied !o
inheri! a* in!es!a!o &rom !he legi!ima!e children and rela!ives
o& his &a!her. -n !his s%pposi!ion, !he s%*"ec! deed o& e6!ra@
"%dicial par!i!ion is one !ha! incl%ded a person who is no! an
heir o& !he descendan! whose es!a!e is *eing par!i!ioned.
S%ch a deed is governed *y Ar!icle 112? o& !he Civil Code.
+he S%preme Co%r! ordered !he responden! "%dge !o !ry !he
case on !he meri!s and render !he corresponding "%dgmen!
!hereon.
(ENDO)A *s. IAC
J%ly (2, 1584
+AC,S- +he e6!ra@"%dicial se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e o&
Cvaris!o e6ec%!ed *e!ween 8%enaven!%ra and Modes!a was
so%gh! !o *e ann%lled. +he lower co%r! r%led !ha! s%ch
se!!lemen! is void as !o as !he shares o& Modes!a are
concerned. .icolasa and +eresa predeceased
8%enaven!%ra. Modes!a is !he illegi!ima!e child o& .icolasa.
8%enaven!%ra !hen died. ! was prayed !ha! Modes!a *e
declared !he legal heir o& 8%enaven!%ra.
.ELD- +he only doc%men! presen!ed *y Modes!a !o prove
!ha! she was recognized *y her mo!her was !he cer!i&ica!e o&
*ir!h and *ap!ism signed *y !he parish pries!. Canonical
cer!i&ica!e o& *ap!ism is no! s%&&icien! !o prove recogni!ion.
.ei!her co%ld !he alleged con!in%o%s possession *y Modes!a
:a*%ya o& !he s!a!%s o& a na!%ral child improve her condi!ion.
(odesta %abuya" not ha*ing been a$<no/ledged in
the 2anne& &o*ided by la/ by he& 2othe&" Ni$olasa"
/as not entitled to su$$eed the latte&. +he e6!ra"%dicial
se!!lemen! o& !he es!a!e o& Cvaris!o, !here&ore, n%ll and void
inso&ar as Modes!a :a*%ya is concerned per Ar!icle 112? o&
!he .ew Civil Code.
A)NA' B'O,.E'S 'EAL,Y CO(#ANY *s. CA
March 4, 2222
+AC,S- 7riva!e responden!s se! %p !he de&ense o&
ownership and ,%es!ioned !he !i!le o& Aznar !o !he s%*"ec! lo!,
alleging !ha! !he C6!ra"%dicial 7ar!i!ion wi!h /eed o& A*sol%!e
Sale %pon which pe!i!ioner *ases i!s !i!le is n%ll and void &or
*eing &ra%d%len!ly made.
7riva!e responden!s claim !ha! no! all !he $nown heirs o&
Crisan!a par!icipa!ed in !he e6!ra"%dicial par!i!ion and !ha! 2
person who par!icipa!ed and were made par!ies !here!o were
no! heirs o& Crisan!a.
.ELD- ;nder Ar!icle 1129, par!i!ion made wi!h pre!eri!ion
shall no! *e rescinded %nless i! *e proved !ha! !here was *ad
&ai!h or &ra%d. n !his case, !here was no evidence o& *ad
&ai!h or &ra%d.
As !o !he 2 par!ies !o !he deed who were allegedly no!
heirs, Ar!icle 112? is applica*le. +he a&ti$iation of non>
hei&s does not &ende& the a&tition *oid in its enti&ety but
only to the e1tent $o&&esonding the2.
+E'NANDE) *s. +E'NANDE)
A%g%s! 28, 2221
+AC,S- Rodol&o was adop!ed *y !he la!e spo%ses Jose and
:enerosa. )hen Jose died, a /eed o& C6!ra@"%dicial
7ar!i!ion was e6ec%!ed *e!ween Rodol&o and :enerosa.
A&!er learning !he !ransac!ion, !he nephews and nieces o&
Jose &iled an ac!ion !o declare !he /eed o& C6!ra@"%dicial
7ar!i!ion void a* ini!io.
.ELD- )hile one=s legi!imacy can *e ,%es!ioned only in a
direc! ac!ion seasona*ly &iled *y !he proper par!y, !his
56
SUCCESSION REVIEWER Case Digests (4
th
Year : 2008-2009
doc!rine has no applica!ion in !he ins!an! case considering
!ha! responden!s= claim was !ha! pe!i!ioner Rodol&o was
no! *orn !o !he deceased spo%ses Jose and :enerosa
Fernandez. )e do no! have a si!%a!ion wherein !hey
0responden!s3 deny !ha! Rodol&o was a child o& !heir
%ncle=s wi&e.
Rodol&o &ailed !o prove his &ilia!ion wi!h !he deceased
spo%ses Fernandez. S%ch is a &ac!%al iss%e which has
*een !horo%ghly passed %pon and se!!led *o!h *y !he !rial
co%r! and !he appella!e co%r!. +here is no record o& !he
*ir!h o& Rodol&o.
+he Applica!ion &or Recogni!ion o& 8ac$ 7ay Righ!s is
a p%*lic doc%men! *%! i! was no! e6ec%!ed !o admi! !he
&ilia!ion o& Jose wi!h Rodol&o. +he p%*lic doc%men!
con!empla!ed in Ar!icle 142 o& !he Family Code re&er !o
!he wri!!en admission o& &ilia!ion em*odied in a p%*lic
doc%men! p%rposely e6ec%!ed as an admission o& &ilia!ion
and no! as o*!aining in !his case wherein !he p%*lic
doc%men! was e6ec%!ed as an applica!ion &or !he
recogni!ion o& righ!s !o *ac$ pay. 7ossession o& s!a!%s o&
a child does no! in i!sel& cons!i!%!e an ac$nowledgmen!D i!
is only a gro%nd &or a child !o compel recogni!ion *y his
ass%med paren!. )hile *ap!ismal cer!i&ica!es may *e
considered p%*lic doc%men!s, !hey are evidence only !o
prove !he adminis!ra!ion o& !he sacramen!s on !he da!es
!herein speci&ied, *%! no! !he veraci!y o& !he s!a!emen!s or
declara!ions made !herein wi!h respec! !o his $ins&ol$.
Rodol&o is no! a child *y na!%re o& !he spo%ses
Fernandez and no! a legal heir o& /r. Jose Fernandez ,
!h%s !he s%*"ec! deed o& e6!ra@"%dicial se!!lemen! o& !he
es!a!e o& /r. Jose Fernandez *e!ween :enerosa vda. de
Fernandez and Rodol&o is n%ll and void inso&ar as Rodol&o
is concerned.
57
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