Kalinga State University

Institute of Laws
1 Semester, 2020-2021
st

Atty. May Frances S. Calsiyao

SYLLABUS FOR WILLS AND SUCCESSION

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A study of the laws governing inheritance and the transmission of rights occasioned by the
death of a person and related jurisprudence.
METHODOLOGY:

The class will be conducted mainly through recitations, class discussions, case analysis,
quizzes, and examinations. A special activity will be designed to simulate drafting of wills for
clients.

COUSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester, the students are able to:

1. Have a clear understanding of the principles regarding the succession.

2. Relate the law on succession to other areas of civil law such as the laws on property,
persons and family relations.

3. Prepare for independent, critical study and assessment of judicial decisions related
to the law on succession.

4. Prepare wills and craft sound legal opinions addressing problems on succession.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Readings and assignments. Students are expected to be familiar with the assigned
topic on a week to week basis and must be ready to participate in class discussions.
Supplemental readings and assignments will be given from time to time to ensure better
understanding to specific topic.

Recitation. Each student will be called to recite or lead the discussion on an assigned
topic during the term. Students are expected to demonstrate during recitation and class
discussions their knowledge on the assigned topic and their ability to express themselves
convincingly.

Quizzes. Students will be given short quizzes from time to time to test their
knowledge on the topic assigned for the week.

Mid-term/Final Examinations. Students are given two major examinations during

the term. These will test their knowledge and familiarity of specific topics and their ability to
think critically and logically.

Special Activities. Students may be required to draft a will to test their understanding
on the formalities required for wills and to test their skills in spotting other legal issues in

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drafting wills. Due to the shift to online learning, students will also be required to submit a
term paper on problems in succession law.

GRADING SYSTEM:

Recitation and Quizzes - - - - - - 40%

Examinations- - - - - - - - - - - - - 40%
Paper - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20%

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK:

Balane, Ruben F. “Jottings and Jurisprudence on Civil Law: Succession” Central Book Supply:
Quezon City, Philippines. 2016

COURSE OUTLINE AND CASE LIST:

I. Introduction, General Provisions (Art. 774-782)

A. Definition/what is transmitted (Arts. 774, 776, 781)

Unionbank vs. Santibanez, 452 SCRA 228 (2005)

Estate of Hemady vs. Luzon Surety Co., Inc., 100 Phil 388 (1956)

Alvarez vs. IAC (1990)

B. When succession occurs (Art. 777)

Uson vs. Del Rosario, 92 Phil 530

De Borja vs. De Borja, 46 SCRA 577 (1972)

Enriquez vs. Abadia, 95 Phil 627 (1954)

Osorio vs. Osorio and Ynchausti Steamship Co., 41 Phil 531 (1921)

Rodriguez vs. Borja, 17 SCRA 418 (1966)

Villanueva vs Branoco, G.R. No. 172804, January 24, 2011

C. Kinds of successors: heirs, devisees, legatees (Art. 782)

D. Kinds of Succession (Art. 778)

1. Testate

2. Intestate

3. Mixed

4. Compulsory

II. Compulsory Succession (Arts. 886-914, Art. 176 FC)

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 A. Definition (Art. 886)

B. Compulsory heirs and various combinations (Arts. 887-914 except Art. 891)

Suarez vs. CA, 213 SCRA 397 (Sep. 2, 1992)

Rivera vs. Dizon, GR. No L-24561, June 30, 1970

Baritua vs. CA, 183 SCRA 565 (1990)

Visconde vs. Court of Appeals, 286 SCRA 217 (1998)

III. Testamentary Succession

A. In general; definition and characteristics (Art. 783-795)

Montinola vs. Herbosa, et. al. 3 CA Rep. (2nd S) p. 377

1. Strictly a personal act; exception (Art. 784-787)

2. Rules of construction and interpretation (Art. 788-794)

B. Testamentary Capacity and Intent (Art. 796-803)

1. Age requirement (Art. 797)

2. Soundness of mind (Arts. 798-801)

a) When testator is deemed to be of sound mind

Baltazar, et. al vs. Laxa, GR No. 174489, April 11, 2012

b) Presumptions

c) Supervening incapacity

C. Form of Wills

1. Law governing form (Formal validity) – Art. 795, 17, 815-819

a) Wills made by aliens abroad (Art. 816)

b) Wills made before diplomatic or consular offices of the

Philippines (art. 17, par.2)

c) Wills made by aliens in the Philippines – Art. 817

Templeton vs. Babcock, 52 Phil 130 (1928)

d) Joint wills – Art. 818-819

Vitug vs. CA, March 29, 1990

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 e) Holographic wills – Art. 810

2. Law governing contents (substantive validity) – Art. 15, 16, 1039

PCIB vs. Escolin, GR No. L-2786, March 29, 1974

Miciano vs. Brimo, 50 Phil 867 (1924)

Bellis vs. Bellis, 20 SCRA 358 (1967)

3. Common Requirements – Art. 804

a) In writing

b) Language requirement

Vda. De Roxas vs. Roxas, 87 Phil 692 (1950)

Acop vs. Piraso, 52 Phil 660 (1929)

D. Kind of Wills

1. Notarial or ordinary will

a) Requisites (Art. 805)

Matias vs. Salud, GR No. L-10751, June 23, 1958

Garcia vs. La Cuesta, 90 Phil 489 (1951)

Balonan vs. Abellana, GR No. L-15153, Aug. 31, 1960

Nera vs. Rimando, 18 Phil. 451 (1917)

In Re: Estate of Saguinsin, 41 Phil 875

Abangan vs. Abangan, 40 Phil 476 (1919)

Lopez vs. Liboro, 81 Phil 429 (1948)

Gonzales vs. Gonzales, 90 Phil 444 (1951)

Lopez vs. Lopez, G.R. No. 189984, Nov. 12, 2012

Azuela vs. CA, 487 SCRA 119 (2006)

b) Formalities (Art. 806)

Garcia vs. Gatchalian, 21 SCRA 1056 (1967)

Javellana vs. Ledesma, 97 Phil 258 (1955)

Cruz vs. Villasor, 54 SCRA 31 (1973)

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 Guerrero vs. Bihis, GR No. 174144, April 17, 2007

c) Special rules for handicapped testators (Art. 807-808)

Alvarado vs. Gaviola, 226 SCRA 347 (1993)

d) Substantial compliance – Art. 809

Caneda vs. CA, 222 SCRA 781 (1993)

e) Witnesses to wills – Art. 820-824

2. Holographic Will – Art. 810-815

a) Requirements

Roxas vs. De Jesus, 134 SCRA 245 (1985)

Gan vs. Yap, 104 Phil 509

b) Witnesses required

Rodelas vs. Aranza, 119 SCRA 16 (1982)

Kalaw vs. Relova, 132 SCRA 237 (1984)

Ajero vs. CA, 236 SCRA 488 (1994)

E. Codicils

1. Definition and formal requirements – Art. 825-826

2. Incorporation by reference – Art. 827

Unson vs. Abella, 43 Phil 494 (1922)

F. Revocation of Wills and Testamentary Dispositions – Art. 828-834

1. Kinds

Testate Estate of Adriana Maloto v. CA, 158 SCRA 451 (1988)

Vuida de Molo vs. Molo 90 Phil 37 (1951)

Diaz vs. De Leon, 43 Phil 413 (1922)

Bustamante vs. Arevalo 72 Phil 635 (1942)

2. Effect – Art. 834

G. Republication and Revival of wills – Art. 835-837

H. Allowance and disallowance of wills

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 1. Probate requirement (Art. 838)

a) Issues to be resolved in probate proceedings (Art. 839)

Sumilang v. Ramagosa, 21 SCRA 1369 (1967)

Coso vs. Fernandez Deza, 42 Phil 596

Casiano vs. Maloto, 79 SCRA 232 (1977)

b) Exceptions: when practical considerations demand the intrinsic

validity of the will be resolved

Nuguid vs. Nuguid, 17 SCRA 449 (1966)

c) Effect of final decree of probate

De la Cerna vs. Potot, 12 SCRA 576 (1964)

Dorotheo vs. CA, 320 SCRA 12 (1999)

2. Grounds for denying probate (Art. 839)

I. Institution, Preterition and Substitution of Heirs

1. Institution of Heirs – Art. 840-853

Austria vs. Reyes, 31 SCRA 754 (1970)

Nable vs. Uson, 27 Phil 73 (1914)

2. Preterition of Heirs – Art. 854-855

a) Definition

Ureta, et. al vs. Ureta, et. al, GR Nos. 165748 & 165930, September
14, 2011

b) Requisites

(1) Omission that constitutes Preterition

Reyes vs. Barretto-Datu, 19 SCRA 85 (1967)

Aznar vs. Duncan, 17 SCRA 590 (1966)

Neri vs. Akutin, 74 Phil 185

(a) Vs. disinheritance w/o cause – Art. 918

Seangio vs. Reyes, 508 SCRA 117 (2006)

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 (b) Distinguish from Art. 906

(2) Compulsory heir in the direct line

Acain vs. CA, 155 SCRA 100 (1987)

c) Effect of Preterition

Nuguid vs. Nuguid, 17 SCRA 449 (1966)

3. Death of instituted heir before testator – Art. 856

4. Substitution of Heirs – Art. 857-870

a) Definition – Art. 857

b) Kinds – Art. 858

(1) Simple/common – Art. 859

(2) Brief/compendious – Art. 860

(3) Reciprocal – Art. 861

(4) Fideicommissary – Art. 863-870

Palacios vs. Ramirez, 111 SCRA 704 (1982)

Crisologo vs. Singson, 4 SCRA 491 (1962)

PCIB vs. Escolin, 56 SCRA 266 (1974)

J. Conditional Testamentary Dispositions and Testamentary Dispositions with a

Term – Art. 871-885

Rabadilla vs. Court of Appeals, 334 SCRA 522 (2000)

Morente vs. De la Santa, 9 Phil 387

Villanueva vs. Juico, 4 SCRA 550 (1962)

K. Reserva Troncal – Art. 891

1. History and purpose

2. Requisites

Chua vs. CFI, 78 SCRA 412 (1977)

3. Parties

Nieva & Alcala vs. Alcala, 41 Phil 915 (1920)

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 Padura vs. Baldovino, 104 Phil 1065 (1958)

Florentino vs. Florentino, 40 Phil 480 (1919)

De Papa vs. Camacho, 144 SCRA 281 (1986)

Mendoza, et. al vs. Santos, GR No. 176422, March 20, 2013

4. Process

Solivio vs. CA, 182 SCRA 119 (1990)

Edroso vs. Sablan, 25 Phil 295 (1913)

Sienes vs. Esparcia, 1 SCRA 750 (1961)

Gonzales vs. CFI, 104 SCRA 479 (1981)

Cano vs. Director of Lands, 105 Phil 1 (1959)

Sumaya vs. IAC, 201 SCRA 178 (1991)

L. Disinheritance – Art. 915-923

1. Requisites – Art. 916-918

Merza vs. Porras, GR No. L-4888, May 25, 1953

Seangio vs. Reyes, 508 SCRA 177 (2006)

2. Causes – Art. 919-921

Pecson vs. Mediavillo, 28 Phil 81 (1914)

3. Effects – Art. 923

4. Effect of reconciliation – Art. 922

M. Legacies and Devises – Art. 924-959

Pascual vs. Rigor, GR No. L-22036, April 30, 1979

Rosario vda. De Singson vs. De Lim, 74 Phil 109 (1943)

IV. Legal or Intestate Succession

A. General Provisions – Art. 960-962

1. Relationship – Art. 963-969

2. Right of Representation – Art. 970-977

Teotico vs. Del Val, 13 SCRA 406 (1965)

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 Linart vs. Iturralde, 5 Phil 176 (1905)

Sayson vs. CA, 205 SCRA 324 (1992)

B. Order of Intestate Succession – Art. 978-1014

1. Descending Direct Line – Art. 978-984

Santos vs. Aransanso, 16 SCRA 344 (1966)

2. Ascending Direct Line – Art. 957-987

3. Illegitimate Children – Art. 988-994

Corpus vs. Administrator, 85 SCRA 567 (1978)

Diaz vs. IAC, 182 SCRA 427 (1990)

De la Puerta vs. CA, 181 SCRA 861 (1990)

In Re: Rustia vs. Rustia, GR No. 155733, January 27, 2006

4. Surviving Spouse – Art. 995-1002

Santillon vs. Miranda, 14 SCRA 563 (1965)

5. Collateral Relatives – Art. 1003-1010

Alviar vs. Alviar, 28 SCRA 610 (1969)

Arellano, et. al vs. Pascual, GR No. 189776, December 15, 2010

6. State –Art. 1011-1014

V. Provisions Common to Testate and Intestate Succession

A. Right of Accretion – Art. 1015-1023

Torres & Lopez vs. Lopez, 49 Phil 504 (1926)

Ynza vs. Rodriguez, 95 Phil 347 (1954)

B. Capacity to Succeed by Will or Intestacy – Art. 1024-1040

Villavicencio vs. Quinio, 67 Phil 367 (1939)

C. Acceptance and Repudiation of Inheritance – Art. 1041-1057

Guy vs. Court of Appeals, 502 SCRA 151 (2006)

D. Executors and Administrators – Art. 1058-1060

E. Collation – Art. 1061-1077

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 Vda. De Tupas vs. RTC, 144 SCRA 622 (1986)

F. Partition and Distribution of Estate

1. Partition –Art. 1078-1090

JLT Agro, Inc. vs. Balansag, GR No. 141882, March 11, 2005

Saturnino vs. Paulino, 97 Phil 51 (1955)

Garcia vs. Calaliman, 172 SCRA 201 (1989)

2. Effect of Partition – Art. 1091-1096

3. Rescission and Nullity of Partition – Art. 1097-1105

Marbella vs. Kilayko, 104 Phil 41 (1958)

Reyes vs. Barretto-Datu, 19 SCRA 85 (1967), supra

Neri vs. Heirs of Hadji Yusop Uy, GR No. 194366, October 10, 2012

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