SUCCESSION – Atty.

Lourdes Polido
First Semester of A.Y. 2022-2023

The Law on Succession primarily covers the law of descent, both testate and
intestate, based on the New Civil Code (NCC) provisions on Succession (Articles 774 to
1105), as amended by the Family Code of the Philippines, special laws, and applicable
jurisprudence. Related provisions of the law on Property and Persons and Family
Relations are also discussed during the course.

COURSE SYLLABUS

INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES

General Principles
1. Definition, Concept and Principles
Arts. 774, 776, 712, 1311 New Civil Code (NCC)

READ:
- National Housing Authority vs. Almeida (525 SCRA 383; G.R. No. 162784 dated
22 June 2007)
- Butte v Manuel Uy & Sons, Inc. (G.R. No. L-15499 dated 18 February 1962)
- Balus vs. Balus, et al. (610 SCRA 178; G.R. No. 168970, January 15, 2010)
- Limjoco v. Intestate Estate of Pio Fragante (80 Phil 776; G.R. No. L-770 dated April
27, 1948)

2. Subjects of Succession
Arts. 775, 902, 782, 887, 1003 (NCC)
a. Who are the subjects? – NCC
Arts. 775, 782, 887 (NCC)
b. Relationship, NCC
Arts. 963-969 (NCC)
c. Capacity to succeed
Art. 1034 (NCC)

3. Object of Succession
Arts. 776, 781 (NCC)

READ:
- Estate of K.H. Hemady vs. Luzon Surety (100 Phil. 389; G.R. No. L-8437 dated
November 28, 1956)

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- Union Bank vs. Santibanez (452 SCRA 228; G.R. No. 149926 dated February 23,
2005)
- Alvarez vs. IAC (185 SCRA 8; G.R. No. L-68053 dated May 7, 1990)
- Spouses Santos vs. Lumbao (519 SCRA 408; G.R. No. 169129 dated March 28, 2007)
- Genato vs. Bayhon, et al. (G.R. No. 171035 dated August 24, 2009)
- Cruz vs. Cruz (G.R. No. 173292 dated 1 September 2010)
- Natividad vs. Natividad (G.R. No. 198434 dated February 29, 2016)

4. Opening of Succession and Its Effect

Arts. 777, 781, 2263, 2253, 533, 1347, 1461, 130, 132, 390, 391 (NCC); Arts. 84, 86
(Family Code)

READ:
- Uson vs. del Rosario (92 Phil. 530; G.R. No. L-4693 dated January 29, 1953)
- De Borja vs. Vda. De Borja (46 SCRA 577; G.R. No. L-28040 dated August 18, 1972)
- Bonilla vs. Barcena (71 SCRA 491; G.R. No. L-41715 dated June 18, 1976)
- Lapuz vs. Eufemio (43 SCRA 177; G.R. No. L-30977 dated January 31, 1972)

5. Requisites for Transmission of Successional Rights

a. Express will of the testator or provision of law
b. Death of the person whose property is the subject of succession
i. Presumed death
Arts. 390 and 391 (NCC)
ii. Succession inter vivos
Arts. 50, 51 and 52 (Family Code)
iii. Contractual succession
Art. 84 (Family Code)
c. Acceptance of the inheritance
Arts. 1041-1057 (NCC)

6. Kinds of Succession
Art. 778 (NCC)
a. Compulsory
Art. 779 (NCC)
b. Testamentary
Art. 960 (NCC)
c. Legal or intestate
Art. 780 (NCC)
d. Mixed, NCC 780
Arts. 130, 1347, 752 (NCC); Art. 84 (Family Code)

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 READ:
- Rodriguez vs. Borja (17 SCRA 418; G.R. No. L-21993 dated June 21, 1966)

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TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION
A. Last Will and Testament (Will)
1. Definition
Art. 783 (NCC)

2. Characteristics
Arts. 783, 839 (3 and 4), 796-798, 777, 818, 784- 787 (NCC)

3. Interpretation
Arts. 795, 17, 815, 816, 817, 810, 818, 819 (NCC)

4. Law governing form

a. Time of execution
Art. 795 (NCC)
b. Place of execution
Arts. 17, 810, 815-819 (NCC)

5. Law governing content

a. Time
Art. 2263 (NCC)
b. Successional rights
Art. 16 (NCC)

READ:
- Vitug vs CA (G.R. No. 82027 dated March 29, 1990)
- Seangio vs. Reyes (G.R. No. 140372-72 dated 27 November 2006)
- Testate Estate of Rev. Father Pascual Rigor vs. Belina Rigor, et al. (G.R. No. L-22036
dated April 30, 1979)
- Vda. De Enriquez, et al. vs. Abadia, et al. (G.R. No. L-7188 dated August 9, 1954)
- Miciano v. Brimo (50 Phil. 867; G.R. No. L-22595 dated November 1, 1927)
- Cayetano vs. Leonidas (129 SCRA 524; G.R. No. L-54919 dated May 30, 1984)

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B. Testamentary Capacity and Intent
1. Who may make a Will
Arts. 796-803 (NCC)

2. Supervening incapacity
Art. 801 (NCC)

READ:
- Ortega vs. Valmonte (G.R. No. 157451 dated December 16, 2005)

C. Solemnities of Wills
1. Kinds of Wills
Arts. 804, 810 (NCC)

2. Notarial Wills
a. General requirements
Art. 804 (NCC)
b. Specific requirements
Arts. 805, 806 (NCC)
c. Witnesses to Notarial Wills
i. Who are competent?
Arts. 820, 821, 824, 1027 (NCC)
ii. Supervening incompetency
Art. 822 (NCC)
iii. Competency of interested witnesses
Art. 823 (NCC)
d. Special requirements for deaf, etc.
Arts. 807-808 (NCC) Art. 809 (NCC)
e. Substantial compliance

READ:
- Azuela vs. CA and Castillo (GR No. 122880, 2006)
- Caponong-Noble vs. Abaja (GR No. 147145 dated January 31, 2005)
- Lee v. Tambago, AC No. 5281, 12 February 2008
- Taboada v Rosal (118 SCRA 195; G.R. No. L-36033 dated November 5, 1982)
- Lopez vs. Lopez (G.R. No. 189984 dated November 12, 2012)
- Alvarado vs. Gaviola (226 SCRA 347; G.R. No. 74695 September 14, 1993)
- Gonzales vs. CA (90 SCRA 183; G.R. No. L-37453 dated May 25, 1979)

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 ----- ----- -----
3. Holographic Wills
a. General requirements
Art. 804 (NCC)

b. Specific requirements
Arts. 810, 812, 813 (NCC)

4. Probate of holographic Wills

Arts. 811, 814 (NCC)

5. Incorporation of Document by Reference

Art. 822 (NCC)

6. Codicils
a. Definition
Art. 825 (NCC)
b. Solemnities
Art. 826 (NCC)

READ:
- Labrador vs. CA (184 SCRA 170; G.R. Nos. 83843-44 dated April 5, 1990)
- Codoy vs. Calugay (312 SCRA 333; G.R. No. 123486 dated August 12, 1999)
- Kalaw vs. Relova (132 SCRA 237; G.R. No. L-40207 dated September 28, 1984)
- Ajero v. Court of Appeals (236 SCRA 488; G.R. No. 106720 dated 15 September
1994)

H. Revocation, Allowance, Disallowance of Wills

1. Revocation
a. Definition of revocation
Art. 828 (NCC)
b. When may revocation be effected
Art. 829 (NCC)
c. Law governing revocation
Art. 830 (NCC)
d. Modes of revocation, NCC 830
e. Doctrine of Dependent Relative Revocation
Arts. 831-834 (NCC)
f. Effect of revocation

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2. Republication and Revival of Wills
Arts. 835-837 (NCC)

3. Allowance of Wills
Art. 811 (NCC)
a. Concept of probate
b. Necessity of probate
c. Modes of probate
d. Requirements for probate of a holographic will
e. Effect of allowance of wills

4. Disallowance of Wills
Arts. 839, 1335, 1337, 1338 (NCC)

READ:
- Gago vs. Mamuyac (49 Phil. 902; G.R. No. L-26317 dated January 29, 1927)
- Maloto vs. CA (158 SCRA 451; G.R. No. 76464 dated February 29, 1988)
- Molo vs. Molo (90 Phil. 37; G.R. No. L-2538 dated September 21, 1951)
- Dela Cerna vs. Potot (12 SCRA 576; G.R. No. L-20234 dated December 23, 1964)
- Maloles vs. Phillips (G.R. Nos. 129505 & 133359 dated 31 January 2000)
- Palaganas v. Palaganas (GR No. 169144 dated 26 January 2011)
- Nepomuceno vs. CA (139 SCRA 206; G.R. No. L-62952 dated October 9, 1985)
- Heirs Lasam v Umengan, 510 SCRA 416
- Rodriguez v Rodriguez, 532 SCRA 642
- Alsua-Betts vs. CA (92 SCRA 332; G.R. No. L-46430-31 dated July 30, 1979)
- Baltazar vs. Laxa (G.R. No. 174489 dated April 11, 2012)

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