09 February 2013

Rodelas v. Aranza Digest

Rodelas v. Aranza
G.R. No. L-58509 December 7, 1982
Relova, J. (Ponente)
Facts:
1. The appellant filed a petition for the probate of the holographic will of Ricardo Bonilla in
1977. The petition was opposed by the appellees on the ground that the deceased did not
leave any will, holographic or otherwise.
2. The lower court dismissed the petition for probate and held that since the original will was
lost, a photostatic copy cannot stand in the place of the original.
Issue: Whether or not a holographic will can be proved by means of a photocopy
RULING: Yes. A photocopy of the lost or destroyed holographic will may be admitted
because the authenticity of the handwriting of the deceased can be determined by the probate
court with the standard writings of the testator.