SYLLABUS

Wills and Succession

Avelino M. Sebastian, Jr.

GENERAL PROVISIONS (Arts. 774 – 782)

Distinction between succession and inheritance

Elements of succession
Butte v Manuel Uy & Sons, Inc., 4 SCRA 526 (Page 14)
National Housing Authority v Almeida, 525 SCRA 383 (Page 5)
Verdad v Court of Appeals, 256 SCRA 593 (Page 438)
Estate of Hemady v. Luzon Surety Co., Inc., 100 Phil 388 (Page 1)
Limjoco v Estate of Fragante, 80 Phil 776

Object of Succession
Future property and future inheritance
Contracts involving future inheritance
Santos v Blas, 1 SCRA 899
vda. de Cabalu v Tabu, 681 SCRA 625

Definition of terms (Art. 782)

Heir
Legatee
Devisee

Concept of inheritance; exclusions to the inheritance

Macam v Gatmaitan, 64 Phil 187
Rivera v People’s Bank, 73 Phil 546
Vitug v Court of Appeals, 183 SCRA 755

Opening of succession (Art. 777)

Bonilla v Barcena, 71 SCRA 491
Salvador v Sta. Maria, 20 SCRA 603 (Page 34)
Ramirez v Baltazar, 24 SCRA 918 (Page 37)
Puno v Puno Enterprises, Inc., 599 SCRA 585 (Page 40)
Reyes v RTC of Makati Branch 142, 561 SCRA 593 (Page 43)
de Borja v vda. de Borja, 46 SCRA 577 (Page 18)
Lee v RTC of Quezon City Branch 85, 423 SCRA 497 (Page 26)
Heirs of Sandejas v Lina, 351 SCRA 183 (Page 30)
Santos v Lumbao, 519 SCRA 408 (Page 45)

Types of Succession (Art. 778 - 780)

Rodriguez v Borja, 17 SCRA 418 (page 378)

TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION

Wills in general (Arts. 782 – 795)

Characteristics of a will

Limitations on the power to control dispositions

 Necessity of conveyance of property
Seangio v Reyes, 508 SCRA 177

Non-delegability of testamentary discretion (Arts. 784 - 787)

Defective dispositions (Art. 789)

Latent and patent defects
Remedial measures

Interpretation of dispositions (Art. 788, 790 - 792)

de Roma v Court of Appeals, 152 SCRA 205 (Page 459)
Dizon-Rivera v Dizon, 33 SCRA 554 (Page 288)
vda. de Villaflor v Juico, 4 SCRA 550 (Page 56)
Balanay, Jr. v Martinez, 64 SCRA 454 (Page 250)

After-acquired properties (Arts. 781 and 793)

Acquired after the making of the will
Acquired after the death of the testator

Testamentary capacity (Arts. 796 - 803)

Elements of testamentary capacity
Soundness of mind
de Guzman v Estate of Benitez, 169 SCRA 284
Baltazar v Laxa, 669 SCRA 249 (Page 63; 218)
Governing law (Art. 795)
Bellis v Bellis, 20 SCRA 358 (Page 60)

Form of Wills

Notarial wills (Arts. 804 – 809)

Suroza v Honrado, 110 SCRA 388 (Page 68)
Reyes v vda. de Vidal, 91 Phil 126 (Page 73)
Taboada v Rosal, 118 SCRA 195 (Page 81)
Balonan v Abellana, 109 Phil 359 (Page 75)
Icasiano v Icasiano, 11 SCRA 422 (Page 85)
Nera v Rimando, 18 Phil 450 (Page 79)
Lopez v Liboro, 81 Phil 429 (Page 90)
Samaniego-Celada v Abena, 556 SCRA 569 (Page 92)
Lopez v Lopez, 685 SCRA 209
Estate of Abada v Abaja, 450 SCRA 264 (Page 94)
Garcia v Lacuesta, 90 Phil 489 (Page 77)
Cagro v Cagro, 92 Phil 1032 (Page 88)
Azuela v Court of Appeals, 487 SCRA 119 (Page 101)
vda. de Ramos v Court of Appeals, 81 SCRA 393 (Page 110)
Garcia v Gatchalian, 21 SCRA 1056 (Page 114)
Guerrero v Bihis,521 SCRA 394 (Page 117)
Cruz v Villasor, 54 SCRA 31 (Page 114)

Special formalities (Arts. 807 and 808)

Garcia v Vasquez, 32 SCRA 490 (Page 122)

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 Alvarado v Gaviola, Jr., 226 SCRA 347 (Page 126)

Doctrine of liberal interpretation (Art. 809)

vda. de Gil v vda. de Murciano, 88 Phil 260 (Page 131)
Caneda v Court of Appeals, 222 SCRA 781 (Page 136)

Holographic wills (Arts. 810 - 814)

Roxas v de Jesus, Jr., 134 SCRA 245 (Page 141)
Labrador v Court of Appeals, 184 SCRA 170 (Page 144)
Azaola v Singson, 109 Phil 102 (Page 153)
Codoy v Calugay, 312 SCRA 333 (Page 155)
Kalaw v Relova, 132 SCRA 237 (Page 163)
Ajero v Court of Appeals, 236 SCRA 488 (Page 165)

Conflict rules (Arts. 815 – 817, 819)

Foreign probate
vda. de Perez v Tolete, 232 SCRA 722 (Page 169)

Joint wills (Art. 818)

Concept and rationale
de la Cerna v Rebaca-Potot, 12 SCRA 576 (Page 170)

Witnesses to a will (Arts. 820 - 824)

Credible vs. competent witness
Gonzalez v Court of Appeals, 90 SCRA 187 (Page 173)
Qualifications (Art. 820)
Disqualifications (Art. 821, 823 - 824)

Codicils (Arts. 825 - 826)

Formalities and functions

Incorporation by reference (Art. 827)

Revocation of Wills (Art. 828 - 834)

Will is essentially ambulatory
Modes of revocation
Testate Estate of Maloto v Court of Appeals, 158 SCRA 451 (Page 180)
Gago v Mamuyac, 49 Phil 902 (Page 178)
Total and partial revocation (Art. 831)
Inoperative revoking will (Art. 832)
Revocation based on a false cause (Art. 833)

Republication and revival of wills (Arts. 835 – 837)

Requisites of republication
Requisites of revival
Effects of republication and revival

Allowance and disallowance of wills (Arts. 838 – 839)

Necessity of probate

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 Rodriguez v Rodriguez, 532 SCRA 642 (Page 183)
Heirs of Lasam v Umengan, 510 SCRA 496 (Page 186)

Scope of inquiry
Galanosa v Arcangel, 83 SCRA 676 (Page 193)

Intrinsic and extrinsic validity

Dorotheo v Court of Appeals, 320, 12 (Page 231)
Pastor, Jr. v Court of Appeals, 122 SCRA 885 (Page 202)
Jimenez v Intermediate Appellate Court, 184 SCRA 367
Nepomuceno v Court of Appeals, 139 SCRA 206 (Page 228)

Probate of a lost will

Gan v Yap, 104 Phil 509 (Page 147)
Rodelas v Aranza, 119 SCRA 16 (page 152)

Grounds for disallowance

Baltazar v Laxa, 669 SCRA 249 (Page 63; Page 218)
Pascual v de la Cruz, 28 SCRA 421 (Page 215)
Ozaeta v Cuartero, 99 Phil 1041 (Page 210)
Coso v Fernandez-Deza, 42 Phil 596 (Page 213)
Ortega v Valmonte, 478 SCRA 247 (Page 221)

Institution of heirs (Arts. 840 – 856)

Concept of and limitations on institution of heirs (Arts. 840 – 845)
Equality of shares (Art. 846)
Dizon-Rivera v Dizon, 33 SCRA 554 (Page 288)
Collective and individual institution (Art. 847 - 849)
Institution based on a false cause (Art. 850)
Austria v Reyes, 31 SCRA 754
Adjustment of shares (Arts. 851 - 853)

Preterition (Art. 854)

Concept of legitime; protection of the legitime
Elements of preterition
Aznar v Duncan, 17 SCRA 590 (Page 238)
Balanay, Jr. v Martinez, 64 SCRA 454 (Page 250)
Acain, v Intermediate Appellate Court, 155 SCRA 100 (Page 257)
Effects of preterition
A matter of substantive validity
Nuguid v Nuguid, 17 SCRA 449 (Page 244)
Governing law
Cayetano v Leonidas, 129 SCRA 522 (Page 254)
Omission not total (Art. 855)
Right of representation (Art. 856)

Substitution of heirs (Arts. 857 - 870)

Concept and definition
Grounds for substitution
Sharing among substitutes

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 Types of substitution
Simple or vulgar (Art. 859)
Brief and compendious (Art. 860)
Reciprocal (Art. 861)
Fideicommissary (Art. 863)
vda. de Mapa v Court of Appeals, 154 SCRA 294 (Page 270)
Ramirez v Ramirez, 111 SCRA 704 (Page 266)
Crisologo v Singson, 4 SCRA 491 (Page 273)
Prohibited dispositions
Rodriguez v Court of Appeals, 27 SCRA 546 (Page 276)

Conditional testamentary dispositions (Arts. 871 – 885)

Definitions of condition and term

Types of conditions
Impossible condition; effect (Art. 873)
Condition not to marry; limitation (Art. 874)
Dispocicion captatoria (Art. 875)
Purely potestative (Arts. 876 and 879)
Casual and mixed conditions (Arts. 877, 880, 881, 885)
Suspensive and resolutory term (Arts. 878 and 884)

Requisites of conditional dispositions

Exclusion of legitime

Modal institution
Rabadilla v Court of Appeals, 334 SCRA 522 (Page 281)
Substantial compliance (Art. 883)

Legitime (Arts. 886 - 914)

Definition (Art. 886)
Compulsory heirs (Art. 887)
Primary
Secondary
Concurring
Impact of Art. 992

Legitimate children and descendants (Art. 888)

Rosales v Rosales, 148 SCRA 69 (Page 303)
Francisco v Francisco-Alfonso, 354 SCRA 112 (Page 296)
Baritua v Court of Appeals, 183 SCRA 565 (Page 298)
Legitimate parents and ascendants (Arts. 889 – 890)
Legitimate children with surviving spouse (Art. 892)
Van Dorn v Romillo, Jr., 139 SCRA 139 (Page 301)
Case of legal separation (Art. 63, Family Code)
Case of termination of marriage by judicial decree (Arts. 41 and 43, Family
Code)
Testamentary succession
Intestate succession
Void marriages (Arts. 35 – 38, 53, Family Code)

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 Voidable marriages (Art. 44 and 50, Family Code)
Legitimate ascendants and surviving spouse (Art. 893)
Illegitimate children and surviving spouse (Art. 894)
Illegitimate children (Art. 895) (Arts. 165 and 176, Family Code)
Legitimate parents and illegitimate children (Arts. 896 and 889)
Surviving spouse with legitimate and illegitimate children (Arts. 897 and 898)
Surviving spouse with legitimate parents and illegitimate children (Art. 899)
Surviving spouse alone (Art. 890)
Illegitimate children (Arts. 901 and 902)
Illegitimate parents (Art. 903)

Deprivation or impairment of legitime (Arts. 904, 906 and 907)

Renunciation/compromise of future legitime (Art. 905)

Uson v del Rosario, 92 Phil 530

Determination of the legitime (Art. 908)

vda. de Tupas v RTC of Negros occidental, 144 SCRA 622 (Page 375)
Mateo v Lagua, 29 SCRA 864 (Page 368)
Natcher v Court of Appeals, 366 SCRA 385 (Page 372)

Duty to collate (Arts. 909, 910, 911)

Reduction of inofficious donations (Arts. 912 and 913)

Insolvent estates

Disposable free portion (Art. 914)

Presumptive legitime (Arts. 50, 51 and 52, Family Code)

Reserva troncal (Art. 891)

Evolution of the reserva

Objective
Elements of the reserva
The Origin
Mendoza v delos Santos, 694 SCRA 74
First transmission of title
Chua v CFI of Negros Occidental, 78 SCRA 414 (Page 325)
Simulated transfers
Transfers for less than full consideration
Prepositus
Reservor
Solivio v Court of Appeals, 182 SCRA 119 (Page 321)
Lacerna v vda. de Corsino, 1 SCRA 1227 (Page 319)
Second transmission of title
Edroso v Sablan, 25 Phil 295 (Page 309)
Sienes v Esparcia, 1 SCRA 750 (Page 315)
Florentino v Florentino, 40 Phil 480 (Page 328)

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 Reservees
Legitimacy of relationship
Nieva v Alcala, 41 Phil 915 (Page 363)
de Papa v Camacho, 144 SCRA 281 (Page 346)

Distribution of reservable property

Reserva integral
Theory of delayed intestacy
Right of representation
Padura v Baldovino, 104 Phil 1065 (Page 305)

Accidental transfer of wealth

Gonzales v CFI, 104 SCRA 479 (Page 336)

Encumbrance created by reserva

Sumaya v Intermediate Appellate Court, 201 SCRA 178 (Page 356)

Reserva in testamentary succession

Reserva maxima
Reserva minima

Reserva on consumable and fungible property

Extinguishment of the reserva

Carillo v de Paz, 18 SCRA 467 (Page 351)

Disinheritance (Arts.915 – 923)

Requisites (Arts. 915 – 917)

Ineffective disinheritance and its effects (Art. 918)

Annulment of the institution (total or partial)
Recovery of legitime
Reduction of legacies and devises

Grounds for disinheritance

Legitimate children and descendants (Art. 919) (See also Arts. 19, 20, 41,
333 and 334 Revised Penal Code; Articles `335, 1337 and 1338, Civil
Code; Arts. 194, 195, 201 and 202, Family Code

Legitimate parents and ascendants (Art. 920) (See also Art. 229 to 232,
Family Code)

Surviving Spouse (Art. 921) (See also Art. 55, Family Code

Reconciliation between the testator and the disinherited heir (Art. 922)
(See also Arts. 1032 and 1033, Civil Code)

Right of representation (Art. 923) (See also Arts. 972, 973, 981, and 902,
Civil Code.)

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 Legacies and Devises (Arts. 924 – 959)

Concept

Burden of legacies and devises (Arts. 925, 926, 928, 929, 930, and 931)

Ineffective legacies and devises (Arts. 932 and 933)

Legacies/devises subject to pledge or mortgage (Art. 924); or subject to

usufruct (Art. 946)

Legacies of credit and remission (Art. 935, 936, 937, and 938) (See also Arts.
1244 and 1245, Civil Code)

Erroneous order to pay a debt (Art. 939) (See also art. 1423, 1429 and 1430,
Civil Code)

Alternative legacies and devises (Arts. 940, 942 and 943) (See also Arts.
1199, 1200, 1202, 1204, 1205 and 1043, Civil Code)

Specific legacies; support, education and pension (Arts. 944 and 945)

Acquisition and transferability of rights (Art. 947, 948, 949, 951, and 952)

Order of preference (Art. 950) (See also Art. 911, Civil Code)

Request for delivery (Art. 953)

Acceptance and repudiation of legacies and devises (Arts. 954, 955, and 956)

Ineffective legacies and devises (Art. 957

INTESTATE SUCCESSION

General Provisions (Arts. 960-962)

Preference of testacy over intestacy

Rodriguez v Borja, 17 SCRA 418 (Page 378)

Causes of intestacy

Rule of proximity (Art. 961)

de los Santos v. de la Cruz, 37 SCRA 555 (Page 384)
Bagunu v Piedad, 347 SCRA 571 (Page 388)
Heirs of Uriarte v Court of Appeals, 284 SCRA 511 (Page 391)
Exceptions to the rule of proximity
Right of representation
Preference of descending over ascending line
Preference of direct over collateral line

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 Rule of equal division (Art. 962)
Exceptions to the rule of equal division
Full-blood and half-blood relationship (Art. 1006)
Division between paternal and maternal lines (Art. 987)
Succession by right of representation (Art. 974)

Relationship (Arts. 963 – 969)

Right of Representation (Arts. 970 – 977)

Concept of representation
Scope of representation (testamentary and intestate succession)
Basic principles of representation
de la Puerta v Court of Appeals, 181 SCRA 861 (Page 396)
Sayson v Court of Appeals, 205 SCRA 321 (Page 404)
Representation in the descending line (Art. 972)
Representation in the collateral line (Art. 975)
Abellana-Bacayo v Ferraris-Borromeo, 14 SCRA 986
Representation of illegitimate brothers and sisters (Art. 994)
Capacity to represent (Art. 973)
Distribution by stirpes (Art. 974)
Repudiator cannot represent nor be represented (Art. 976 and 977)
Differences between representation in testamentary and intestate succession

Order of Intestate Succession

Order of succession to a legitimate decedent
Order of succession to an illegitimate decedent

Theory of exclusion
Theory of concurrence
Problem with partial intestacy

Intestate succession in the direct descending line

Legitimate children (Arts. 978, 979, 980, 981, 982)
Illegitimate and illegitimate children (Art. 983) (See also Art. 176, Family
Code)
Illegitimate children alone or as concurring intestate heirs (Art. 988)
del Prado v Santos, 18 SCRA 68 (Page 408)
Right of representation of illegitimate children (Arts. 989 and 990)

Intestate succession to an adopted child (Art. 984) (See also Art. 190, Family
Code)

Intestate succession in the direct ascending line

Ascendants as secondary intestate heirs (Art. 985)
Parents as sole intestate heirs (Art. 986)
Other ascendants as intestate heirs (Art. 987)
Legitimate ascendants concurring with illegitimate children (Art. 991)

Intestate succession to an illegitimate child (Arts. 993 and 994)

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 The barrier (Art. 992)
vda. de Crisologo v Court of Appeals, 137 SCRA 233 (Page 433)
Cacho v Udan, 13 SCRA 693 (Page 413)
Corpus v Corpus, 85 SCRA 567 (Page 415)
Manuel v Ferrer, 247 SCRA 476 (Page 430)
Leonardo v Court of Appeals, 120 SCRA 890 (Page 419)
Diaz v Intermediate Appellate Court, 150 SCRA 645; 182 SCRA 427 (Page
421)
Suntay III v Cojuangco-Suntay, 621 SCRA 142 (Page 436)

Successional rights of the surviving spouse (Arts. 995 – 1002)

Santillon v Miranda, 14 SCRA 563 (Page 441)

Successional rights of collateral relatives (Arts. 1003 – 1010)

Classification of collateral relatives
Brothers and sisters of the full or half blood (Art. 1006)
Nephews and nieces inherit in their own right or by right of representation

The State
Intestate heir by default
Escheat proceedings (See Section 1, Rule 91, Rules of Court)
Beneficiary of the estate
Reversion of the estate

PROVISIONS COMMON TO TESTATE AND INTESTATE SUCCESSION

Right of Accretion (Arts. 1015 – 1023)

Definition (Art. 1015)

Subordinate to substitution of heirs and right of representation
Accretion in testamentary succession
Accretion in intestate succession (Art. 1018)
Requisites of accretion (Art. 1016)
Concept of non-earmarking (Art. 1017)
Proportionate sharing of accrued inheritance (Art. 1019)
Burdens carried forward (Art. 1020)
Legitime excluded (Art. 1021)
Intestacy if accretion not applicable (Art. 1022)

Capacity to Succeed (Arts. 1024 – 1040)

Absolute and relative incapacity
Application in testamentary and intestate succession
Essential element of capacity to succeed
Parish Priest of Victoria v Rigor, 89 SCRA 493 (Page 445)
Dispositions in favor of juridical persons and unincorporated entities (Art.
1026)
Incapacity to succeed by reason of undue influence (Art. 1027) (See also Arts.
38 and 823, Civil Code; Art. 209, Family Code; Section 1 Rule 93, Section 8
Rule 96, Rules of Court;

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 Incapacity because of public policy (Art. 1028) (See also Art. 739, Civil Code)
Disposition in favor of the testator’s soul (Art. 1029)
Disposition in favor of the poor in general (Art. 1030)
Disposition in favor of a disqualified person (Art. 1031)
Incapacity by reason of unworthiness (Art. 1032) (See also Arts. 919, 920 and
921, Civil Code.)
Effect of condonation (Art. 1033) (See also Art. 922, Civil Code)
Determination of capacity to succeed (Art. 1034)
Representation of the incapacitated heir (Art. 1035)
Acts of the incapacitated heirs; right to reimbursement (Arts. 1036, 1037 and
1038) (See also Arts. 546, 547 and 548, Civil Code)
Governing law (Art. 1039)
Prescriptive period (Art. 1040)

Acceptance and Repudiation of the Inheritance (Art. 1041 – 1057)

Nature and effect of acceptance or repudiation (Arts. 1041 and 1042)
Time to accept or repudiate; certainty of death (Art. 1043)
Capacity to accept or repudiate (Art. 1044)
Guy v Court of Appeals, 502 SCRA 151 (Page 453)
Acceptance or repudiation of juridical entities, public official establishment,
married women (Arts. 1045, 1046 and 1047)
Literate deaf-mutes (Art. 1048)
Form of acceptance (Arts. 1049 and 1050)
Form of repudiation (Art. 1051)
Effects of repudiation, compared to disinheritance and preterition
Repudiation in fraud of creditors (Art. 1052) (See also Art. 1381, par. 3, Civil
Code)
Leviste v Court of Appeals, 160 SCRA 581 (Page 456)
Transmissibility of the right to accept (Art. 1053)
Acceptance and repudiation of multiple heirs (Art. 1054)
Special rules on repudiation (Art. 1055 – 1057)

Executors and Administrators (Arts. 1058 – 1060) (See Rules 78 to 82, Rules of
Court)
Republic v Marcos, 595 SCRA 43
Saguinsin v Lindayag, 6 SCRA 874
Eusebio v Valmores, 97 Phil 163

Collation (Arts. 1061 – 1077)

Concept of collation (Art. 1061)
Purposes of collation
Preservation of legitime
Equalization of shares
Relevance of collation
Arellano v Pascual, 638 SCRA 826 (Page 468)
Two concepts of collation
Collation of value (Arts. 1071 and 908)
Collation in kind (Arts. 1076 and 912)
Dispensing of collation (Art. 1062)
de Roma v Court of Appeals, 152 SCRA 205 (Page 459)

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 Imputation of non-collationable donations
Effect of repudiation on collation
Treatment of collationable and non-collationable donations with repudiation
Exclusion of the surviving spouse from the duty to collate (See Art. 87, Family
Code)
Persons obliged to collate
Vizconde v Court of Appeals, 286 SCRA 217 (Page 461)
Testamentary dispositions not subject to collation (Art. 1063)
Grandchildren’s duty to collate; testamentary and intestate succession (Art.
1064)
When parents are not obliged to collate (Art. 1065)
Donation to spouse not collationable (Art. 1066)
Support not collatonable (Arts. 1067 and 1068) (See also Arts. 194, 195 and
196, Family Code)
Other collationable gifts (Art. 1069)
Special rule pertaining to wedding gift (Art. 1070) (See also art. 82, Family
Code)
Collation of joint donations (Art. 1072)
Qualitative equality (Arts. 1073 and 1074)
Disposition of fruits and interest (Art. 1075)

Partition and Distribution of the Estate (Arts. 1078 – 1105)

Partition (Arts. 1078 – 1090)

Co-ownership prior to partition (Art. 1078)
Dissolution of co-ownership (Arts. 1079 and 1082)
Quasha v LCN Construction, 563 SCRA 426 (Page 209)
Partition inter vivos (Art. 1080)
Dimayuga v Court of Appeals, 129 SCRA 111 (Page 450)
Mang-oy v Court of Appeals, 144 SCRA 33 (Page 471)
Chavez v Intermediate Appellate court, 191 SCRA 211 (Page 474)
Delegation of the power to partition the estate (Art. 1081)
Right to demand partition (Arts. 1083 and 1084)
Qualitative equality (Arts. 1085 and 1086)
Reciprocal reimbursement among heirs (Art. 1087)
Legal redemption (Art. 1088)
Alonzo v Intermediate Appellate Court, 150 SCRA 261 (Page 478)

Effects of Partition (Arts. 1091 – 1096)

Reciprocal warranties (Arts. 1092 1093 and 1094)
Special rules pertaining to receivables (Art. 1095)
Exclusion of warranties (Art. 1096)

Rescission and Nullity of Partition (Arts. 1097 – 1105)

Causes of annulment or rescission of partition (Art. 1097) (See also Art.
1380, Civil Code)
Void partition
Bautista v Bautista, 529 SCRA 187 (Page 483)
Lesion in partition (Arts. 1098, 1099, 1100, 1101 and 1102)
Incomplete distribution of the estate (Art. 1103)

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 Exclusion of a compulsory heir in the partition (Art. 1104)
Non v Court of Appeals, 325 SCRA 652 (Page 486)
Inclusion of a stranger in partition (Art. 1105)

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