WILLS and SUCCESSION

St. Dominic Savio College- School of Law

(2nd Semester, SY 2021-2022)
Atty. Karen B. Arafag

I. General Principles (Arts. 774-782, CC)

1.1 Definition (Art. 774); Elements

1.2 Succession vs. Inheritance
1.3 Parties
1.4 Inheritance
1.5 Transmission; Requirements

Calalang-Parulan v. Calalang Garcia(GR No. 184148, June 9, 2014)

Liu vs. Loy, September 13, 2004
Alvarez vs. IAC GR No. 68053
Genato vs. Baylo, August 24, 2009

1.6 Article 777; Rights are transmitted from the moment of death of the
decedent.

Felipe vs. Heirs of Aldon, February 16, 1983

Locsin vs. CA, February 19, 1992

1.7 Death (Actual death; Presumed death [Art.390 and Art 391])

Eastern vs. Lucer, August 31, 1983

Emnace vs. CA, November 23, 2001
Riofero vs. CA, January 13, 2004

1.8 Kinds of Succession

Rodriquez vs. Borja, June 21, 1996

1.9 Classification of Succession as to (i) effectivity, (ii) origin and (iii)

extent.
1.10 Heirs; legatees; devisees
1.11 Succession from/ wills of Foreign Nationals

Llorente v. CA, GR 124371, Nov. 23, 2000

Ancheta v. Guersey-Dalaygon, GR No. 139868, June 8, 2006
Palaganas v. Palaganas, GR No. 169144, Jan 26, 2011

II. Wills (Arts. 783-837, CC)

a. Definition, Characteristics

Ureta v. Ureta GR 165748 & 165930, Sept. 14, 2011

Seangio vs. Reyes, November 27, 2006
Vitug vs. CA, 183 SCRA 755

1
 b. Art. 785 vs. Art. 786

c. Art. 787-788

Balanay vs, Martinez / June 27, 1975

Dizon-Rivera vs. Dizon (33 SCRA 554)
Vda de Villanueva vs. Juico, 4 SCRA 550

d. Interpretation (Arts. 788-792); Art.789 ( Kinds of ambiguities in a will;

Evidence)
Yambao vs. Gonzales, 1 SCRA 157

e. Properties Covered (Art 792)

f. Testamentary Capacity (Art . 796)

Ortega v. Valmonte, GR No. 157451, Dec 16, 2005

Baltazar v. Laxa , GR 174489, Apr 11, 2012

f.1 Art. 795,796,797, 798, 799

Enriquez vs. Abadia, August 9, 1954

Abada vs. Abaja, January 21, 2005
Bellis vs. Bellis, June 6, 1967
Cayetano vs. Leonidas, May 30, 1984
Llorente vs. CA, November 23, 2000

f.2 Arts. 800-803

Ramirez vs. Ramirez

Samson vs. Corales-Tan

g. Forms of Wills (Arts. 804)

h. Notarial Wills; Formal Requirements (Arts. 805)

Abada v. Abaja, GR No. 147145, Jan 31, 2005

Azuela v. CA, GR No. 122880 April 12, 2006
Guerrero v. Bihis, GR No. 174144 April 7, 2007
Lee v. Tambago, AC 5281 Feb 12, 2008
Lopez v. Lopez, GR No. 18994 Nov 12, 2012
Leano vs. Leano, 25 Phil 180

III. Qualifications and Disqualifications

a. Testator (Arts. 786-803)

Garcia vs. Lacuesta 90 Phil 489

b. Witnesses (Arts. 820-823)

Gonzales vs. CA 90 SCRA 183
Taboada vs. Rosal (November 5, 1982)
Icasiano vs. Icasiano (June 30, 1964)

2
 Fernandez vs. de dios (February 25, 1924)

c. Notarial Acknowledgment
Azuela vs. CA (April 12, 2006)
Cruz vs. Villasor (November 26, 1973)
Gabucan vs. Manta (January 28, 1980)
Javellana vs. Ledesma (97 Phil 258)
Alvarado vs. Gaviola (226 SCRA 347)

IV. Holographic Wills (Art. 810); Formal Requirements

Roxas v. de Jesus, GR No. 38338, Jan 28, 1995

Rivera v. IAC , GR No. 75005-06, Feb 15/1990

a. Arts. 811- 813

Azaola vs. Singson, August 5, 1960
Codoy vs. Calugay, August 12, 1999
Rodelas vs. Aranza 119 SCRA 16

b. Art. 814
Kalaw vs. Relova, September 28, 1984
Ajero vs. CA, September 15, 1994

c. Art 816-817

In re: the Matter of the Petition to Approve the Will of Ruperto Palaganas,
January 26, 2011

d. Testamentary Dispositions

Dy Yieng Seangio v. Reyes, GR No.140371-72 Nov 27, 2006

e. Art. 818: Joint Wills

Vda. De Perez v. Tolete, GR No. 76714 June 2, 1994

Dela Cerna vs. Potot, December 23, 1964

3
 PART II

I. Art. 825- 827 -Codicils and Incorporation By Reference

a. Revocation (Art 828-834)

b. Republication and Revival (Arts 835-837)
c. Allowance and Disallowance of Wills (Arts. 838-839 NCC)
Lasam vs. Umengan, December 2006, GR 168156
Vda de Kilayko vs. Judge Tengco, GR No. L-45425
Maninang vs. CA (114 SCRA 478)
Mercado vs. Santos (September 22, 1938)
Alsua-Betts vs. CA ( July 30, 1979)
Dela rosa vs . Archangel
Leviste vs. CA (March 17, 2010)
Roberts v. Leonidas, GR No. 55509 Apr 27/1984

II. Scope of Probate Proceedings

Ignacio v. Reyes, GR No.213192 July 1, 2017

Mayor v. Tiu , GR No. 203770 Nov 23, 2016
Jardeleza v. Jardeleza, GR No. 167975 Jun 17, 2015
Leo Romero v. C.A., GR 188921 Apr 18, 2012
Maloles v. Phillips, GR No.129505/133359; Jan 31/2000

a. Exceptions

Gregorio v. Madarang, GR No. 185226; February 11, 2010

Aranas v. Mercado, GR No.156407; January 2014
Morales v. Olondriz, GR No. 198994; February 3, 2016

b. Grounds for Disallowance (Arts 839)

Codoy v. Calugay, GR No.123486, Aug 12, 1999

Baltazar v. Laxa , GR No. 174489 Apr 11, 2012

c. Ratification

III. Institution and Substitution of Heirs (Arts. 840-870, CC)

a. Concept
b. Requirements for Valid Institution
c. Basic Principles for Heir Institution
d. False Cause-Effect
e. Preterition

Non v. CA, GR No. 137287, Feb 5/2000

JLT Agro Inc. v. Balansag, GR No.141882, Mar 11/2005
Heirs of Oreta v. Heirs of Oreta, GR No. 165748/165930 Sept 14, 2011
Morales v. Olondriz , GR No. 198994 Feb 3/2016

4
 f. Substitution of Heirs; Nature and Purpose
g. Kinds of Substitution
h. Requirements for Substitution

Rabadilla v. CA, GR No. 113725, June 29/2000

Ramirez v. Ramirez, GR No. 27952, Feb 15/1982
Kilayco v. Tengco, GR No.45425/45965,Mar 27/1982

IV. Conditional Testamentary Dispositions and Those with a Term (Arts. 871-
885, CC)

a. Conditional Dispositions; Kinds

b. With a Term; Kinds
c. With a Mode

V. Legitime of Compulsory Heirs (Arts. 886-914, CC)

a. Concept
b. Compulsory Heirs; Classification
c. Order and Share of Compulsory Heirs (cf. Art. 176, Family Code)
d. Concurrence and Exclusions
e. Illegitimate Relationship; Barrier

Manuel v. Ferrer, GR No.117246, Aug 21/1995

De la Merced v. De la Merced, GR No. 126707, Feb 25/1999
Heirs of Mabborang v. Mabborang, GR. NO.182805 Apr 22/2015

f. Adoptive Relationships (cf. Family Code Provisions)

g. Inofficious Donations

Imperial v. CA, GR No. 112483, Oct 8/1999

Santos v. Alana, GR No. 154942, Aug 16/2005

h. Collation and Reduction

Vizconde v. CA, GR No. 118449, Feb 11/1998

Arellano v. Pascual, GR No.189776, Dec 5/2010

VI. Reserva Troncal (Art. 891, CC)

Mendoza v. De los Santos, GR No. 176422, Mar 20/2013

VII. Disinheritance (Arts. 915-923, CC)

a. Concept
b. Requisites of Valid Disinheritance
c. Grounds for Disinheritance
d. Invalid Disinheritance

VIII. Legacies and Devices (Arts. 924-959, CC)

a. Nature

5
 b. Capacity
c. Burden of Discharge
d. Obligations of the One Charged
e. Determinate Real or Personal Properties
f. Effect of Encumbrance
g. Revocation
h. Legacy of Rights
i. Alternative Legacies
j. Generic Real or Personal Properties

IX. Intestate Succession (Arts. 960-1014, CC)

a. Causes; Basic Principles

Orendain v. Estate of Rodriguez, GR No. 168660 Jun 30/2009

b. Relationship

c. Bar Between Legitimate/Illegitimate Relatives

Delgado v. Rustia, GR155733 Jan 27/2006
Intestate Estate of Suntay v. Suntay, GR No. 183053 Jun 16/2010
Heirs of Arado v. Alcoran, GR No.163362 Jul 8/2015

d. Right of Representation
Rosales v. Rosales, GR No.40789 Feb 27/1987

e. Order of Intestate Succession

a. Descending Line
Reyes v. Sotero, GR 167405 Feb 16/2006
b. Ascending Line
c. Surviving Spouse
d. Collateral Relatives
Bagunu v. Piedad, GR140975 Dec 8/2000
Arellano v. Pascual, GR No. 189776 Dec 15/2010
e. State

X. Accretion (Arts. 1015-1023, CC)

Heirs of Soliva v. Soliva, GR No.159611 Apr 22/2015

XI. Capacity to Succeed (Arts. 1024-1040, CC)

a. Concept
b. Absolute Incapacity
c. Relative Incapacity
a. Possible Undue Influence
b. Public Morality
c. Unworthiness
d. Exclusion of Incapacitated Heir

XII. Acceptance and Repudiation

a. Necessity

6
 b. Requisites
c. Form
d. Acts Implying Acceptance
e. Presumed Acceptance
f. Repudiation; Restrictions
g. Effects
h. Special Rules

XIII. Collation (Arts. 1061-1077, CC)

a. Concept
Buhay de Roma v. CA, GR No.46903 July 23/1987

b. For Determination of Legitime

c. For Equalization
d. Requirements
e. Optional Collation
f. Methods – of Values, In Kind

XIV. Partition and Distribution of Estate

a. Partition; Concept/Form
Spouses Villafria v. Plazo, GR 187524 Aug 5/2015
Roman Catholic Bishop v. Prudencio, GR 187942 Sept 7/2016

b. Classes of Partition; Requirements

Pada-Kilario v. CA, GR 134329 Jan 19/2000
Union Bank v. Santibanez, GR 149926 Feb 23/2005
Casilang v. Casilang-Dizon, GR 180269 Feb 20/2013

c. Who May Demand Partition

d. Steps in Partition
Natcher v. CA, GR No.133000 Oct 2/2001

e. Legal Redemption
f. Effects of Partition; Breach of Warranty
g. Nullity
h. Rescission
i. Modification