Syllabus

Course Title
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Course Description

Succession
Four (4) units
None
Major Subject
Atty. Crisostomo A. Uribe
:

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.
2.
3.
4.

Understand the basic principles in succession.

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

Course Outline
I.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
A.

B.

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
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

D.

Subjects of Succession. Arts. 775, 782, 887, 1003

1.
2.
3.

Who are the subjects?

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

Cayetano v. Leonides, 129 SCRA 522

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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

C.

Interpretation of Wills

Art 783, 839(3) & (4), 828, 796-798, 777, 818, 784-787
Arts 788, 789, 790-794, 930

Solla v. Ascuenta, 49 Phil. 333

III.

TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY AND INTENT

A.
B.

Who may make a will? Arts. 796-803

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

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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.
c.
3.

Supervening incompetency. Art. 822

Competency of interested witness. Art. 823

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

Arts. 807-808

Garcia v. Vasquez, 32 SCRA 489

4.
C.

Substantial Compliance. Art. 809

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
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.
IX.

REPUBLICATION AND REVIVAL OF WILLS - Arts. 835-837

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

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De Borja v. De Borja, 46 SCRA 577
C.
D.

Modes of probate
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

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

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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
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.
13.
B.

Shares in the institution. Arts. 851-853

Predecease of heirs. Art. 856

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

Vda. De Kilayko v. Tengco, 207 SCRA 600

b.
c.
d.
e.

XVII.

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

Disposition Captatoria. Art. 875
Compliance. Arts. 876- 877, 2nd par.
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

SUBSTITUTION OF HEIRS
A.
B.

Concept of substitution. Art. 857

Kinds of substitution. Art. 858
1. Simple or common. Art. 859

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2.
3.
4.

Brief or compendious. Art. 860

Reciprocal. Art. 861
Fideicommissary. Arts. 863-869

Palacios v. Ramirez, 111 SCRA 704

Crisologo v. Singzon, 49 SCRA 491
C.
XVIII.

Time-limitation on inalienability. Art. 870

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

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.

B.

Estate of an illegitimate decedent

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

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

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PROVISIONS COMMON TO
TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSION
XXI.

Right of Accretion
A.
B.
C.
D.

XXII.

Concept. Arts. 1015-17, 1019-20

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

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
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.
2.
3.

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

Teaching Methods/Strategies
A question-and-answerx 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:
MidTerm Exam
Recitation & Quizzes
Final Exam

AUSL
30%
30%
40%

SSC
30%
40%
30%

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Cau
August2013