Rodelas v.

Aranza
G.R. No. L-58509 December 7, 1982

Facts:

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.

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.