WILLS & SUCCESSION

ATTY. SIEGFRED B. MISON

COURSE OUTLINE

John Langbein, The Twentieth Century Revolution in Family Wealth

Transmission, 86 Mich L Rev, 722, 736-46 (1988)
Edward C. Halbach Jr., An Introduction to Chapters 1-4 in Death, Taxes, and
Family Property 3. (Halbach ed.) West Publishing Co. 1977. pp 3, 4-6
Lawrence M Friedman, The Law of Succession in Social Perspective in Death,
Taxes, Family Property 9 (Halbach ed.) West Publishing Co. 1977. pp 9, 1114

PRELIMINARY:

CONCEPT OF SUCCESSION
Art. 774-776,
Inheritance.

Succession

vs.

Inheritance,

Art.

781,

Composition

of

Estate of Hemady vs. Luzon Surety, 100 Phil 388 (What kind(s) of
obligations are transmissible upon the death of the decedent? Are contingent
claims chargeable against the estate?)
Sicad vs. Court of Appeals, 294 SCRA 183; Scherer vs. Hyland, Supreme
Court of New Jersey, 1977. 75 N.J. 127, 380 A.2d 698. (What are some of
the circumstances used to determine whether a donation is inter vivos or
mortis causa?)
Newman vs. Dore, Court of Appeals of New York, 1937. 275 NY 371, 9 N.E.
2d 966. (How can you really dispose of your properties during your
lifetime?)

Art. 777, Death to Open Succession, Elements of Transmission of Property,

Rights & Obligations.
Uson v s. Del Rosario, 92 Phil 531 (When and how can a person renounce his
inheritance?)
De Borja vs. Vda. De Borja, 46 SCRA 577 (Can an heir sell or enter into a
compromise involving his hereditary rights?)
Bonilla vs. Barcena, 71 SCRA 490 (What kind(s) of legal actions survive(s)
the death of a party?)
Go Ong vs. Court of Appeals, 154 SCRA 270 (What are the rights of an heir
pending the administration of an estate? What is the extent of the powers of
an administrator of an estate?)

Butte vs. Manuel Uy & Sons, 4 SCRA 526 (When can an heir exercise rights
of ownership over properties belonging to the estate?)
Reganon vs. Imperial, 22 SCRA 80 (Can one attach the interest of an heir
during the settlement process?)
Ramirez vs. Baltazar, 24 SCRA 918 (What are the remedies against an erring
administrator?)
Noceda vs. Court of Appeals, 313 SCRA 504; Nufable vs. Nufable, 309 SCRA
692 (What are the rights of an heir prior to actual partition and distribution
of the estate?)
Balus vs. Balus, G.R. No. 168970, January 15, 2010.
Ferrer vs. Diaz, G.R. 165300, April 23, 2010.
Pasco vs. Heirs of Filomena De Guzman, G.R. No. 165554, July 26, 2010.
Cruz vs. Cruz, G.R. No. 173292, September 1, 2010.
De Belen vda. De Cabalu vs. Tabu, Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Tarlac City,
Branch II, G.R. No. 188417, September 24, 2012.
Alcazar vs. Arante, G.R. No. 177042, December 10, 2012.
Ining vs. Vega, G.R. No. 174727.
Pacaa-Contreras vs. Rovila Water Supply, Inc., G.R. No. 168979.

Art. 778-780, Contractual Succession, Art. 50 (FC), Freak Succession, Art.

390-391, Rules on Presumption of Death,

Art. 781, After-acquired Properties and the Concept of Future Inheritance

Blas vs. Santos, 1 SCRA 899 (What is really a contract of future
inheritance?)

Art. 782 Heir(s) vs. Legatee/Devisee, Importance of Difference

Neri vs. Akutin, 74 Phil 185 (Would you rather be a legatee or devisee than
an heir or does it really matter?)

INTRODUCTION TO WILLS:

Art. 783-787, Definition and Characteristics of a Will

Art. 788-794, Rules on Interpretation of Wills.

Dizon-Rivera vs. Dizon, 33 SCRA 554 (How can one distribute an estate
when there is something wrong with the will?)
Parish Priest of Victoria, Tarlac vs. Rigor, 89 SCRA 493; Fischer vs. Johnson,
Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1969. 441 S.W. 2d 132; In Re Estate of
Russell, Supreme Court of California, 1968. 69 Cal. 2d 200, 444 P.2d 353, 70

Cal. Rptr. 561. (How can you determine the intent of the testator?)
John Langbein and Lawrence Waggoner, Reformation of Wills on the Ground
of Mistake, Change of Direction in American Law?, 130 U. Pa. L. Rev. 521,
524-28 (1982)

Art. 795, Extrinsic and Intrinsic Validity of Wills

Bellis vs. Bellis, 20 SCRA 358 (Do you remember the renvoi doctrine?)

Art. 796-803, Testamentary Capacity, Burden of Proof of Capacity

Bagtas vs. Paguio, 22 Phil 227; Matter of Estate of Bonjean, Appellate Court
of Illinois, 1980. 90 Ill. App. 3d 582, 45 Ill. Dec. 872, 413 N.E. 2d 205.
(What does it take for a testator to be considered as crazy?)
Barnes vs. Marshall, Supreme Court of Missouri, 1971. 467 S.W. 2d 70.
(Who can say a testator is crazy?)
In Re Honigmans Will, Court of Appeals of New York, 1960. 8 N.Y. 2d 244,
168 N.E. 2d 676. (Who has the burden of proving the presence of
testamentary capacity?)

FORMAL REQUIREMENTS OF WILLS:

Art. 804, Objective of Formalities of Wills
Lopez vs. Liboro, 81 Phil 429 (What language should a testator use in
making a will?)
Suroza vs. Honrado, 110 SCRA 381 (How can you prove that the language
used is known and understood by the testator?)

Art. 805, Formal Requisites of Ordinary Wills

Balonan vs. Abellana, 109 Phil 359; Garcia vs. Lacuesta, 90 Phil 189 (How
can one sign for or in behalf of the testator?)
Nera vs. Rimando, 18 Phil 450; In Re Estate of Weber, Supreme Court of
Kansas, 1963. 192 Kan. 258, 387 P 2d 165. (What do you mean by in the
presence of?)
Burns vs. Adamson, Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1993. 313 Ark. 281, 854
S.W. 2d 723. (What is the purpose of the requirement of presence of
witnesses?)
Taboada vs. Rosal, 118 SCRA 195 (What do you mean by attestation and
by subscription?)
Cagro vs. Cagro, 92 Phil 1032; Abangan vs. Abangan, 40 Phil 476; Icasiano
vs. Icasiano, 11 SCRA 422 (What are the excusable defects in a will?)

Vda. De Ramos vs. Court of Appeals, 81 SCRA 393 (What is the effect of
negative testimony?)

Art. 806, Purpose of Acknowledgment of Wills, Duties of a Notary

Cruz vs. Villasor, 54 SCRA 31; Garcia vs. Gatchialian, 21 SCRA 1056;
Gabucan vs. Manta, 95 SCRA 752 (What are non-excusable lapses?)
Echavez vs. Dozen Construction and Development Corporation, G.R. No.
192916.

Art. 807-808, Additional Requirements for Blind and Deaf-Mute Testators

Garcia vs. Vasquez, 32 SCRA 498 (Who is a blind testator?)
Alvarado vs. Gaviola, G.R. No. 74695. September 14, 1993 (Who can be
considered as blind testators?)

Art. 809 Doctrine of Liberal Interpretation

Sebastian vs. Panganiban, 59 Phil 653
Gil vs. Murciano, 87 Phil 260
Caneda vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 103554. May 28, 1993

Art. 810, Formal Requisite of Holographic Wills; Importance of the Date

Gan vs. Yap, 104 Phil 509 (May a holographic will probated upon the
testimony of witnesses?)
Rodelas vs. Aranza, 119 SCRA 16 (May a photocopy of a holographic will be
admitted to probate?)
In Re Estate of Muder, Supreme Court of Arizona, 1988. 159 Ariz. 173, 765
P. 2d 997. (Can there be a pro forma holographic will?)
Roxas vs. De Jesus Jr., 134 SCRA 245 (What kind of date is sufficient?)
Labrador vs. Court of Appeals, 187 SCRA 170 (Where in the will must the
date appear?)

Art. 811, Witnesses to Holographic Wills

Azoala vs. Singson, 109 Phil 102; Codoy vs. Calugay, 312 SCRA 333 (How
many witnesses do you really need?)

FUNDAMENTAL PROVISIONS ON WILLS:

Art. 812-813, Placement Disposition vis--vis Testators Signature; Art. 814,
Cancellation of Dispositions

Kalaw vs. Relova, 132 SCRA 327 (Is it cancellation or revocation?)

Art. 815-817, Rule 77, Rules of Court, Conflicts of Law on Wills

In re Estate of Johnson, 39 Phil 156 (What is the applicable law when it
comes to the determination of the intrinsic validity of a will?)
In re: In the matter of the petition to approve the Will of Ruperta Palaganas,
G.R. No. 169144, January 26, 2011.

Art. 818-819, Nature of Joint Wills

Dela Cerna vs. Rebeca-Potot, 12 SCRA 576 (Can a joint will be admitted to
probate?)

Art. 820-822, Witnesses to Wills, Art 823-824 Additional Qualifications for

Witnesses.
Gonzales vs. Court of Appeals, 90 SCRA 187 (What must instrumental
witnesses possess to be considered as credible?)
In Re Estate of Watts, Appellate Court of Illinois, 1979. 67 Ill.App.3d 463,
N.E. 2d 589, 23 Ill Dec. 795. (Is the will invalidated because of the presence
of an interested witness?)

Art. 825-827, Codicils, Incorporation

Republication and Revival of Wills.

by

Reference,

Art.

835-837,

Clark vs. Greenhalge, Supreme Court of Massachusetts, 1991. 411 Mass

410, 582 N.E. 2d 949.

Art. 828-831, Method of Revocation

Gago vs. Mamuyac, 49 Phil 902 (Are there other ways of revoking a will?)
Harrison vs. Bird, Supreme Court of Alabama, 1993. 621 So. 2d 972. (Are
there really other ways of revoking a will?)
Estate of Maloto vs. Court of Appeals, 158 SCRA 451 (What does it take to
revoke a will?)
Gilbert vs. Gilbert, Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1983, 652 S.W. 2d 663. (Is
it revocation or modification?)

Art. 832, Theory of Dependent Relative Revocation.

Schneider vs. Harrington, Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, 1947.
320 Mass. 723, 71 N.E. 2d 242.

PROBATE OF WILLS:
Art. 838, Nature of Probate Proceedings, Jurisdiction of Probate Court, Rule
75-76 of the Rules of Court
Heirs of Guido vs. Del Rosario, 304 SCRA 18 (How can one be declared an
heir?)
Maloles II vs. Phillips, G.R. 129505, Jan 31, 2000 (Who has the right to
intervene in cases involving the estate?)
Galanosa vs. Archangel, 83 SCRA 676 (What are the effects of a will after it
has been admitted to probate?)
Pastor vs. Court of Appeals, 122 SCRA 883 (Can a probate court rule on
issues involving ownership?)
Jimenez vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 184 SCRA vs. 367 (Can a probate
court rule on issues involving ownership?)
Agapay vs. Palang, 276 SCRA 341 (Can a probate court rule on issues
involving ownership?)
Lim vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. 124715, Jan 24, 2000 (May a corporation be
included in the inventory of the estate?)
Ching vs. Hon. Rodriguez, et al., G.R. No. 192828, November 28, 2011.
Romero vs. Hon. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 188921, April 12, 2012.

Art. 839, Undue Influence

Ozaeta vs. Cuartero, 99 Phil 1041 (When is influence considered undue?)
In Re Dilios Will, Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1960. 156 Me. 508, 167
A.2d 571. (How do you determine when the influence is really undue?)
Coso vs. Fernandez-Deza, 42 Phil 596 (When is love or affection considered
as undue influence?)
Nepomuceno vs. Court of Appeals, 139 SCRA 206 (When is love or affection
considered as undue influence?)
In Re Will of Moses, Supreme Court of Mississippi, 1969. 227 So. 2d 829. (Is
personal intimacy considered undue influence?)
Haynes vs. First National State Bank of New Jersey, Supreme Court of New
Jersey, 1981. 87 N.J. 163, 432 A.2d 890. (Who has the burden of proving
undue influence?)

Art. 839, Fraud and Mistake

Latham vs. Father Divine, Court of Appeals of New York, 1949. 299 N.Y. 22,
85 N.E. 2d 168. (What kind of fraud must be present to nullify a will?)

RULES IN CASE OF VACANCY:

Art. 840-849, Rules in the Institution of Heirs, Identification of Heirs, Art.
850, With a False Cause
Austria vs. Reyes, 31 SCRA 754 (When is a cause considered to be false to
invalidate a will?)

Art. 851-853, Rule in Increasing or Decreasing of Shares.

Art. 854-855, Preterition vs. Disinheritance, Requisites

Aznar vs. Duncan, 17 SCRA 590
Nuguid vs, Nuguid, 17 SCRA 44
Acain vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 155 SCRA 100
Goff vs. Goff, Supreme Court of Missouri, 1944. 352 Mo. 809, 179 S.W. 2d
707.
Heirs of P. Ureta Sr., et al. vs. Heirs of L. Ureta, et al., G.R. No. 165748.
September 14, 2011.

Art. 857-862, Classes of Substitution, Art. 863-869, Fideicommissary

Substitution
Vda. De Mapa vs. Court of Appeals, 154 SCRA 294
Crisologo vs. Singson, 4 SCRA 491

Art. 870, Extent of Inalienability

Rodriguez vs. Court of Appeals, 27 SCRA 546 (How long must I wait?)

CONDITION & TERMS IN SUCCESSION: (Review Articles 1179-1198)

Art. 871-874, Conditions, Terms, Modes in Testamentary Succession, Art.
1183, Rule in Impossible Conditions
Natividad vs. Gabino, 36 Phil 663
U.S. National Bank of Portland v. Snodgrass, Supreme Court of Oregon,
1954. 202 Or. 530, 275 P2d 860. (What is the extent of the powers of the
testator to impose conditions in a will?)

Art. 875, Disposition Captatoria.

Art. 876-878, Potestative, Casual, and Mixed Conditions, Art. 879, Caucion
Muciana.

Art. 880-885, Rule 84, 85 & 87, Rules of Court, Powers of the Administrator
vis--vis Rights of the Heirs Prior to the Arrival of the Condition/Term
Rabadilla vs. Court of Appeals, June 29, 2000

LEGITIME, COMPULSORY HEIRS, & COLLATION:

Art. 886-890, Definition and Extent of Legitime, Compulsory Heirs
Noble vs. Noble, 18 SCRA 1104; Van Dorn vs. Romillo Jr., 139 SCRA 139;
Rosales vs. Rosales, 148 SCRA 69 (Who are considered heirs?)

Art. 892-894, Legitime of Compulsory Heirs

Art. 906, Completion of Legitime vs. Preterition

Art. 905 & 907-911, Art. 1061, Concept of Collation,

Vizconde vs. Court of Appeals, 286 SCRA 217; Mateo vs. Lagua, 29 SCRA
864 (What properties are subject to collation?)
Vda. De Tupaz vs. RTC of Negros Occidental, 144 SCRA 622 (Are all
donations subject to collation?)
Arellano vs. Pascual, G.R. No. 189776, December 15, 2010.

Art. 1061-1077 Mathematical Determination of Legitime, Rules on Collation

on Donations.
Art. 1061, Collation Procedure
Art. 1064-66, Duty to Collate of Grandchildren, Parents and Spouses
Art. 1067-1071, Things subject to Collation

Article 891
Concept of Reserva Troncal, Rights and Obligations of the Reservor and
Reservee
Edroso vs. Sablan, 25 Phil 295 (What are the extent of the rights of reservee
and of the reservor?)

Sienes vs. Esparcia, 1 SCRA 750 (When it comes to reservable property, who
would you rather deal with the reservee or the reservor?)
Mendoza vs. Delos Santos, G.R. No. 176422.

Theory of Delayed Intestacy

Padura vs. Baldovino, 104 Phil 1065
De Papa vs. Camacho, 144 SCRA 281

Requisites for Reserva Troncal to be Effective

Lacerna vs. Vda. De Corcino, 1 SCRA 1226
Chua vs. Court of First Instance, 78 SCRA 412
Florentino vs. Florentino, 40 Phil 480
Gonzalez vs. Court of First Instance, 104 SCRA 481

DISINHERITANCE:

Art. 915-918, Concept & Requisites of Disinheritance

Art. 919, Ground for Disinheritance, Descendant, Art. 6, 11, & 12 (RPC),
Effects of Stages of the Crime and Attendant Circumstances, Art. 194-207
(FC), Rule on Support
Seangio vs. Reyes, G.R. 140371-72, Nov 27, 2006
In Re Tarlos Estate, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1934. 315 Pa. 321, 172
A 139.

Art. 920, Grounds for Inheritance, Ascendant, Art. 229-232 (FC), Loss,
Suspension, Deprivation of Parental Authority

Art. 921, Grounds for Disinheritance, Spouse Article 55 (FC), Grounds for
Legal Separation

Art. 922 & 1032, Effect of Reconciliation on Unworthiness.

LEGACIES: (Art. 924-959)

Art.
Art.
Art.
Art.

415-416, Immovable and Movable Properties

930-933, Special Rules on Legacy
935, Legacy of Credit and Legacy of Remission
940, Alternative Legacies

Art. 950 Order of Preference in Legacies

Art. 957, Conversion of Legacies
In Re Estate of Nakoneczny, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1974. 456 Pa.
320, 319 A.2d 893. (When is a legacy or devise considered revoked?)

INTESTATE SUCCESSION:
Art. 960, Concept of Intestate Succession
Rodriguez vs. Borja, 17 SCRA 418 (Which is the preferred mode of settling
an estate?)

Art. 962, Rules of Intestate Succession

Baguno vs. Piedad, Dec. 8, 2000

Art. 963-967, Direct and Collateral Relatives,

Art. 968-977, Accretion & Representation, Requirements for Representation,

Representation in Testate and Intestate Succession
Abellana-Bacayo vs. Ferraris-Borromeo, 14 SCRA 986
Uriarte vs. Court of Appeals, June 22, 1998

Order of Intestate Succession (Art. 978-1014) Exclusion & Concurrence.

Art. 978-987, In the Legitimate Line
1. Bolaos vs. Bernarte, G.R. No. 180997
Art. 988-994, In the Illegitimate Line
Del Prado vs. Santos, 18 SCRA 68
Gonzales vs. Court of Appeals, 298 SCRA 322
Cacho vs. Udan, 13 SCRA 693)
Art. 190 (FC), In the Adopted Line

Art. 992, The Bar between the Legitimate and the Illegitimate Family
Grey vs. Fabie, 68 Phil 128
Corpus vs. Corpus 85 SCRA 567
Leonardo vs. Court of Appeals, 120 Phil 890
Diaz vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 150 SCRA 645, Diaz vs. Intermediate
Appellate Court, 182 SCRA 427
De la Merced vs. De la Merced, Feb. 25, 1999

Vda. De Crisologo vs. Court of Appeals, 137 SCRA 233

Suntay III vs. Cojuangco-Suntay, G.R. No. 183053, October 10, 2012.

Art. 1003-1010, How Collateral Relatives Inherit

Art. 1011-1014, Rule 91, Rules of Court, State as an Intestate Heir

COMMON TESTATE & INTESTATE PROVISIONS:

Art. 1015-1023, Requisites for the Right of Accretion

Art. 1024-1025, Incapacity to Inherit, Art. 1026-1040

Cid vs. Burnaman, 24 SCRA 435

Art. 1041, Acceptance and Repudiation

Art. 1058-1060, Rule 78-85, Rules of Court, Executors & Administrators

Suntay III vs. Cojuangco-Suntay, G.R. No. 183053, June 16, 2010.
Art. 1078-1087 & 1089-90, Partition of the Estate, Art. 1088, Subrogation
Hermoso vs. Court of Appeals, Dec. 29, 1998

Rule 90, Rules of Court, Art. 1091-1105, Effects, Nullity & Rescission of
Partition.