San Beda University College of Law
COURSE SYLLABUS IN BASIC SUCCESSION
(Cases/lectures, Class Standing-Recitations/Quizzes, and Mid-term/Final Written Examinations)
INTRODUCTION
Arts. 16 & 1039;
Lex rei Sitae,
Nationality Principle;
Doctrine of Renvoi;
1. Edward Christensen et al., v. Garcia, G.R. L- 16749, January 31, 1963;
Art. 17,
lex loci celebrationis
I.
GENERAL PROVISIONS (Arts. 774 -782)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
II.
TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION (Arts. 783-795)
A.
B.
D.
E.
F.
III.
Succession Defined; Basis of succession
What inheritance includes; Transmission of inheritance;
1. Teves de Jakosalem v. Rafols, G.R. No. L-48372, Jul. 24, 1942;
2. Payduan vs. Builders Savings and Loan Association, Inc., G.R. No. 202324, Jun.
4, 2018;
3. Salitico v. Heirs of Resurreccion Felix, G.R. No. 240199, Apr. 10, 2019;
4. Treyes v. Larlar, G.R. No. 232579, Set. 8, 2020
Conditions for the transmission of successional rights;
Actual Death;
5. Uson v. Del Rosario, G.R. No. L-4963, Jan. 29, 1953;
6. Borja v. Borja, 46 SCRA 577;
7. Bonilla v. Barcena, 71 SCRA 491;
8. Vitug v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 82027 March 29, 1990;
Presumed Death; Effect of absentee’s return or reappearance;
9. Felipe v. Heirs of Aldon,120 SCRA 628;
10. Union Bank v. Santibanez, 452 SCRA 228
Mixed succession;
11. Parish Priest of Roman Catholic Church of Victoria Tarlac v. Rigor, L-22036, Apr.
30, 1979.
Kinds of Heirs; Heirs distinguished from legatees and devisees.
Will defined; Characteristics of a will;
1. Mitra v. Sablan, G.R. No. 213994, Apr. 18, 2018
Strictly personal act; exceptions
Ambiguities in a will; Rules of interpretation;
2. Villaflor v. Juico, L- 15737, Feb. 28, 1962;
Preference of testate over intestate proceedings;
3. Uriarte v. CFI of Negros Occidental, 33 SCRA 252.
After- acquired properties
Extrinsic and intrinsic validity;
4. Bellis v. Bellis, 20 SCRA 358
TESTAMENTARY CAPACITY AND INTENT (Arts 796-803)
A.
Who can make wills;
1. Alsua Betts v. Court of Appeals, L-46430- 31, July 30, 1979;
Senility;
2. Ortega v. Valmonte, 478 SCRA 247;
How unsoundness of mind is manifested;
Presumption on soundness of mind;
Exceptions
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B.
IV.
Supervening capacity and incapacity;
Capacity of wife to make a will;
What wife can dispose of in her will.
FORMS OF WILLS (Arts. 804-819)
A.
Forms of Wills;
1. In re Will of Siason, 10 Phil. 504;
2. Noble v. Abaja, 450 SCRA 265;
Subscription and attestation;
3. Cagro v. Cagro, 92 Phil. 1032;
4. Suroza v. Honrado, 110 SCRA 388
5. Caneda v. Court of Appeals, 222 SCRA 781 (1993);
6. Labrador v. CA, 184 SCRA 170
Subscription by the testator;
7. Matias v. Salud, L-10751, 23 Jun. 1958;
Rule if a third person signs for the testator; Marginal Signatures;
8. Barut v. Cabacungan, G.R. No. L-6285, Feb. 15, 1912;
9. Garcia v. Lacuesta, G.R. No. L-4067, Nov. 29, 1951;
True test of Presence;
10. Jaboneta v. Gustilo, G.R. No. 1641, 5 Phil. 541;
11. Nera v. Rimando, G.R. No. L-5971, Feb. 27, 1911
B.
Acknowledgement before a Notary Public;
12. Valmonte v. Ortega, G.R. No. 157451, Dec. 16, 2005;
13. Cruz v. Villasor, 54 SCRA 31;
14. Guerrero v. Bihis, 521 SCRA 394
C.
Rule when the testator is deaf or deaf mute; Rule if the testator is blind;
15. Garcia v. Vasquez, 32 SCRA 489;
16. Alvarado v. Gaviola, 226 SCRA 347
D.
Substantial compliance rule;
17. Tabuada v. Rosal, L-36033, Nov. 5, 1983;
Will is void if defect cannot be cured without extrinsic evidence;
18. In re Will of Lopez v. Lopez, G.R. No. 189984, Nov. 12, 2012.
E.
Holographic will;
19. Gan v. Yap, G.R. No. L-12190, Aug. 30, 1958;
20. Azaola v. Singson, G.R. No. L-14003, Aug. 5, 1960;
21. Labrador v. Court of Appeals, 184 SCRA 170;
Contested holographic will;
22. Codoy v. Calugay, 312 SCRA 333;
Lost or destroyed holographic will and alterations;
23. Rodelas v. Aranza, 119 SCRA 16;
24. Roxas v. De Jesus, Jr., G.R. No. 38338, Jan. 28, 1985;
25. Kalaw v. Relova, 132 SCRA 237;
26. Aero v. Court of Appeals, 236 SCRA 488.
F.
Formalities of wills executed by Filipinos abroad; Formalities of wills executed by
aliens in the Philippines;
27. In re estate of Johnson, 39 PHIL 156
G. Joint wills defined;
28. Dela Cerna v. Potot, 12 SCRA 576;
Effect if executed abroad;
29. Vda de Perez v. Tolete, 232 SCRA 722.
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V.
WITNESSES TO WILLS (Arts. 820-827)
Witnesses to Notarial Wills;
1. Gonzales v. Court of Appeals, L-37453, May 25,1979;
2. Icasiano v. Icasiano, 11 SCRA 422;
3. Cruz v. Villasor, 54 SCRA 752;
4. Javellana v. Ledesma, G.R. No. L-7179, Jun 30, 1955;
5. Lee v. Tambago, 544 SCRA 393;
Effect of subsequent incapacity; Disqualification of a witness as an heir, legatee or
devisee.
VI.
CODICILS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE (Arts. 825-827)
Codicil defined and purpose; Requisites for validity of documents incorporated by
reference;
1. In re Will of Zalamea y Abella v. Abella, G.R. No. 17857, 43 Phil. 494
VII.
REVOCATION OF WILLS AND TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS, REPUBLICATION AND
REVIVAL OF WILLS (Arts. 828-839)
A.
Revocability of a will;
1. Macam v Gatmaitan, 60 Phil 358;
Modes of Revocation;
2. Gago v. Mamuyac, G.R. No. L-26317, Jan. 29, 1927;
3. Testate Estate of Adriana Maloto v. Court of Appeals, 158 SCRA 451
B.
Implied Revocation; Revocation by Subsequent Will; Doctrine of Dependent Relative
Revocation;
4. Testate Estate of Deceased Molo, G.R. No. L-2538, Sept. 21, 1951;
5. Bodellar v. Aranza, L-58509, Dec., 7, 1982.
C.
Revocation based on false or illegal cause; Recognition of an illegitimate child
D. Republication defined; How made; Requisites and Limitations; Revival of Wills
VIII. ALLOWANCE AND DISALLOWANCE OF WILLS (Arts. 838-839)
A.
B.
IX.
Probate defined; Probate mandatory;
1. Sebial v. Sebial, 64 SCRA 385;
2. Rosa Cayetano Cuenco v. CA, et al., L-24742, Oct. 26, 1973;
3. Vda. De Baluyot v. Luciano, L-42215, July 13, 1976;
4. Gallanosa v. Arcangel, 83 SCRA 676;
5. Nepomuceno v. CA, 139 SCRA 206;
6. Dorotheo v. CA, 320 SCRA 12.
Grounds for Disallowance of Wills;
7. Valmonte v. Ortega, G.R. No. 157451, Dec. 16, 2005;
8. Tolentino v. Francisco, 57 Phil. 749
INSTITUTION OF HEIRS (Arts. 840-856)
A.
Institution of Heirs defined; Restrictions on Freedom of disposition of estate;
1. Reyes v. Barretto-Datu, 19 SCRA 85;
2. Austria v. Reyes, 31 SCRA 754;
3. Heirs of the Late Matilde Montinola-Samson v. CA and Edurado P. Hernandez, L76648, Feb. 26, 1988.
B.
Rules in the institution of Heirs; Presumption of Equal Shares;
4. De Belen v. BPI, L-14474, Oct. 31, 1960;
Individual and collective institutions;
Institution of brothers and sisters;
Institution of a Person and His children;
Institution based on a false cause;
Institution in aliquot parts;
Rule if entire inheritance is not covered;
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Rule if more than inheritance covered.
C.
Preterition defined; Requisites;
5. In Re Will of Leodegaria Julian, L-39247, June 27, 1975;
6. Nuguid v. Nuguid, 17 SCRA 449;
Where share of omitted heir must be taken; Effect on legacies and devises
D. Effect of predecease, incapacity, repudiation.
X.
SUBSTITUTION OF HEIRS (Arts. 857-870)
A.
B.
XI.
CONDITIONAL TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS AND TESTAMENTARY DISPOSITIONS WITH
A TERM (Arts. 871- 885)
A.
B.
XII.
Substitution defined; purpose; Kinds of substitution;
1. Consolacion Florention de Crisologo v. Dr. Manuel Singson, L-13876, Feb. 28,
1962.
Fideicommissary substitution defined; purposes; requisites; effect of nullity;
2. Carmen G. De Perez, Trustee of the Estate of Alcantara v. Gachitorena, 54 Phil.
431
Conditions cannot affect the legitime;
1. Natividad v. Gavino, 36 Phil 663;
Effect of impossible conditions; Condition not to contract marriage;
2. Morente v. Dela Santa, G.R. No. L-3891, Dec. 19, 1907
Disposition captatoria; Modal institution;
3. Rabadilla v. Court of Appeals, 334 SCRA 522;
Caucion muciana
LEGITIME (Arts. 886-914)
A.
Concept of legitime;
1. Garcia v. Orosco, L-35213, August 31, 1978;
Compulsory heirs, classes;
2. Francisco A. Tongoy v. CA, L- 45645, June 28, 1983.
B.
Classes of Compulsory Heirs:
3. Macadangdang v. Court of Appeals, L-49542, Sept. 12, 1980;
Computation of legitime.
C.
Reserva Troncal;
4. Frias Chua v. CFI of Negros Occidental, L-29901, Aug. 31, 1977;
5. Lacerna v. Vda. De Corcino, L-14603, April 29, 1961;
Requisites;
6. Solivio v. Court of Appeals, 182 SCRA 119;
7. Mendoza v. Policarpio, G.R. No. 176422, Mar. 20, 2013;
8. Sumaya v. IAC, 201 SCRA 178;
Reserva applies only to legitimate family,
9. Nieva v. Alcala, 41 Phil. 915
D.
No conditions can be imposed on the legitime;
Non-diminution of legitime;
Renunciation or Compromise Re future Legitime;
10. Reyes v. Barretto-Datu, L-17818, Jan. 25, 1967, 19 SCRA 85;
Reduction of Inofficious Testamentary Dispositions;
Formula for the Computation of the Net Hereditary Estate.
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XIII. DISINHERITANCE
A.
Disinheritance Defined; Requisites;
1. Ching v. Rodriguez, G.R. No. 192828, Nov. 28, 2011;
Causes for Disinheritance
B.
Ineffective Disinheritance;
2. Pecson v. Mediavillo, 28 Phil. 81
C.
Effects of Reconciliation
XIV. LEGACIES AND DEVISES
A.
Legacies and Devises,
1. Pastor, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, GR-56340, June 24, 1983,
2. Vera v. Navarro, 79 SCRA 608;
Liability for eviction
B.
The Grant of a Part Interest;
Effect of Interest of a third person in the thing bequeathed;
Effect if the legatee or devises owns the thing
C.
Legacy of credit or remission of debts;
legacy to a creditor;
Effect of payment
D.
Generic legacy;
Legacy for education and support;
periodical pension;
when legatee or devisee acquires the right
E.
Order of Payment of legacies;
effect of repudiation, incapacity or predecease;
ineffective legacies;
3. Testate Estate of Pablo v. Lim, 74 Phil. 109
XV.
LEGAL OR INTESTATE SUCCESSION
A.
B.
Legal Succession Defined;
1. Testate Estate of the Late Adrian Maloto v. Maloto, L-32328, Sept. 30, 1977, 79
SCRA 232;
Order of Preference; Rule of preference between lines; Rule of Proximity;
2. Heirs of Uriarte v. Court of Appeals, 284 SCRA 511;
3. Bagunu v. Piedad, G.R. No. 140975, 347 SCRA 571;
Rule of Equal Division and exceptions
C.
Relationship;
Determination of Degree of Relationship;
Full Blood and half blood relations;
Incapacity or repudiation by relatives of the same degree
D.
Right of Representation;
4. Sayson v. Court of Appeals, 205 SCRA 321;
5. Pavia v. Iturralde, G.R. No. L-2599, 5 Phil 176;
Division of the estate in representation;
representation in collateral line;
Heirs who repudiate cannot be represented
E.
Order of Intestate Succession;
Direct descending line;
Adopted child;
Inheritance by Parents and Ascendants;
Illegitimate Children;
The Barrier Between the Legitimate and the Illegitimate Families;
6. Pascual v. Pascual-Bautista, G.R. No. 84240, Mar. 25, 1992, 207 SCRA 561;
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7. Diaz, et al. v. IAC, et al., L-66574, June 17, 1987;
8. Leonardo v. Court of Appeals, GR – 51263, Feb. 28, 1983;
9. Manuel v. Ferrer, G.R. No. 117246, 247 SCRA 476;
10. Corpuz v. Administrator, L-22469, Oct. 23, 1978;
11. Anuran v. Aquino, 38 Phil. 32;
12. Llorente v. Rodriguez, 10 Phil. 585;
13. Director of Lands v. Aguas, 63 Phil. 279;
14. Aquino v. Aquino, G.R. No. 208912 and 209018, Dec. 7, 2021;
Inheritance by the Illegitimate Parents; Intestate Shares of Surviving Spouse;
15. Tolentino v. Paras, GR 43905, May 3, 1983;
16. Arcenas v. Cinco, L-29288, Nov. 29, 1976;
17. Heirs of the Late Mario V. Chanliongco, Adm. Matter No. 190-RET, Oct. 18, 1977;
F.
Inheritance by Collaterals;
Shares of Brothers and Sisters;
Presence of a “Brother”;
18. Filomena Abellana de Bacayo v. Gaudencio Ferraris de Borromeo, et al., L-19382,
Aug. 31, 1965;
Shares of Brothers and Sisters Concurring With Nephews and Nieces;
Right of Representation in the Collateral Line;
19. The Gov’t. Service Insurance System v. Susana, Romualdo, Julian, Macario A.
Moises, Macario C. Adriano, Celestina, and Luisa, all surnamed Custodio, L-26170,
Jan. 27, 1969;
20. Filomena Abellana de Bacayo v. Gaudencio Ferraris de Borromeo, et al., L-19382,
Aug. 31, 1965;
Full Blood Concurring With Half Blood;
21. Bicomong v. Almanza, L-37365, Nov. 29, 1977, 80 SCRA 421;
Half Blood Brothers and Sisters From Both Sides;
How Children of Brothers and Sisters of the Half Blood Inherit;
Inheritance by Other Collateral Relatives;
22. Tioco De Papa v. Camacho, G.R. No. 28032, Sept. 24, 1986.
G.
The State – Inheritance by the State;
How the State Inherits;
ESCHEATS;
How Estate Inherited by the State is Distributed;
Rule If Legal Heir Files a Claim.
XVI. PROVISIONS COMMON TO TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSION
A.
Right of accretion; concept of accretion;
1. Torres v. Lopez, 49 Phil. 595;
Accretion in legal succession
B.
Capacity to succeed by will or intestacy; grounds of incapacity; absolute and relative
incapacity;
2. Nepomuceno v. Court of Appeals, 139 SCRA 217 (1985)
C.
Disposition for Prayers and Pious Works; disposition in favor of the poor
D.
Acts of Unworthiness; express and implied condonation
E.
Acceptance and repudiation of inheritance; Forms of Acceptance; Requisites; Manner
of Repudiation;
3. Republic v. Guzman, GR. No. 132964, Feb. 19, 2000
F.
Executors and administrators
G.
Collation; steps in collation;
effect if donation is inofficious;
Donations to children;
Expenses not subject to collation; wedding gifts
H.
Partition and distribution of the Estate;
4. Mendoza v. CA, 199 SCRA 779 (1991);
5. Balanay v Martinez, 64 SCRA 452 (1975);
Sale of hereditary rights before partition; Legal redemption of co-heirs;
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6. Opulencia v. CA, G.R. No. 125835, Jul. 30, 1998;
7. Plan v. IAC, G.R. No. L-65656, Feb. 28, 1985;
Effects of Partition; Rescission and Nullity of Partition;
8. Cruz v. Cruz, G.R. 211153, Feb. 28, 2018;
9. Escabarte v. Heirs of Isaw, G.R. No. Aug. 28, 2019;
10. Espinas-Lanuza v. Luna, Jr., G.R. No. 229775, Mar. 11, 2019