I.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
A. Definition and Concept of Succession
Article. 712. Ownership is acquired by
occupation and by intellectual creation.
Ownership and other real rights over property
are acquired and transmitted by law, by
donation, by testate and intestate succession,
and in consequence of certain contracts, by
tradition.
They may also be acquired by means of
prescription. (609a)
Article. 774. Succession is a mode of
acquisition by virtue of which the property,
rights and obligations to the extent of the value
of the inheritance, of a person are transmitted
through his death to another or others either
by his will or by operation of law. (n)
Article. 1311. Contracts take effect only
between the parties, their assigns and heirs,
except in case where the rights and obligations
arising from the contract are not transmissible
by their nature, or by stipulation or by
provision of law. The heir is not liable beyond
the value of the property he received from the
decedent.
If a contract should contain some stipulation in
favor of a third person, he may demand its
fulfillment provided he communicated his
acceptance to the obligor before its revocation.
A mere incidental benefit or interest of a
person is not sufficient. The contracting parties
must have clearly and deliberately conferred a
favor upon a third person. (1257a)
B. Kinds of Succession
Article. 778. Succession may be:
(1) Testamentary;
(2) Legal or intestate; or
(3) Mixed. (n)
Article. 779. Testamentary succession is that
which results from the designation of an heir,
made in a will executed in the form prescribed
by law. (n)
Article. 780. Mixed succession is that effected
partly by will and partly by operation of law. (n)
In relation to
Article. 84, FC. If the future spouses
agree upon a regime other than the
absolute community of property, they
cannot donate to each other in their
marriage settlements more than one-
fifth of their present property. Any
excess shall be considered void.
Donations of future property shall be
governed by the provisions on
testamentary succession and the
formalities of wills. (130a)
Article. 130. The future spouses may
give each other in their marriage
settlements as much as one-fifth of
their present property, and with
respect to their future property, only in
the event of death, to the extent laid
down by the provisions of this Code
referring to testamentary succession.
(1331a)
Article. 752. The provisions of article
750 notwithstanding, no person may
give or receive, by way of donation,
more than he may give or receive by
will.
The donation shall be inofficious in all
that it may exceed this limitation. (636)
Article. 1347. All things which are not
outside the commerce of men,
including future things, may be the
object of a contract. All rights which are
not intransmissible may also be the
object of contracts.
No contract may be entered into upon
future inheritance except in cases
expressly authorized by law.
All services which are not contrary to
law, morals, good customs, public
order or public policy may likewise be
the object of a contract. (1271a)
C. Opening of Succession
Article.777.Therightstothesuccessionare
transmittedfromthemomentofthedeathofthe
decedent.(657a)
Inrelationto
Article.130.Thefuturespousesmaygive
eachotherintheirmarriagesettlements
asmuchasonefifthoftheirpresent
property,andwithrespecttotheirfuture
property,onlyintheeventofdeath,tothe
extentlaiddownbytheprovisionsofthis
Codereferringtotestamentarysuccession.
(1331a)
Article.132.Adonationbyreasonof
marriageisnotrevocable,saveinthe
followingcases:
(1)Ifitisconditionalandtheconditionis
notcompliedwith;
(2)Ifthemarriageisnotcelebrated;
(3)Whenthemarriagetakesplacewithout contract.Allrightswhicharenot
theconsentoftheparentsorguardian,as intransmissiblemayalsobetheobjectof
requiredbylaw; contracts.

(4)Whenthemarriageisannulled,andthe
doneeactedinbadfaith;
(5)Uponlegalseparation,thedoneebeing
theguiltyspouse;
(6)Whenthedoneehascommittedanact
ofingratitudeasspecifiedbythe
provisionsofthisCodeondonationsin
general.(1333a)
Article.390.Afteranabsenceofseven
years,itbeingunknownwhetherornot
theabsenteestilllives,heshallbe
presumeddeadforallpurposes,exceptfor
thoseofsuccession.
Theabsenteeshallnotbepresumeddead
forthepurposeofopeninghissuccession
tillafteranabsenceoftenyears.Ifhe
disappearedaftertheageofseventyfive
years,anabsenceoffiveyearsshallbe
sufficientinorderthathissuccessionmay
beopened.(n)
Article.391.Thefollowingshallbe
presumeddeadforallpurposes,including
thedivisionoftheestateamongtheheirs:
(1)Apersononboardavessellostduringa
seavoyage,oranaeroplanewhichis
missing,whohasnotbeenheardofforfour
yearssincethelossofthevesselor
aeroplane;
(2)Apersoninthearmedforceswhohas
takenpartinwar,andhasbeenmissing
forfouryears;
Nocontractmaybeenteredintoupon
futureinheritanceexceptincases
expresslyauthorizedbylaw.
Allserviceswhicharenotcontrarytolaw,
morals,goodcustoms,publicorderor
publicpolicymaylikewisebetheobjectof
acontract.(1271a)
Article.1461.Thingshavingapotential
existencemaybetheobjectofthecontract
ofsale.
Theefficacyofthesaleofamerehopeor
expectancyisdeemedsubjecttothe
conditionthatthethingwillcomeinto
existence.
Thesaleofavainhopeorexpectancyis
void.(n)
Article.2253.TheCivilCodeof1889and
otherpreviouslawsshallgovernrights
originating,undersaidlaws,fromacts
doneoreventswhichtookplaceunder
theirregime,eventhoughthisCodemay
regulatetheminadifferentmanner,or
maynotrecognizethem.Butifaright
shouldbedeclaredforthefirsttimeinthis
Code,itshallbeeffectiveatonce,even
thoughtheactoreventwhichgivesrise
theretomayhavebeendoneormayhave
occurredunderpriorlegislation,provided
saidnewrightdoesnotprejudiceorimpair
anyvestedoracquiredright,ofthesame
origin.(Rule1)

(3)Apersonwhohasbeenindangerof
deathunderothercircumstancesandhis
existencehasnotbeenknownforfour
years.(n)

Article.533.Thepossessionofhereditary
propertyisdeemedtransmittedtotheheir
withoutinterruptionandfromthemoment
ofthedeathofthedecedent,incasethe
inheritanceisaccepted.

Onewhovalidlyrenouncesaninheritance
isdeemednevertohavepossessedthe
same.(440)

Article.1347.Allthingswhicharenot
outsidethecommerceofmen,including
futurethings,maybetheobjectofa
 Article.2263.Rightstotheinheritanceofa
personwhodied,withorwithoutawill,
beforetheeffectivityofthisCode,shallbe
governedbytheCivilCodeof1889,by
otherpreviouslaws,andbytheRulesof
Court.Theinheritanceofthosewho,with
orwithoutawill,dieafterthebeginningof
theeffectivityofthisCode,shallbe
adjudicatedanddistributedinaccordance
withthisnewbodyoflawsandbythe
RulesofCourt;butthetestamentary
provisionsshallbecarriedoutinsofaras
theymaybepermittedbythisCode.
Therefore,legitimes,betterments,legacies
andbequestsshallberespected;however,
theiramountshallbereducedifinno
othermannercaneverycompulsoryheir
begivenhisfullshareaccordingtothis
Code.(Rule12a)
D. Subject and Object of Succession
Article775.InthisTitle,"decedent"isthegeneral
termappliedtothepersonwhosepropertyis
transmittedthroughsuccession,whetherornothe
leftawill.Ifheleftawill,heisalsocalledthe CompulsoryheirsmentionedinNos.3,4,and5are
testator.(n)
Article776.Theinheritanceincludesallthe
property,rightsandobligationsofapersonwhich
arenotextinguishedbyhisdeath.(659)
Article777.Therightstothesuccessionare
transmittedfromthemomentofthedeathofthe
decedent.(657a)
Article778.Successionmaybe:
(1)Testamentary;
(2)Legalorintestate;or
(3)Mixed.(n)
Article779.Testamentarysuccessionisthat
whichresultsfromthedesignationofanheir,made
inawillexecutedintheformprescribedbylaw.(n)
Article780.Mixedsuccessionisthateffected
partlybywillandpartlybyoperationoflaw.(n)
Article781.Theinheritanceofapersonincludes
notonlythepropertyandthetransmissiblerights
andobligationsexistingatthetimeofhisdeath,
butalsothosewhichhaveaccruedtheretosincethe
openingofthesuccession.(n)
Article782.Anheirisapersoncalledtothe
successioneitherbytheprovisionofawillorby
operationoflaw.
Deviseesandlegateesarepersonstowhomgiftsof
realandpersonalpropertyarerespectivelygiven
byvirtueofawill.(n)
Article887.Thefollowingarecompulsoryheirs:
(1)Legitimatechildrenanddescendants,with
respecttotheirlegitimateparentsandascendants;
(2)Indefaultoftheforegoing,legitimateparents
andascendants,withrespecttotheirlegitimate
childrenanddescendants;
(3)Thewidoworwidower;
(4)Acknowledgednaturalchildren,andnatural
childrenbylegalfiction;
(5)Otherillegitimatechildrenreferredtoinarticle
287.
notexcludedbythoseinNos.1and2;neitherdo
theyexcludeoneanother.
Inallcasesofillegitimatechildren,theirfiliation
mustbedulyproved.
Thefatherormotherofillegitimatechildrenofthe
threeclassesmentioned,shallinheritfromthemin
themannerandtotheextentestablishedbythis
Code.(807a)
Article963.Proximityofrelationshipis
determinedbythenumberofgenerations.Each
generationformsadegree.(915)
Article964.Aseriesofdegreesformsaline,which
maybeeitherdirectorcollateral.
Adirectlineisthatconstitutedbytheseriesof
degreesamongascendantsanddescendants.
Acollaterallineisthatconstitutedbytheseriesof
degreesamongpersonswhoarenotascendantsand
descendants,butwhocomefromacommon
ancestor.(916a)
Article965.Thedirectlineiseitherdescendingor
ascending.
Theformerunitestheheadofthefamilywiththose
whodescendfromhim.
Thelatterbindsapersonwiththosefromwhomhe
descends.(917)
Article966.Intheline,asmanydegreesare
countedastherearegenerationsorpersons,
excludingtheprogenitor.
Inthedirectline,ascentismadetothecommon
ancestor.Thus,thechildisonedegreeremoved
fromtheparent,twofromthegrandfather,and
threefromthegreatgrandparent.
Inthecollateralline,ascentismadetothecommon
ancestorandthendescentismadetotheperson
withwhomthecomputationistobemade.Thus,a
personistwodegreesremovedfromhisbrother,
threefromhisuncle,whoisthebrotherofhis
father,fourfromhisfirstcousin,andsoforth.
(918a)
Article967.Fullbloodrelationshipisthatexisting
betweenpersonswhohavethesamefatherandthe
samemother.
Halfbloodrelationshipisthatexistingbetween
personswhohavethesamefather,butnotthe
samemother,orthesamemother,butnotthesame
father.(920a)
Article968.Ifthereareseveralrelativesofthe
samedegree,andoneorsomeofthemare
unwillingorincapacitatedtosucceed,hisportion
shallaccruetotheothersofthesamedegree,save
therightofrepresentationwhenitshouldtake
place.(922)
Article969.Iftheinheritanceshouldbe
repudiatedbythenearestrelative,shouldtherebe
oneonly,orbyallthenearestrelativescalledby
lawtosucceed,shouldtherebeseveral,thoseofthe
followingdegreeshallinheritintheirownright
andcannotrepresentthepersonorpersons
repudiatingtheinheritance.(923)
Article1003.Iftherearenodescendants,
ascendants,illegitimatechildren,orasurviving
spouse,thecollateralrelativesshallsucceedtothe
entireestateofthedeceasedinaccordancewiththe
followingarticles.(946a)
Article1014.Ifapersonlegallyentitledtothe
estateofthedeceasedappearsandfilesaclaim
theretowiththecourtwithinfiveyearsfromthe
datethepropertywasdeliveredtotheState,such
personshallbeentitledtothepossessionofthe
same,orifsold,themunicipalityorcityshallbe
accountabletohimforsuchpartoftheproceedsas
maynothavebeenlawfullyspent.(n)
Article1024.Personsnotincapacitatedbylaw
maysucceedbywillorabintestato.
Theprovisionsrelatingtoincapacitybywillare
equallyapplicabletointestatesuccession.(744,
914)
Article1025.Inordertobecapacitatedtoinherit,
theheir,deviseeorlegateemustbelivingatthe
momentthesuccessionopens,exceptincaseof
representation,whenitisproper.
Achildalreadyconceivedatthetimeofthedeathof
thedecedentiscapableofsucceedingprovideditbe
bornlaterundertheconditionsprescribedinarticle
41.(n)
Article1026.Atestamentarydispositionmaybe
madetotheState,provinces,municipal
corporations,privatecorporations,organizations,or
associationsforreligious,scientific,cultural,
educational,orcharitablepurposes.
Allothercorporationsorentitiesmaysucceed
underawill,unlessthereisaprovisiontothe
contraryintheircharterorthelawsoftheir
creation,andalwayssubjecttothesame.(746a)
Article1027.Thefollowingareincapableof
succeeding:
(1)Thepriestwhoheardtheconfessionof
thetestatorduringhislastillness,orthe
ministerofthegospelwhoextended
spiritualaidtohimduringthesame
period;
(2)Therelativesofsuchpriestorminister
ofthegospelwithinthefourthdegree,the
church,order,chapter,community,
organization,orinstitutiontowhichsuch
priestorministermaybelong;
(3)Aguardianwithrespectto
testamentarydispositionsgivenbyaward
inhisfavorbeforethefinalaccountsofthe
guardianshiphavebeenapproved,evenif
thetestatorshoulddieaftertheapproval
thereof;nevertheless,anyprovisionmade
bythewardinfavoroftheguardianwhen
thelatterishisascendant,descendant,
brother,sister,orspouse,shallbevalid;
(4)Anyattestingwitnesstotheexecution
ofawill,thespouse,parents,orchildren,
oranyoneclaimingundersuchwitness,
spouse,parents,orchildren;
 (5)Anyphysician,surgeon,nurse,health
officerordruggistwhotookcareofthe
testatorduringhislastillness;
(6)Individuals,associationsand
corporationsnotpermittedbylawto
inherit.(745,752,753,754a)
Article1028.Theprohibitionsmentionedinarticle
739,concerningdonationsintervivosshallapplyto
testamentaryprovisions.(n)
Article1029.Shouldthetestatordisposeofthe
wholeorpartofhispropertyforprayersandpious
worksforthebenefitofhissoul,ingeneralterms
andwithoutspecifyingitsapplication,theexecutor,
withthecourt'sapprovalshalldeliveronehalf
thereoforitsproceedstothechurchor
denominationtowhichthetestatormaybelong,to
beusedforsuchprayersandpiousworks,andthe
otherhalftotheState,forthepurposesmentioned
inarticle1013.(747a)
Article1030.Testamentaryprovisionsinfavorof
thepooringeneral,withoutdesignationof
particularpersonsorofanycommunity,shallbe
deemedlimitedtothepoorlivinginthedomicileof
thetestatoratthetimeofhisdeath,unlessit
shouldclearlyappearthathisintentionwas
otherwise.
Thedesignationofthepersonswhoaretobe
consideredaspoorandthedistributionofthe
propertyshallbemadebythepersonappointedby
thetestatorforthepurpose;indefaultofsuch
person,bytheexecutor,andshouldtherebeno
executor,bythejusticeofthepeace,themayor,and
themunicipaltreasurer,whoshalldecidebya
majorityofvotesallquestionsthatmayarise.Inall
thesecases,theapprovaloftheCourtofFirst
Instanceshallbenecessary.
Theprecedingparagraphshallapplywhenthe
testatorhasdisposedofhispropertyinfavorofthe
poorofadefinitelocality.(749a)
Article1031.Atestamentaryprovisioninfavorof
adisqualifiedperson,eventhoughmadeunderthe
guiseofanonerouscontract,ormadethroughan
intermediary,shallbevoid.(755)
Article1032.Thefollowingareincapableof
succeedingbyreasonofunworthiness:
(1)Parentswhohaveabandonedtheir
childrenorinducedtheirdaughterstolead
acorruptorimmorallife,orattempted
againsttheirvirtue;
(2)Anypersonwhohasbeenconvictedof
anattemptagainstthelifeofthetestator,
hisorherspouse,descendants,or
ascendants;
(3)Anypersonwhohasaccusedthe
testatorofacrimeforwhichthelaw
prescribesimprisonmentforsixyearsor
more,iftheaccusationhasbeenfound
groundless;
(4)Anyheiroffullagewho,having
knowledgeoftheviolentdeathofthe
testator,shouldfailtoreportittoan
officerofthelawwithinamonth,unless
theauthoritieshavealreadytakenaction;
thisprohibitionshallnotapplytocases
wherein,accordingtolaw,thereisno
obligationtomakeanaccusation;
(5)Anypersonconvictedofadulteryor
concubinagewiththespouseofthe
testator;
(6)Anypersonwhobyfraud,violence,
intimidation,orundueinfluenceshould
causethetestatortomakeawillorto
changeonealreadymade;
(7)Anypersonwhobythesamemeans
preventsanotherfrommakingawill,or
fromrevokingonealreadymade,orwho
supplants,conceals,oraltersthelatter's
will;
(8)Anypersonwhofalsifiesorforgesa
supposedwillofthedecedent.(756,673,
674a)
Article1033.Thecauseofunworthinessshallbe
withouteffectifthetestatorhadknowledgethereof
atthetimehemadethewill,orif,havingknownof
themsubsequently,heshouldcondonethemin
writing.(757a)
Article1034.Inordertojudgethecapacityofthe
heir,deviseeorlegatee,hisqualificationatthe
timeofthedeathofthedecedentshallbethe
criterion.
IncasesfallingunderNos.2,3,or5ofarticle1032,
itshallbenecessarytowaituntilfinaljudgmentis
rendered,andinthecasefallingunderNo.4,the
expirationofthemonthallowedforthereport.
Iftheinstitution,deviseorlegacyshouldbe
conditional,thetimeofthecompliancewiththe
conditionshallalsobeconsidered.(758a)
Article1035.Ifthepersonexcludedfromthe
inheritancebyreasonofincapacityshouldbea
childordescendantofthedecedentandshould
havechildrenordescendants,thelattershall
acquirehisrighttothelegitime.
Thepersonsoexcludedshallnotenjoytheusufruct
andadministrationofthepropertythusinherited
byhischildren.(761a)
Article1036.Alienationsofhereditaryproperty,
andactsofadministrationperformedbythe
excludedheir,beforethejudicialorderofexclusion,
arevalidastothethirdpersonswhoactedingood
faith;butthecoheirsshallhavearighttorecover
damagesfromthedisqualifiedheir.(n)
Article1037.Theunworthyheirwhoisexcluded
fromthesuccessionhasarighttodemand
indemnityoranyexpensesincurredinthe
preservationofthehereditaryproperty,andto
enforcesuchcreditsashemayhaveagainstthe
estate.(n)
Article1038.Anypersonincapableofsuccession,
who,disregardingtheprohibitionstatedinthe
precedingarticles,enteredintothepossessionof
thehereditaryproperty,shallbeobligedtoreturn
ittogetherititsaccessions.
Heshallbeliableforallthefruitsandrentshe
mayhavereceived,orcouldhavereceivedthrough
theexerciseofduediligence.(760a)
Article1039.Capacitytosucceedisgovernedby
thelawofthenationofthedecedent.(n)
Article1040.Theactionforadeclarationof
incapacityandfortherecoveryoftheinheritance,
deviseorlegacyshallbebroughtwithinfiveyears
fromthetimethedisqualifiedpersontook
possessionthereof.Itmaybebroughtbyanyone
whomayhaveaninterestinthesuccession.(762a)
SECTION3
AcceptanceandRepudiationofthe
Inheritance
Article1041.Theacceptanceorrepudiationofthe
inheritanceisanactwhichispurelyvoluntaryand
free.(988)
Article1042.Theeffectsoftheacceptanceor
repudiationshallalwaysretroacttothemomentof
thedeathofthedecedent.(989)
Article1043.Nopersonmayacceptorrepudiate
aninheritanceunlessheiscertainofthedeathof
thepersonfromwhomheistoinherit,andofhis
righttotheinheritance.(991)
Article1044.Anypersonhavingthefreedisposal
ofhispropertymayacceptorrepudiatean
inheritance.
Anyinheritancelefttominorsorincapacitated
personsmaybeacceptedbytheirparentsor
guardians.Parentsorguardiansmayrepudiatethe
inheritancelefttotheirwardsonlybyjudicial
authorization.
Therighttoacceptaninheritancelefttothepoor
shallbelongtothepersonsdesignatedbythe
testatortodeterminethebeneficiariesand
distributetheproperty,orintheirdefault,tothose
mentionedinarticle1030.(992a)
Article1045.Thelawfulrepresentativesof
corporations,associations,institutionsandentities
qualifiedtoacquirepropertymayacceptany
inheritancelefttothelatter,butinorderto
repudiateit,theapprovalofthecourtshallbe
necessary.(993a)
Article1046.Publicofficialestablishmentscan
neitheracceptnorrepudiateaninheritance
withouttheapprovalofthegovernment.(994)
Article1047.Amarriedwomanofagemay
repudiateaninheritancewithouttheconsentofher
husband.(995a)
Article1048.Deafmuteswhocanreadandwrite
mayacceptorrepudiatetheinheritancepersonally
orthroughanagent.Shouldtheynotbeableto
readandwrite,theinheritanceshallbeacceptedby
theirguardians.Theseguardiansmayrepudiate
thesamewithjudicialapproval.(996a)
Article1049.Acceptancemaybeexpressortacit.
Anexpressacceptancemustbemadeinapublicor
privatedocument.
Atacitacceptanceisoneresultingfromactsby
whichtheintentiontoacceptisnecessarilyimplied,
orwhichonewouldhavenorighttodoexceptin
thecapacityofanheir.
Actsofmerepreservationorprovisional
administrationdonotimplyanacceptanceofthe
inheritanceif,throughsuchacts,thetitleor
capacityofanheirhasnotbeenassumed.(999a)
Article1050.Aninheritanceisdeemedaccepted:
(1)Iftheheirssells,donates,orassignshis
righttoastranger,ortohiscoheirs,orto
anyofthem;
(2)Iftheheirrenouncesthesame,even
thoughgratuitously,forthebenefitofone
ormoreofhiscoheirs;
(3)Ifherenouncesitforapriceinfavorof
allhiscoheirsindiscriminately;butifthis
renunciationshouldbegratuitous,andthe
coheirsinwhosefavoritismadearethose
uponwhomtheportionrenouncedshould
devolvebyvirtueofaccretion,the
inheritanceshallnotbedeemedas
accepted.(1000)
Article1051.Therepudiationofaninheritance
shallbemadeinapublicorauthenticinstrument,
orbypetitionpresentedtothecourthaving
jurisdictionoverthetestamentaryorintestate
proceedings.(1008)
Article1052.Iftheheirrepudiatestheinheritance
totheprejudiceofhisowncreditors,thelattermay
petitionthecourttoauthorizethemtoacceptitin
thenameoftheheir.
Theacceptanceshallbenefitthecreditorsonlyto
anextentsufficienttocovertheamountoftheir
credits.Theexcess,shouldtherebeany,shallinno
casepertaintotherenouncer,butshallbe
adjudicatedtothepersonstowhom,inaccordance
withtherulesestablishedinthisCode,itmay
belong.(1001)
Article1053.Iftheheirshoulddiewithouthaving
acceptedorrepudiatedtheinheritancehisright
shallbetransmittedtohisheirs.(1006)
Article1054.Shouldtherebeseveralheirscalled
totheinheritance,someofthemmayacceptand
theothersmayrepudiateit.(1007a)
Article1055.Ifaperson,whoiscalledtothesame
inheritanceasanheirbywillandabintestato,
repudiatestheinheritanceinhiscapacityasa
testamentaryheir,heisunderstoodtohave
repudiateditinbothcapacities.
Shouldherepudiateitasanintestateheir,without
knowledgeofhisbeingatestamentaryheir,hemay
stillacceptitinthelattercapacity.(1009)
Article1056.Theacceptanceorrepudiationofan
inheritance,oncemade,isirrevocable,andcannot
beimpugned,exceptwhenitwasmadethrough
anyofthecausesthatvitiateconsent,orwhenan
unknownwillappears.(997)
Article1057.Withinthirtydaysafterthecourt
hasissuedanorderforthedistributionofthe
estateinaccordancewiththeRulesofCourt,the
heirs,deviseesandlegateesshallsignifytothe
courthavingjurisdictionwhethertheyacceptor
repudiatetheinheritance.
Iftheydonotdosowithinthattime,theyare
deemedtohaveacceptedtheinheritance.(n)
Inrelationto
Article1178.Subjecttothelaws,allrights
acquiredinvirtueofanobligationare
transmissible,iftherehasbeenno
stipulationtothecontrary.(1112)
Article1311.Contractstakeeffectonly
betweentheparties,theirassignsand
heirs,exceptincasewheretherightsand
obligationsarisingfromthecontractare
nottransmissiblebytheirnature,orby
stipulationorbyprovisionoflaw.Theheir
isnotliablebeyondthevalueofthe
propertyhereceivedfromthedecedent.
Ifacontractshouldcontainsome
stipulationinfavorofathirdperson,he
maydemanditsfulfillmentprovidedhe
communicatedhisacceptancetothe
obligorbeforeitsrevocation.Amere
incidentalbenefitorinterestofapersonis
notsufficient.Thecontractingparties
musthaveclearlyanddeliberately
conferredafavoruponathirdperson.
(1257a)
Article1347.Allthingswhicharenot
outsidethecommerceofmen,including
futurethings,maybetheobjectofa
contract.Allrightswhicharenot
intransmissiblemayalsobetheobjectof
contracts.
Nocontractmaybeenteredintoupon
futureinheritanceexceptincases
expresslyauthorizedbylaw.
Allserviceswhicharenotcontrarytolaw,
morals,goodcustoms,publicorderor
publicpolicymaylikewisebetheobjectof
acontract.(1271a)
Article1429.Whenatestateorintestate
heirvoluntarilypaysadebtofthe
 decedentexceedingthevalueofthe
propertywhichhereceivedbywillorby
thelawofintestacyfromtheestateofthe
deceased,thepaymentisvalidandcannot
berescindedbythepayer.
E. Lawgoverningformandcontent
Article16.Realpropertyaswellaspersonal
propertyissubjecttothelawofthecountrywhere
itisstipulated.
However,intestateandtestamentarysuccessions,
bothwithrespecttotheorderofsuccessionandto
theamountofsuccessionalrightsandtothe
intrinsicvalidityoftestamentaryprovisions,shall
beregulatedbythenationallawoftheperson
whosesuccessionisunderconsideration,whatever
maybethenatureofthepropertyandregardlessof
thecountrywhereinsaidpropertymaybefound.
(10a)
Article17.Theformsandsolemnitiesofcontracts,
wills,andotherpublicinstrumentsshallbe
governedbythelawsofthecountryinwhichthey
areexecuted.
Whentheactsreferredtoareexecutedbeforethe
diplomaticorconsularofficialsoftheRepublicof
thePhilippinesinaforeigncountry,thesolemnities
establishedbyPhilippinelawsshallbeobservedin
theirexecution.
Prohibitivelawsconcerningpersons,theiractsor
property,andthosewhichhavefortheirobject
publicorder,publicpolicyandgoodcustomsshall
notberenderedineffectivebylawsorjudgments
promulgated,orbydeterminationsorconventions
agreeduponinaforeigncountry.(11a)
Article795.Thevalidityofawillastoitsform
dependsupontheobservanceofthelawinforceat
thetimeitismade.(n)
Article810.Apersonmayexecuteaholographic
willwhichmustbeentirelywritten,dated,and
signedbythehandofthetestatorhimself.Itis
subjecttonootherform,andmaybemadeinorout
ofthePhilippines,andneednotbewitnessed.(678,
688a)
Article815.WhenaFilipinoisinaforeign
country,heisauthorizedtomakeawillinanyof
theformsestablishedbythelawofthecountryin
whichhemaybe.Suchwillmaybeprobatedinthe
Philippines.(n)
Article816.Thewillofanalienwhoisabroad
produceseffectinthePhilippinesifmadewiththe
formalitiesprescribedbythelawoftheplacein
whichheresides,oraccordingtotheformalities
observedinhiscountry,orinconformitywiththose
whichthisCodeprescribes.(n)
Article817.AwillmadeinthePhilippinesbya
citizenorsubjectofanothercountry,whichis
executedinaccordancewiththelawofthecountry
ofwhichheisacitizenorsubject,andwhichmight
beprovedandallowedbythelawofhisown
country,shallhavethesameeffectasifexecuted
accordingtothelawsofthePhilippines.(n)
Article818.Twoormorepersonscannotmakea
willjointly,orinthesameinstrument,eitherfor
theirreciprocalbenefitorforthebenefitofathird
person.(669)
Article819.Wills,prohibitedbythepreceding
article,executedbyFilipinosinaforeigncountry
shallnotbevalidinthePhilippines,eventhough
authorizedbythelawsofthecountrywherethey
mayhavebeenexecuted.(733a)
Article2263.Rightstotheinheritanceofaperson
whodied,withorwithoutawill,beforethe
effectivityofthisCode,shallbegovernedbythe
CivilCodeof1889,byotherpreviouslaws,andby
theRulesofCourt.Theinheritanceofthosewho,
withorwithoutawill,dieafterthebeginningofthe
effectivityofthisCode,shallbeadjudicatedand
distributedinaccordancewiththisnewbodyof
lawsandbytheRulesofCourt;butthe
testamentaryprovisionsshallbecarriedoutinsofar
astheymaybepermittedbythisCode.Therefore,
legitimes,betterments,legaciesandbequestsshall
berespected;however,theiramountshallbe
reducedifinnoothermannercanevery
compulsoryheirbegivenhisfullshareaccordingto
thisCode.(Rule12a)
II. TESTAMENTARY SUCCESSION