Syllabus

Course Title : Succession

Course Credit : Four (4) units
Pre-requisites to : None
Type of Course : Major Subject
Faculty : Atty. Crisostomo A. Uribe

Course Description :

Succession is basically covered by Book III, Title IV of the Civil Code of the Philippines.
It involves a detailed analysis and study on the kinds of succession [testamentary, legal or
intestate and mixed succession], kinds of heirs [compulsory, voluntary and legal or
intestate heirs], principles affecting legitimes [ preterition, reserva troncal and
disinheritance], principles affecting the freely disposable portion [ institution and
substitution of heirs and legacies and devisees] and principles common to legal and
intestate succession [representation and accretion], as well as partition and distribution of
the estate of the decedent.

Course Objectives :

1. Understand the basic principles in succession.

2. Identify the rights and obligations of heirs.
3. Appreciate and apply these fundamental principles to actual wills.
4. Encourage diligence and the observance of honesty and fair dealings at all times.

Course Outline

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. Definition and Concept. Arts. 774, 712, 1311

Basis of Law of Succession
Legal Philosophy of the Civil Code on Succession
Fundamental changes in the NCC

B. Law governing form

1. As to time of execution. Art. 795
2. As to place of execution. Arts. 17, 810, 815-819

In re Will of Rev. Abadia, 50 O.G. #9, p. 4185

Fleumer v. Hix, 54 Phil. 610
Estate of Giberson, 48 O.G. #7, 2657
Dela Cerna v. Potot, 12 SCRA 576
Estate of Rodriguez, 46 O.G. # 2, p. 584

C. Law governing content

1. As to time. Art 2263
2. As to successional rights, etc. Art 16(2); 1039

Estate of Christensen, 61 O.G. # 46, p. 7302

Estate of Amos Bellis, 20 SCRA 358
Cayetano v. Leonides, 129 SCRA 524
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D. Subjects of Succession. Arts. 775, 782, 887, 1003

1. Who are the subjects?

2. Relationship Arts 963-969
3. Capacity to Succeed Art. 1024
a. Determination. Arts. 1034, 1039, Art. 16(2)

Cayetano v. Leonides, 129 SCRA 522

b. Who may succeed? Arts. 1024-26, 1029-30

Parish Priest of Victoria v. Rigor, 89 SCRA 493

c. Who are incapable of succeeding? Arts. 1025, 1027-28,1031-33, 990-992

d. Effect of alienations by the excluded heir. Art. 1036

e. Rights of the excluded heir. Arts. 1035, 1937, 1014
f. Liabilities of the excluded heir. Art. 1038
g. Prescription of Action. Art. 1040

E. Object of Succession Arts. 776, 781, 1311, 1429, 1178, 1347

Art. 108, Revised Penal Code

Reyes v. CA, S.C. L-5620 July 31, 1954

Guinto v. Medina, 50 O.G. # 1, p. 199, Oct. 7, 1953.

F. Opening of Succession
Arts. 777, 2263, 2253, 533, 1347, 1461, 130, 132, 390, 391
Arts. 84, 86 Family Code.

Requisites for the transmission of successional rights

1. express will of the testator or provision of law
2. death of the person whose property is the subject of succession- Art. 43;
Survivorship Rule [Rule 131, Sec. 3(ii) par.5]
3. acceptance of the inheritance Arts. 1041-1057

Uson v. Del Rosario, 92 Phil. 530

De Borja v. De Borja, 46 SCRA 577
Bonilla v. Barcena, 71 SCRA 491
Cruz v. Cruz, G.R. No. 173292, September 1, 2010
Bough v. Modesto, Jan 28, 1954, 94 Phil.
Borromeo-Herrera v. Borromeo, 152 SCRA 171

G. Kinds of Succession. Art. 778

1. Testamentary art. 779
2. Legal or intestate. Art. 960
3. Mixed Art. 780
4. Contractual Art 130, 1347, 752, 84FC
5. Compulsory

TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION

II. WILLS

A. Definition. Art 783

B. Characteristics Art 783, 839(3) & (4), 828, 796-798, 777, 818, 784-787

C. Interpretation of Wills Arts 788, 789, 790-794, 930

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Solla v. Ascuenta, 49 Phil. 333

III. TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY AND INTENT

A. Who may make a will? Arts. 796-803

B. Supervening incapacity. Art. 801

Baltazar v. Laxa, G.R. No. 174489, April 11, 2012

IV. SOLEMNITIES OF WILLS

A. Kinds of Wills. Arts. 804, 810

B. Notarial Wills
1. General requirements. Art. 804

Suroza v. Honrado, 110 SCRA 388

2. Specific requirements. Arts. 805, 806

Garcia v. Lacuesta, 90 Phil. 489

Balonan v. Abellana, 109 Phil. 358
Nera v. Rimando, 18 Phil. 450
Taboada v. Rosal, 118 SCRA 195
Echavez v. Dozen Construction, G.R. No. 192916, October 11, 2010
In re Enrique Lopez. Lopez v. Lopez, G.R. No. 189984, November 12, 2012
Icasiano v. Icasiano, 11 SCRA 422
Cruz v. Villasor, 54 SCRA, 31
Gabucan v. Manta, 95 SCRA 752
Javellana v. Ledesma, 97 Phil. 258

Witnesses to a will
a. Who are competent? Arts.820, 821,824

Gonzales v. CA, 90 SCRA 183

b. Supervening incompetency. Art. 822

c. Competency of interested witness. Art. 823

3. Special Requirements for deaf, deaf-mute & blind testators.

Arts. 807-808

Garcia v. Vasquez, 32 SCRA 489

4. Substantial Compliance. Art. 809

C. Holographic Wills
1. General requirements. Art.804
2. Specific requirements. Art. 810, 812, 813

Roxas v. De Jesus, 134 SCRA 245

Kalaw v. Relova, 132 SCRA 237

V. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENT BY REFERENCE. Art. 827

VI. CODICILS

A. Definition. Art. 825, 830

B. Solemnities. Art. 826

VII. REVOCATION OF WILLS AND TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS

A. Definition of revocation
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B. When may revocation be effected. Art. 828

C. Law governing revocation. Art. 829
D. Modes of revocation. Art. 830

Gago v. Mamuyac, 49 Phil. 902

Casiano v. CA, 158 SCRA 451

E. Effect of revocation. Arts. 831-834

F. Doctrine of Dependent Relative Revocation

Molo v. Molo, 90 Phil. 37

VIII. REPUBLICATION AND REVIVAL OF WILLS - Arts. 835-837

IX. ALLOWANCE OF WILLS. Art. 838

A. Concept of probate

Agtarap v. Agtarap, G.R. No. 177099 and 177192, June 8, 2011

B. Necessity of probate

De Borja v. De Borja, 46 SCRA 577

C. Modes of probate

D. Requirements for probate. Art. 811

Gan v. Yap, 104 Phil 509

Rodelas v. Aranza, 119 SCRA 16
Azaola v. Singson, 109 Phil. 102
Codoy v. Calugay, 312 SCRA 333
Uy Kiao Eng v. Nixon Lee, G.R. No. 176831, January 15, 2010
Palaganas v. Palaganas, G.R. No. 169144, January 26, 2011

E. Effect of allowance of wills

Gallanosa .v. Arcangel, 83 SCRA 676

De la Cerna v. Leonides, 129 SCRA 33
Roberts v. Leonides, 129 SCRA 33
Nepomuceno v. Ca, 139 SCRA 206

X. DISALLOWANCE OF WILLS. Arts. 839, 1335, 1337, 1338

Pascual v. de la Cruz, 28 SCRA 421

XI. LEGITIME

A. Concept. Art. 886

B. Who are entitled to legitimes: Compulsory heirs. Arts. 887, 902

Rosales v. Rosales, 148 SCRA 69

C. Concurrence of compulsory heirs and their corresponding legitimes.

Arts. 888-890, 892-901, 903, Art. 39, P.D. 603
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D. Restrictions regarding the legitime. Arts. 904, 872, 905-907, 1347

Santiago v. Santiago, et. al., G.R. 179859, August 9, 2010

E. Determination or computation. Arts.908-913

COLLATION. Arts. 1061-1077

Arellano v. Pascual, G.R. No. 189776, December 15, 2010

Gregorio v. Madarang, G.R. No. 185226, February 11, 2010
Dizon-Rivera v. Dizon, 33 SCRA 554
De Roma v. CA, 152 SCRA 205
Locsin v. CA, 206 SCRA 383

F. Freedom to dispose free portion. Art. 914

Principles Affecting Legitime

XII. PRETERITION. Arts. 854, 906, 855, 918

Heirs of Policronio Ureta, Sr. v. Heirs of Liberato Ureta, G.R. No. 165748 and
165930, September 14, 2011
Aznar v. Duncan, 17 SCRA 590
Nuguid v. Nuguid, 17 SCRA 449
Reyes v. Barreto-Datu, 19 SCRA 85
Escuin v. Escuin, 11 Phil. 332
Balanay v. Martinez, 64 SCRA 452
Solano v. CA, 126 SCRA 122
Acain v. CA, 155 SCRA 100

XIII. RESERVA TRONCAL. Art. 891

Edroso v. Sablan, 25 Phil. 295

Seinnes v. Esparcia, 1 SCRA 750
Florentino v. Florentino, 40 Phil. 480
Padura v. Baldovino, 104 Phil. 1065
Chua v.CFI, 78 SCRA 406
Gonzales v. CFI 104 SCRA 161
De Papa v. Camacho, 144 SCRA 281

XIV. RESERVA ADOPTIVA. Art. 39, PD 603

Banawa v. Mirano, 97 SCRA 517

Teotico v. del Val, 13 SCRA 406

XV. DISINHERITANCE. Arts. 915-923

Principles Affecting the Freely Disposable Portion

XVI. INSTITUTION OF HEIRS

A. In General
1. Definition. Art. 840
2. Requisites for valid institution of heirs. Relate to Arts. 785, 787
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3. Effect if will institutes no heir. Art. 841

4. Freedom of disposition. Art. 842
5. Manner of designating an heir. Art. 843-844 in relation to Art.789.
6. Disposition in favor of an unknown person. Art. 845
7. Disposition in favor of a definite class. Art. 845 in relation to. Art. 786
8. Equality of heirs. Arts. 846, 848
9. Individuality of institution. Art. 847
10. Simultaneity of institution. Art. 849
11. Institution based on a false cause. Art. 850

Austria v. Reyes, 31 SCRA 754

12. Shares in the institution. Arts. 851-853

13. Predecease of heirs. Art. 856

B. Kinds of Institution
1. Simple or Pure. Art. 777
2. Conditional. Art. 871
a. Kinds

Vda. De Kilayko v. Tengco, 207 SCRA 600

b. Inoperative conditions. Arts. 872- 874, relate to Art. 1183

c. Disposition Captatoria. Art. 875
d. Compliance. Arts. 876- 877, 2nd par.
e. Effect. Arts. 1034, 3rd par., 879, 880, 881, 884

3. Institution with a Term

a. Kinds Art. 885, 1st par.
b. Effect. Arts. 878, 885 2nd par. in relation to 880.

4. Modal Institution. Arts 882-883

XVII. SUBSTITUTION OF HEIRS

A. Concept of substitution. Art. 857

B. Kinds of substitution. Art. 858
1. Simple or common. Art. 859
2. Brief or compendious. Art. 860
3. Reciprocal. Art. 861
4. Fideicommissary. Arts. 863-869

Palacios v. Ramirez, 111 SCRA 704

Crisologo v. Singzon, 49 SCRA 491

C. Time-limitation on inalienability. Art. 870

XVIII. LEGACIES AND DEVISES. Arts. 924-959

Fernandez v. Dimagiba, 21 SCRA 428

Belen v. Bank of P.I., L- 14474, 31 Oct. 1960

LEGAL OR INTESTATE SUCCESSION

XIX. GENERAL PROVISIONS

A. In general
1. When does it take place? Art. 960
2. Who are the intestate heirs? Art. 961
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Rosales, v. Rosales, 148 SCRA 69

3. Order of and share in the in testate succession. Art. 962

De los Santos v. De La Cruz, 37 SCRA 555

C. Right of Representation. Arts. 970-977, Arts. 982, 902, 992, 1005-8.

Teotico v. Del Val, supra

Diaz v. IAC, 150 SCRA 645
De los Santos v. Ferraris- Borromeo, 14 SCRA 986
Corpuz v. Corpuz, 85 SCRA 567

XX. ORDER OF INTESTATE SUCCESSION

A. Descending Direct Line

1. Estate of a legitimate decedent
a. Illegitimate children. Arts. 983, 988-992

Corpus v. Corpus, 85 SCRA 567

Leonardo v. CA, 120 SCRA 890

2. Estate of an illegitimate decedent

a. Legitimate children and descendant Arts. 903, 987-994
b. Illegitimate children and descendant. Arts. 990, 992

B. Surviving Spouse. Arts. 995-1002

Santillon v. Mirandan, 14 SCRA 563

C. Ascending direct line

1. Legitimate parents and ascendant. Arts. 985-987
2. Illegitimate parents. Arts.993

D. Collateral line. Arts. 1003-1210

Bicomong v. Almanza, 80 SCRA 421

Bacayo v. Borromeo, 14 SCRA 986

E. The State. Arts. 1011-1014

PROVISIONS COMMON TO
TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSION

XXI. Right of Accretion

A. Concept. Arts. 1015-17, 1019-20

B. In legal succession. Art. 1018
C. Compulsory succession. Art. 1021
D. Testamentary. Arts. 1022-1023

XXII. PARTITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE ESTATE

A. Partition. Arts. 1078- 1090

Neri v. Heirs of Spouses Uy, G.R. No. 194366, October 10, 2012
Alsua Betts v. CA, 92 SCRA 332
Doromal v. CA, L-36083, 2 Sept. 1975
Alonzo v. IAC, 150 SCRA 517
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Bautista v. Grino- Aquino, 166 SCRA 760

De los Santos v. De la Cruz, supra

B. Effects of Partition. Arts. 1091-1096

Guilas v. Judge, L-026695, 31 Jan. 1972.

De los Santos v. de la Cruz, 37 SCRA 558
Agustines v. CFI, 45 O.G. Supp #9, p. 184 April 3, 1948.

C. Rescission and Nullity of Partition. Arts. 1097-1105.

XXIII. EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

Arts. 1058-1060
Rule 87, Sec. 1, Revised Rules of Court
Rule 86, Sec 5, Revised Rules of Court

In re: Intestate Estate of Cristina Aguinaldo-Suntay. Emilio Suntay III v. Isabel

Cojuangco-Suntay, G.R. No. 183053, June 16, 2010
Manungas, v. Loreto, G.R. No. 193161, August 22, 2011

Prescribed Textbook:

Arturo M. Tolentino, Commentaries & Jurisprudence on the Civil Code of the

Philippines, Vol. 3, Central LawBook Pub., 1987

References:

1. Ernesto L. Pineda, Succession and Prescription, Central Book Supply, Inc., 2009
2. D. P. Jurado, Comments & Jurisprudence on Succession, Rex Bookstore, 2009
3. Ruben F. Balane, Jottings and Jurisprudence in Civil Law, 1998[3rd ed]

Teaching Methods/Strategies

A question-and-answer format will basically be employed to determine whether the

student read and understood the provisions of the law and the decisions of the Supreme
Court. Quizzes will also be administered to check knowledge, understanding and the
analyzing skills of the students. Lectures, group discussions and visual aids may be used
when applicable.

Grading Criteria:
AUSL SSC
MidTerm Exam 30% 30%
Recitation & Quizzes 30% 40%
Final Exam 40% 30%

Cau
August2013