Syllabus

Civil Law Review I

Academic Year 2023-2024
Saturdays, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

I. Effect and Application of Laws

A. When Law Takes Effect; Publication
B. Ignorance of the Law; Ignorance of Fact
C. Retroactivity of Laws
D. Mandatory, Prohibitory, and Permissive Laws
E. Waiver of Rights
F. Repeal of Laws
G. Judicial Decision
H. Duty to Render Judgment
I. Interpretation of Doubtful Statutes
J. Custom
K. Legal Periods
L. Generality Principle of Penal Laws
M. Conflict of Laws
1. Jurisdiction; Forum Non Conveniens
2. Choice of Law; Renvoi Doctrine; Doctrine of Processual Presumption
a. Lex Nationalii
b. Lex Rei Sitae
c. Lex Contractus
d. Lex Loci Celebrationis
e. Lex Domicilii
f. Lex Fori
g. Lex Loci Delicti
h. Lex Loci Solutionis
3. Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

II. Human Relations

A. Abuse of Rights
1. Acts Contra Bonus Mores
2. Breach of Promise of Marriage
3. Unjust Enrichment
4. Thoughtless Extravagance
5. Tortious Interference

III. Persons and Family Relations

A. Natural Persons
1. Capacity to Act; Restrictions
2. Commencement and End of Civil Personality
3. Proof of Death
B. Juridical Persons
C. Domicile
D. Surnames
 E. Absentees
F. Marriage; General Principles
1. Essential and Formal Requisites
2. Effects of Absence, Defect, or Irregularity
G. Mixed Marriages
H. Void Marriages; Effect and Remedies
I. Voidable Marriages; Effect and Remedies
J. Legal Separation
K. Property Relations between Spouses
1. Donation Propter Nuptias; Void Donations
2. Marriage Settlements
a. Absolute Community of Property Regime
b. Conjugal Partnership of Gains Regime
c. Separation of Property Regime
3. Judicial Separation of Property
4. Property Regime of Unions without Marriage
L. Rights and Obligations Between Husband and Wife
M. The Family; Family Home
N. Paternity and Filiation
1. Concepts of Paternity, Filiation, and Legitimacy
2. Legitimate and Illegitimate Children
a. Proof of Filiation
b. Rights of Legitimate Children
c. Rights of Illegitimate Children
d. Action to Impugn Legitimacy
3. Legitimated Children
a. Rights of Legitimated Children
b. Action to Impugn Legitimacy
4. Adopted Children
a. Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Act (RA 11642)
b. Inter-Country Adoption (RA 8043)
c. Simulated Birth Rectification Act (RA 11222)
O. Support
P. Parental Authority

IV. Property, Ownership, and its Modifications

A. Classification of Property
1. Immovables and Movables
2. Public Dominion; Patrimonial; Private
B. Ownership; Hidden Treasure
C. Rights of Accession; Movables and Immovables
D. Quieting of Title
E. Co-Ownership
F. Possession
G. Actions to Recover Ownership and Possession of Real Property
1. Accion Interdictal
2. Accion Publiciana
 3. Accion Reivindicatoria
H. Easements; Easement of Right of Way
I. Nuisance

V. Different Modes of Acquiring Ownership

A. Occupation
B. Donation
C. Prescription
 Syllabus
Civil Law Review II
Academic Year 2023-2024
Saturdays, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

I. Land Titles and Deeds

A. Regalian Doctrine
B. Nationality Restrictions on Land Ownership
C. Registry of Property
D. Torrens System; Certificate of Title
E. Original Registration (Application, Decree of Registration, Review of Decree of
Registration, Innocent Purchases for Value and Rights)
F. Confirmation of Imperfect Titles
G. Subsequent Registration (Voluntary Dealings and Involuntary Dealings including
Adverse Claim and Notice of Lis Pendens)
H. Non-Registrable Properties
I. Dealings with Unregistered Lands
J. Assurance Fund
K. Reconstitution of Title

II. Wills and Succession

A. General Provisions
B. Testamentary Succession
1. Wills
2. Testamentary Capacity
3. Notarial and Holographic Wills
4. Witnesses to Notarial Wills; Qualifications and Disqualifications
5. Codicils and Incorporation by Reference
6. Conflict Rules
7. Revocation of Wills
8. Republication and Revivals of Wills
9. Allowance and Disallowance of Wills
10. Institution and Substitution of Heirs
11. Dispositions with a Condition or Term
12. Compulsory Heirs; Legitime
13. Disinheritance
14. Legacies and Devises
C. Intestate Succession
1. Causes of Intestacy and Relationship
2. Right of Representation
3. Order of Intestate Succession
D. Provisions Common to Testate and Intestate Succession

III. Obligations and Contracts

 A. Obligations
1. Civil and Natural Obligations
2. General Provisions
3. Nature and Effect of Obligations
4. Different Kinds of Obligations
5. Extinguishment of Obligations
B. Contracts
1. Essential Requisites of Contract (Consent, Object, Cause)
2. Principles of Contracts (Obligatory Force, Autonomy, Relativity, Consensuality,
Mutuality)
3. Real vs Consensual Contracts; Forms, Reformation and Interpretation
4. Defective Contracts (Rescissible, Voidable, Unenforceable, Void)
C. Estoppel

IV. Contract of Sale

A. Nature and Form (Contract of Sale vs Contract to Sell; Option Contract; Right of
First Refusal; Earnest Money)
B. Capacity to Buy or Sell
C. Obligations of the Vendor
D. Double Sale
E. Effect of Loss of Thing Sold
F. Recto Law
G. Maceda Law
H. Rights of Unpaid Seller
I. Conventional Redemption; Legal redemption
J. Equitable Mortgage

V. Contract of Lease (General Provisions, Rights and Obligations of Lessor and Lessee,
Sublease and Assignment of Lease)

VI. Agency (Nature, Form, and Kinds; Obligations of Agent and Principal; Extinguishment)

VII. Credit Transactions

1. Mutuum and Commudatum

2. Deposit
3. Guaranty and Suretyship
4. Real Estate Mortgage
5. Personal Property Security

VIII. Compromise Agreement

IX. Quasi-Contracts (Negotiorum Gestio, Solutio Indebiti, Other Quasi-Contracts)

X. Torts and Damages

1. Common Principles (Torts vs Crimes, Torts vs Contracts)
2. Classification (Negligence; Degree of Diligence and Negligence, Presumption;
Intentional; Strict Liability; Tortfeasor, Joint and Direct Liability; Proximate Cause,
Last Clear Chance Doctrine; Vicarious Liability; Res Ipsa Loquitor; Damnum
Absque Injuria; Defenses; Medical Negligence and Malpractice; Damages;
Damages in case of Death; Duty of Injure/;.d Party).