EffectsofPossession(Art.
539to561)
Holder(Lessee,Tenant)
Righttoberespectedinhispossessionandrighttoberestoredinhispossessionthroughlegalmeans(Art.539)
Possessioninconceptofholdercannot
acquirepropertybyacquisitiveprescription.
Presumptionofpossessionofmovablesfoundintherealproperty/immovable(Art.542)
Righttofruitsreceivedbeforetheirpossessionwaslegallyinterrupted(Art.544)
Righttoapartinexpensesandharvestin
proportiontothetimeofpossession,once
possessioningoodfaithceases(Art.545)
Possessoringoodfaithisallowedtoretain
thinguntilreimbursedandberefundedthe
usefulexpensesifingoodfaith.(Art.546)
Possessoringoodfaithcanremoveuseful
improvementifitcanbedonewithoutinjury.
(Art.547)
Possessionas
Owner
Acquiredthroughownershipisthemeansin
acquiringdominion(Art.540)
Presumptionofjusttitle,andnotobligedtoprove
orshowit(Art.541)
Ifhedesires,maygivepossessoringoodfaithright
tofinishcultivationandharvest,withindemnity
forexpensesandthenetproceedsforhisharvest.
Possessorinconceptofownerhastherightsto:1.
Beentiledtoreimbursementandretainpremises
untilpaid(ifingoodfaith);2.Isentitledonlytoa
refundbutnoretention(ifinbadfaith)
Notes
Coowner
Within10daysoffilingcomplaint,thepossessor
deprivedmaypresentamotiontosecureawritof
injunctiontorestorepossession
Personinpossession"enconceptodedueno
Coownersareinconceptholdersfor (conceptof/claimoftitle)eventuallybecomes
thepurposesofacquiringpropertyby ownerbyprescription).
prescription,unlessthecoownershipis Possessorsasholdersinclude:Lessees,trustees,
clearlyrepudiatedbyunequivocalacts antichreticcreditors,agents,attorney's
communicatedtotheothercoowners. (representingtheirclient'sproperties),depositaries.
Requirementsforsuchpresumption:1.Mustbein
actualorconstructivepossession;2.Possession
mustbeintheconceptofowner.
Kindsoftitle:1.Trueandvalid(sufficienttotransfer
ownershipwithoutthenecessityoflettingthe
prescriptionperiodpass);2.Colorable(thereis
somethingwrongasthegrantorisnottheowner);
3.Putative(apersonbelieveshimselftobethe
owner,butheisnotasthereisnomodeof
acquiringownership.
Presumptionapplieswhetherpossessionisin:1.
Goodfaithorbadfaith;2.Ownorthroughanother;
3.Holderorconceptodedueno
Exclusivepossessionofthepartofthing
possessedincommonupondivision Theinterruptionofpossessionofoneprejudicesall
(Art.543) theothercoowners
Possessormustbeingoodfaith.
NaturalFruitsareconsideredreceivedfromthe
momenttheyaregatheredorsevered.Civilfruits
accruedailyandbelongtopossessorinthat
proportion.
Divisionisprorata.Alsoappliestoexpenses,
charges.Samealsoappliestocropsnotyet
manifest.
Successorshallrefundthenecessaryexpenses.If
possessorisingoodfaith,theusefulexpensesshall
alsoberefunded.
Unlesscoveredbyparagraph2ofthepreceding
article.
 Ifpossessorisingoodfaitha)hecanremovethe
Righttoremoveluxuriousorpleasurable ormanentsorb)beretainedbytheownersubject
embellishmentsorornamentsoftheprincipal toreimbursement;Ifpossessorisinbadfaitha)he
thingifnoinjurywilltakeplace,unless canremovethemorb)ownercanretainthe
successorinpossessionrefundsthem.(Art. ornament,refundingthevalueattheownertakes
548) possession
Rightsregardingfruitsasowner:1.Ifingoodfaith
a)gatheredandseveredfruitsandb)pendingand
ungatheredfruits(proratingofexpenses,net
harvestandcharges)betweenpossessorand
Legitimatepossessorhastherighttobe owner;2.Ifinbadfaitha)mustreturnthevalueof
reimbusedthefruitsreceivedbypossessorin thegatheredfruitsorthosealreadyreceivedminus
badfaithandthosehecouldhavereceived. necessaryexpensesforcultivating,gatheringandb)
(Art.549) norightsastothegatheredfruits.
Costsoflitigationisbornebythepossessor.(Art.550) SeenotesonArt.542
Neitheristhepossessorisgoodfaithorbadfaith
Improvementsbornebynatureshallbenefitthepersonwhosucceededinrecoveringthepossession.(Art.551) entitledtoimprovementsby:1.Time;2.Nature
Exceptwhenactedthroughfraudulentintentor
Noliabilityfordeteriorationorlossofthethingifingoodfaith,badfaithisliableevenifthroughafortuitousevent.(Art.552) negligenceafterthejudicialsummons.
Personwhorecoverspossessionhasnoobligationtopayforimprovementtswhichceasedtoexistattimehetakespossession.(Art553)
Presumptionofpossessionatintermediateperiod.(Art.554)
Possessionofmovablesnotlostaslongastheyremainincontrolofthepossessor.(Art.556) Lossofpossesion:abandonment,assignment
throughgratuitoustitle,destructionortotallossof
thingandpossessionofanotherbasedonArt.537
PossessionofimmovablesandrealrightsnotlostortransferredbyprescriptionexceptinaccordancewiththeMortgageLawand (foroneyear)orrealpossessionforaperiodless
RegistrationLaws.(Art.557) than10years.(Art.555)
Actsofpossessionasholderdonotbindor
prejudicethoseasownerexceptexpressly
allowedorratifiedsubsequently.(Art.558)
Ownercannotrecoverevenifreimbursedif:1.
movableisobtainedingoodfaithfrommerchant
Possessionofmovableingoodfaith Ownercannotobtainreturnunlesshereimburse storesorthoseinaccordancewithCodeof
equivalenttoatitle,especiallythroughsale, thepricepaidbyapossessorwhoacquires Commerce;2.Estopped;3.InnocentPurchaseror
publicauction.Badfaithisneverequivalentto movableingoodfaith(lostordeprivedfrom HolderofNegotiabledocumentoftitleforthe
title owner).(Art.559).Ifbadfaith,noreimbursement Goods
Possessionislostoncehabitceases.Insofaras
ownershipisconcerned,Art.716applies(20days
Wildanimalsarepossessedifundercontrol,domesticanimalsonlyiftheyretainhabitofreturningtopremisesofpossessor..(Art.560) fromoccupationbyanotherperson).
Appliestopossessionbothingoodorbadfaith,but
Recoveryofpossessionunjustlylost,shallbedeemedforpurposesredoundingtohisbenefitthatwhichisnotinterrupted.(Art.561) ifonlybeneficialtothem.
RichardAllanA.Lim 2A Property