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 This book is lovingly dedicated

To the two important persons in my life —

 MELVA, my wife; and
 JOHN DARREL, my son….

 And
To all my students, past and present ….

iii
 PREFACE

In the past years, this author has been receiving requests

from former students and bar candidates alike for comprehensive
and up-to-date review materials in Civil Law, taking into
consideration the new laws that were enacted by Congress and
some recent deci- sions of the Philippine Supreme Court. This
work, therefore, is the author’s attempt to present up-to-date
(covering cases decided up to year 2008), yet comprehensive,
review materials in the area of Persons & Family Relations,
Property and Wills and Succession.
This book is intended for use primarily by 4th year law stu-
dents who are taking up the subject Civil Law Review 1, but bar
reviewees may likewise find this work very helpful in their
prepara- tions for the Bar Examinations.
Again, the author earnestly hopes that this book will be of help
to all disciples of law.

THE AUTHOR

Manila, Philippines
20 April 2009
 CONTENTS

PART ONE – Persons & Family Relations

 Page
PRELIMINARY TITLE ............................................................. 1
Effect and Application of Laws ......................................... 1
Human Relations .............................................................. 18

BOOK I. – PERSONS
CIVIL PERSONALITY .............................................................. 28
Title I. MARRIAGE.................................................................... 35
Chapter 1 Requisites of Marriage ................................ 35
Chapter 2 Marriages Exempt from the License
Requirement. ................................................ 35
Chapter 3 Void and Voidable Marriages ...................... 51
Title II. LEGAL SEPARATION ................................................ 89
Title III. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS BETWEEN
HUSBAND AND WIFE ............................................ 96
Title IV. PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN
HUSBAND AND WIFE .................................................... 98
Chapter 1 General Provisions ............................................. 98
Chapter 2 Donations by Reason of Marriage ................ 100
Chapter 3 System of Absolute Community .................... 104
Chapter 4 Conjugal Partnership of Gains ...................... 114
Chapter 5 Separation of Property of the Spouses and
 Administration of Common Property
by One Spouse During the Marriage ......... 127
Chapter 6 Regime of Separation of Property ................. 127
Chapter 7 Property Regime of Unions Without
Marriage ............................................................... 130
Title V. THE FAMILY ........................................................... 134
Chapter 1 The Family as an Institution ....................... 134
Chapter 2 The Family Home .............................................. 135
Title VI. PATERNITY AND FILIATION ............................... 139
Chapter 1 Legitimate Children ......................................... 139
Chapter 2 Proof of Filiation ................................................. 147
Chapter 3 Illegitimate Children ........................................ 147
Chapter 4 Legitimated Children ....................................... 154
Title VII. ADOPTION ............................................................... 155
Title VIII. SUPPORT ................................................................. 168
Title IX. PARENTAL AUTHORITY ....................................... 174
Chapter 1 General Provisions ....................................... 174
Chapter 2 Substitute and Special Parental
 Authority ...................................................... 174
Chapter 3 Effect of Parental Authority Upon the
Persons of the Children ............................... 182
Chapter 4 Effect of Parental Authority Upon the
Property of the Children. ............................. 182
Chapter 5 Suspension or Termination of
Parental Authority....................................... 188
Title X. EMANCIPATION AND AGE OF MAJORITY ........ 191
Title XI. SUMMARY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS
IN THE FAMILY LAW............................................. 192
Title XII. FINAL PROVISIONS ............................................... 192
FUNERALS ................................................................................ 195
USE OF SURNAMES ................................................................ 199
 ABSENCE .................................................................................. 203
CIVIL REGISTER ...................................................................... 205
PART TWO – Property,
Ownership, and its
Modifications
Title I. CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY ....................... 211
Preliminary Provisions ..................................................... 211
Chapter 1 Immovable Property .................................... 213
Chapter 2 Movable Property ......................................... 221
Chapter 3 Property in Relation to the Person
to Whom it Belongs ...................................... 223

viii
Title II. OWNERSHIP. ........................................................... 235
Chapter 1 Ownership in General ................................. 235
Chapter 2 Right of Accession ........................................ 246
Chapter 3 Quieting of Title ........................................... 271
Chapter 4 Ruinous Buildings and Trees in
Danger of Falling ......................................... 271
Title III. CO-OWNERSHIP ..................................................... 274
Title IV. SPECIAL PROPERTIES .......................................... 298
Title V. POSSESSION ........................................................... 300
Title VI. USUFRUCT .............................................................. 327
Title VII. EASEMENT .............................................................. 353
Title VIII. NUISANCE ............................................................... 404
Title IX. MODES OF ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP ............... 418
Law ................................................................................... 421
Tradition ............................................................................ 421
 Acquisitive Prescription .................................................... 428
Occupation ......................................................................... 435
Intellectual Creation ......................................................... 443
DONATION ................................................................................ 445
PART THREE – Wills & Succession

GENERAL PROVISIONS ......................................................... 509

TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION ........................................... 516
WILLS ................................................................................ 516
Wills in General ........................................................ 516
Testamentary Capacity and Intent ......................... 526
Forms of Wills ........................................................... 530
Witnesses to Wills ..................................................... 568
Codicils and Incorporation ....................................... 570
Revocation of Wills and Testamentary
Dispositions .................................................. 572
Republication and Revival of Wills .......................... 580
 Allowance and Disallowance of Wills ...................... 582
INSTITUTION OF HEIRS ............................................... 587
Preterition .............................................................. 594
SUBSTITUTION OF HEIRS ............................................ 599
Fideicommissary Substitution ................................. 602
 CONDITIONAL TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS
 AND TESTAMENTARY
DISPOSITIONS WITH A TERM ............................. 609
LEGITIME ......................................................................... 619
Compulsory Heirs ..................................................... 620
 Amount of Legitime .................................................. 631
Reserva Troncal ........................................................ 634
DISINHERITANCE .......................................................... 644
LEGACIES AND DEVISES. ............................................. 650
INTESTATE SUCCESSION ..................................................... 664
GENERAL PROVISIONS ................................................. 664
RIGHT OF REPRESENTATION ..................................... 671
ORDER OF INTESTATE SUCCESSION ........................ 678
PROVISIONS COMMON TO TESTATE AND
INTESTATE SUCCESSION............................................. 692
RIGHT OF ACCRETION .................................................. 692
INCAPACITY TO SUCCEED ........................................... 699
 ACCEPTANCE AND REPUDIATION ............................. 711
COLLATION ..................................................................... 717
PARTITION ....................................................................... 724

Guide to Abbreviations:
NCC New Civil Code of the
Philippines FC Family Code of the
Philippines
RPC Revised Penal Code of the
Philippines SC Supreme Court of the
Philippines
CA Court of Appeals
RTC Regional Trial Court