Wills -1 Digests

"WAR KIDS"

89). The reason is that whatever payment is thus made from the state is ultimately a

Laura Alvarez v. Intermediate Appellate Court, Jesus Yanes, et al.(grandchildren of

payment by the heirs or distributees, since the amount of the paid claim in fact diminishes

the deadz sila) G.R. No. L-68053; May 7, 1990

or reduces the shares that the heirs would have been entitled to receive.( Estate of

Facts:

Hemady v. Luzon Surety)

Aniceto was survived by his children Rufino, Felipe and Teodora. The PRs are the children

Petitioners being the heirs of the late Rosendo Alvarez, they cannot escape the

of Rufino. Ani left his children lots 773 and 823. Rufino and his children left the during

legal consequences of their father's transaction, which gave rise to the present claim for

WW2. After liberation, they found out that lot 773 was in the possession of Santiago,

damages. That petitioners did not inherit the property involved herein is of no moment

Fuentebella, and Alvarez. Record shows that TCTs covering lot 773-A;B were already

because by legal fiction, the monetary equivalent thereof devolved into the mass of their

issued to Santiago. Santi sold the lots to Fuente. When Fuente died, his wife sold the lots to

father's hereditary estate, and we have ruled that the hereditary assets are always liable in

Rosendo Alvarez.

their totality for the payment of the debts of the estate. It must, however, be made clear

PRs filed a complaint against Santi, Fuente, Alvarez, and the RD of Negros for the return of

that petitioners are liable only to the extent of the value of their inheritance.

the ownership and possession of lots 773 and 823. During the pendency of the case, Alva sold the lots to Dr. Siason. Meanwhile, in 1962, Jesus executed a quitclaim in favor of defendant. However, in 1963, the CFI rendered a decision in favor of PRs.(Civil case 5022 Note: pets did not file an appeal in this dec.) Decision cannot be executed coz 733 was already registered in the name of Siason. The cadastral court initially ordered Siason to produce his TCTs. Afterwards, the court nullified its previous order coz Siason was in GF and without knowledge. The PRs filed an ex-parte motion for the issuance of an alias writ of exec. The court ruled that the judgment cannot be enforced bec. Siason was not a party in the case. Another action was filed by the PRs for the recov of the land plus damages and prutas. The pets raised res judicata, prescription and estoppel in their answer.The lower court ruled in favor of the PRs. It ruled that equity demanded that the PRs recover the actual value of the land bec. the sale was executed without court approval. The appellate court affirmed the TCs decision. MR also denied. Wills Issue: WON the obligation of deceased Alvarez(he died already) to pay the PRs could be legally transmitted and passed down to his legitimate children and heirs. Ruling: *Civil Case 5022 is already the law of the case because pets failed to file an appeal. Said decision had long become final and executory. SC is already powerless to review the decision. Yes. The binding effect of contracts upon the heirs of the deceased party is not altered by the provision of our Rules of Court that money debts of a deceased must be liquidated and paid from his estate before the residue is distributed among said heirs (Rule Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

“DEL MONTE”

“SALE IN PROBATE”

Bienvenido Gevero v. Intermediate Appellate Court and Del Monte Development

Natalia Opulencia v. Court of Appeals, Aladin Simundac and Miguel Olivan G.R. Mo.

Corporation (DELCOR) G.R. No. 77029; August 30, 1990

125835; July 30, 1998

Facts:

Facts:

DELCOR purchased a lot (lot 2476-A; 20,119 sq met) from the late Luis Lancero. As per

PRs Aladin Simundac and Miguel Oliven filed a complaint for specific performance again Natalia

Deed of Absolute Sale exec in favor of DELCOR, a TCT was issued. Luis acquired the same

Carpena Opulencia on the ground that the latter executed in their favor a 'contract to sell' of lot 2125.

parcel of land from Ricardo Gevero(1952). The sale bet Luis and Ricardo waqs annotated

The defendant, despite demands, failed to comply with her obligations under the contract. The

at the back of an OCT covering a mother lot(lot no. 2476) in the names of Ricardo, his mother Teodorica and his siblings. Teodorica died long before WW2. In 1966, an extra-judicial settlement and partition was

defendant averred that the property subject of the contract formed part of the Estate of Demetrio Carpena, in respect of which a petition for probate was filed with the RTC of Binan. The court ordered the parties to submit their evidence. Pet, instead of submitting evid, filed a demurrer. Moreover, the pet maintained that the contract was null and void for want of approval of the probate court.

executed by the heirs of Teo. Lot 2476 was adjudicated in favor of Ricardo who was then

Meanwhile, the court a quo granted the demurrer and dismissed the complaint. On appeal, the

alive. DELCOR filed an action with the CFI of Misamis Oriental to quiet title and/or annul

appellate court set aside hte trial court's dismissal of the complaint.

the partition made by the heirs insofar as the same prejudices the land which it acquired.

Issue:

After trial court rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff corporation. The appellate court

WON a contract to sell a real property involved in estate proceedings valid and binding without the

affirmed the decision.

approval of the probate court.

Wills Issue: WON the 1/2 share of interest of Teodorica in one of the litigated lots is included in the deed of sale. Ruling: Yezz. The hereditary share in a decedents' estate is transmitted or vested immediately from the moment of the death of the "causante" or predecessor in interest (Art. 777), and there is no legal bar to a successor disposing of his hereditary share immediately after such death, even if the actual extent of such share is not determined until the subsequent liquidation of the estate. Teodorica Babangha died long before World War II, hence, the rights to the succession were transmitted from the moment of her death. It is therefore incorrect to state that it was only in 1966, the date of extrajudicial partition, when Ricardo received his share in the lot as inheritance from his mother Teodorica. Thus, when Ricardo sold his share over lot 2476 that share which he inherited from Teodorica was also included unless expressly excluded in the deed of sale.

Ruling: Yezz naman. Hereditary rights are vested in the heir or heirs from the moment of the decedent's death. Petitioner, therefore, became the owner of her hereditary share the moment her father died. Thus, the lack of judicial approval does not invalidate the Contract to Sell, because the petitioner has the substantive right to sell the whole or a part of her share in the estate of her late father. Petitioner contends that "[t]o sanction the sale at this stage would bring about a partial distribution of the decedent's estate pending the final termination of the testate proceedings." Petitioner's contention is not convincing. The Contract to Sell stipulates that petitioner's offer to sell is contingent on the "complete clearance of the court on the Last Will Testament of her father." Consequently, although the Contract to Sell was perfected between the petitioner and private respondents during the pendency of the probate proceedings, the consummation of the sale or the transfer of ownership over the parcel of land to the private respondents is subject to the full payment of the purchase price and to the termination and outcome of the testate proceedings. Therefore, there is no basis for petitioner's apprehension that the Contract to Sell may result in a premature partition and distribution of the properties of the estate. Indeed, it is settled that "the sale made by an heir of his share in an inheritance, subject to the pending administration, in no wise stands in the way of such administration."

Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

“FISHING PARTNERSHIP”

commence any action originally pertaining to the decedent. From the moment of his death,

Emilio Emnace v. Court of Appeals and the Estate of Vicente Tabanao (plus heirs)

his rights as a partner and to demand fulfillment of petitioner’s obligations as outlined in

G.R. No. 126334; November 23, 2001

their dissolution agreement were transmitted to respondents. They, therefore, had the

Facts:

capacity to sue and seek the court’s intervention to compel petitioner to fulfill his

Pets Emnace, Tabanao and Divigranacia were partners in a business known as Ma. Nelma

obligations.

Fishing Industry. Sometime in January 1986, they decided to dissolve their partnership and exec an agreement of partition and distribution. Throughout the existence of the

Belinda Taredo v. Court of Appeals

partnership, and even after Tabanao's death, pet failed to submit to Taba's heirs any

G.R. No. 104482; January 22, 1996

financial statements. Pet also reneged on his promise to turn over the 1/3 share in the total

Facts:

assets of the partnership to the heirs. PRs(heris) filed an action for accounting, payment of

On October 20, 1962, Lazardo Tanedo executed a notarized deed of absolute sale of “one

shares, division of assets and damages.

hectare of whatever share I shall have over Lot No. 191" in favor of his eldest brother and

Pet filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on the grounds of improp venue, lack of juris

his wife (Ricardo and Teresita PRs). Upon hte death of his father, Lazaro executed an

and lack of capacity of the estate of Tabano to sue. The trial court denied the motion to

"Affidavit of Conformity" to reaffirm, respect and acknowledge the sale in favor or PRs.

dismiss. The trial court held that the heirs of Tabano had a right to sue in their own names,

Lazaro executed another notarized deed of sale on favor of PRs covering 1/12 of a Lot 191.

in view of the provision of Art. 777 of the CC.

Ricardo learned taht Lazaro sold the same lot to his children. PRs recorded the deed in the

Issue:

RD. Pets filed a complaint for rescission executed by Lazaro in favor of the PRs. The trial

Legal capacity of the surviving spouse of Tabano to sue.

court decided in favor of PRs. The CA affirmed the decision of the trial court.

Ruling:

Issue:

Yezz naman. petitioner asserts that the surviving spouse of Vicente Tabanao has no legal

WON the sale of future inheritance is valid.

capacity to sue since she was never appointed as administratrix or executrix of his estate.

Ruling:

Petitioner’s objection in this regard is misplaced. The surviving spouse does not need to

Yez syempre duh! Read Art. 1347..

be appointed as executrix or administratrix of the estate before she can file the action. She

A second deed of sale was executed in favor of private respondents covering Lazaro's

and her children are complainants in their own right as successors of Vicente Tabanao.

undivided inheritance dated 1982, so nevermind the previous deed ya know. The deed of

From the very moment of Vicente Tabanao’s death, his rights insofar as the partnership

sale in favor of respondents was executed in 1980. However, according to Art. 1544 of the

was concerned were transmitted to his heirs, for rights to the succession are transmitted

CC: “Art. 1544. If the same thing should have been sold to different vendees, the ownership

from the moment of death of the decedent.

shall be transferred to the person who may have first taken possession thereof in good

Whatever claims and rights Vicente Tabanao had against the partnership and petitioner

faith, if it should be movable property.

were transmitted to respondents by operation of law, more particularly by succession,

Should it be immovable property, the ownership shall belong to the person acquiring it

which is a mode of acquisition by virtue of which the property, rights and obligations to

who in good faith first recorded it in the Registry of Property.

the extent of the value of the inheritance of a person are transmitted. Moreover,

The property in question is land, an immovable, and following the above-quoted law,

respondents became owners of their respective hereditary shares from the moment

ownership shall belong to the buyer who in good faith registers it first in the registry of

Vicente Tabanao died.

property. Thus, although the deed of sale in favor of private respondents was later than the

A prior settlement of the estate, or even the appointment of Salvacion Tabanao as

one in favor of petitioners, ownership would vest in the former because of the undisputed

executrix or administratrix, is not necessary for any of the heirs to acquire legal capacity to

fact of registration. On the other hand, petitioners have not registered the sale to them at

sue. As successors who stepped into the shoes of their decedent upon his death, they can

all. Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

“BICOLANONG HACIENDERO”

nieces, an intent to circumvent the law in violation of the private respondents' rights to her

Mariano B. Locsin v. Court of Appeals

succession. Said respondents are not her compulsory heirs, and it is not pretended that she

G.R. No. 89783; February 19, 1992

had any such, hence there were no legitimes that could conceivably be impaired by any

Facts:

transfer of her property during her lifetime. All that the respondents had was an

Mariano inherited extensive property from his father Getulio. He brought his inheritance

expectancy that in nowise restricted her freedom to dispose of even her entire estate

into his marriage with Catalina Jaucian. Catalina, for her part, brought into the marriage

subject only to the limitation set forth in Art. 750, Civil Code which, even if it were

untitled properties which she had inherited form her parents.

breached, the respondents may not invoke.

Mariano Locsin executed a last will and testament instituting his wife as the sole and universal heir of all his properties. The spouses being childless, they had agreed that their properties, after both of them shall have died should revert to their respective sides of the family. After Mariano's death, (1948) his will was probated without opposition from both sides of the family. Nine years after the death of Don Mariano, Catalina began transferring, by sale, donation or assignment, Mariano's as well as her own, props to their respective nephews and nieces. Catalina died in 1977. Four years before her death, she made a will affirming the transfers she made. Six years after her demise, some of Catalina's nephews and nieces filed an action in the RTC of Legaspi to recover the properties which she had conveyed to the Locsins, alleging that the conveyances were innoficious, without consideration, and intended solely to circumvent the laws on succession. After the trial, judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiffs. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision. Issue: WON the PRs are entitled to inherit the properties which Catalina had already disposed of more than 10 yrs before her death. Ruling: No. The properties did not form part of her hereditaty estate. The rights to a person's succession are transmitted from the moment of his death, and do not vest in his heirs until such time. 11 Property which Doña Catalina had transferred or conveyed to other persons during her lifetime no longer formed part of her estate at the time of her death to which her heirs may lay claim. Had she died intestate, only the property that remained in her estate at the time of her death devolved to her legal heirs; and even if those transfers were, one and all, treated as donations, the right arising under certain circumstances to impugn and compel the reduction or revocation of a decedent's gifts inter vivos does not inure to the respondents since neither they nor the donees are compulsory (or forced) heirs. There is thus no basis for assuming an intention on the part of Doña Catalina, in transferring the properties she had received from her late husband to his nephews and Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

“CODICIL”

respondent has a cause of action against petitioner and the trial court erred in dismissing

Johny Rabadilla v. Court of Appeals

the complaint below.

G.R. No, 113725; June 29, 2000 Facts:

Modal Institutions::*Petitioner also theorizes that Article 882 of the New Civil Code on

Testator Aleja Belleza appended a codicil to his last will and testament wherein he

modal institutions is not applicable because what the testatrix intended was a substitution

instituted Dr. Jorge Rabadilla as a devisee of 511, 855 sq meters of a parcel of land in

- the contention is without merit. In simple substitutions, the second heir takes the

Bacolod. Devisee herein is the predecessor-in-interest of the petitioner. The codicil was

inheritance in default of the first heir by reason of incapacity, predecease or renunciation.

duly probated and admitted before the CFI of Negros Occidental.

[14] In the case under consideration, the provisions of subject Codicil do not provide that

The codicil stated that should the devisee die ahead of the testator, the property and rights

should Dr. Jorge Rabadilla default due to predecease, incapacity or renunciation, the

shall be inherited by his children and spouse. The codicil also required Rabadilla to deliver

testatrix's near descendants would substitute him. What the Codicil provides is that,

75 piculs of export sugar and 25 piculs of domestic sugar to Maria Marlina Cosculuella y

should Dr. Jorge Rabadilla or his heirs not fulfill the conditions imposed in the Codicil, the

Belleza, and should he die, his heir shall have the same obligation. Lastly, in the event that

property referred to shall be seized and turned over to the testatrix's near descendants.

the devisee or his heir shall later sell, lease, mortgage the said lot, the buyer, lessee, mortgagee shall also have the obligation to deliver the piculs. Dr. Rabadilla died in 1983 and was survived by his wife and children (pet). In 1989, Maria Marlena brought a complaint against the heirs to enforce the provisions of the codicil and to revert the ownership to the heirs of the testator. The RTC dismissed the complaint. The appellate court reversed the decision of the trial court.. Ruling: Yes. Petitioner maintains that Article 882 does not find application as there was no modal institution and the testatrix intended a mere simple substitution. Under Article 776 of the New Civil Code, inheritance includes all the property, rights and obligations of a person, not extinguished by his death. Conformably, whatever rights Dr. Jorge Rabadilla had by virtue of subject Codicil were transmitted to his forced heirs, at the time of his death. And since obligations not extinguished by death also form part of the estate of the decedent; corollarily, the obligations imposed by the Codicil on the deceased Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, were likewise transmitted to his compulsory heirs upon his death. In the said Codicil, testatrix Aleja Belleza devised Lot No. 1392 to Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, subject to the condition that the usufruct thereof would be delivered to the herein private respondent every year. Upon the death of Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, his compulsory heirs succeeded to his rights and title over the said property, and they also assumed his (decedent's) obligation to deliver the fruits of the lot involved to herein private respondent. Such obligation of the instituted heir reciprocally corresponds to the right of private respondent over the usufruct, the fulfillment or performance of which is now being demanded by the latter through the institution of the case at bar. Therefore, private Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

“BILIHAN NG LUPA”

“SINUMPAANG SALAYSAY”

Sps Virgilio Santos and Esperanza Lati Santos v. Sps. Jose Lumbao and Proserfina

NHA v. Segunda Almeida, CA

Lumbao; G.R. No. 169129; March 28, 2007

G.R. No. 162784; June 22, 2007

Facts:

Facts:

Herein pets are the legitimate and surviving heirs of the late Rita Catoc Santos, who died

The Land Tenure Administration awarded to Margarita Herrera several portions of land in

on October 20, 195. The other pets are the daughters-in-law of Rita. The respondents are

San Pedro, Laguna. She had two children, Francisca and Beatriz(she died before her mom;

the alleged owners of a lot, which they purportedly bought from on two occasions. On the

mother of PR). When Margarita passed away, Francisca executed a deed of self-

first occasion, Rita sold 100 square meters of her inchoate share in her mother’s estate

adjudication claiming that she was the only remaining relative of Margarita. The deed of

through a document denominated as "Bilihan ng Lupa,” Before her death, Rita allegedly

was based on a 'Sinumpaang Salaysay' allegedly executed by Margarita. The surviving

informed the respondents that she could not deliver the title to the subject prop because

heirs of Beatriz filed a case for annulment of the deed. A decision was rendered and the

the entire property inherited by her had not yet been partitioned. The PRs claimed that

deed was declared null and void. During the trial, Francisca filed an application with the

pets adjudicated and partitioned the subject property already sold to them. They filed a

NHA to purchase the same lots. The NHA granted the application.

formal demand letter but pets still failed and refused to reconvey the subject property. The

The PR appealed to the Office of the President. The NHA reso was affirmed.

trial court denied the complaint. The CA reversed the decision. MR denied.

When Francisca died, her heirs executed an extrajudicial settlement of her estate which

Issue:

they submitted to the NHA. The transfer of rights was approved by the NHA. The heirs of

WON herein pets are legally bound to comply with the "Bilihan ng Lupa" and consequently,

Francisca directed PR to leave the premises that she was occupying.

reconvey the subject property to herein respondents.

Feeling aggrieved, PR sought the cancellation of the titles issued in favor of the heirs of

Ruling:

Francisca. She filed a complaint in the RTC of San Pedro, Laguna. She invoked her 40 year

The general rule that heirs are bound by contracts entered into by their predecessors-in-

occupation of the property and re-raised the fact that Francisca's declaration is a nullity

interest applies in the present case. Article 131132 of the NCC is the basis of this rule. It is

because the other heirs were disregarded. The RTC dismissed the case for lack of

clear from the said provision that whatever rights and obligations the decedent have over

jurisdiction. The CA reversed the decision and remanded the case for further hearing.

the property were transmitted to the heirs by way of succession, a mode of acquiring the

The RTC rendered a decision setting aside the resolution of the NHA and the decision of

property, rights and obligations of the decedent to the extent of the value of the

the Office of the President. The Regional Trial Court ruled that the "Sinumpaang Salaysay"

inheritance of the heirs. Thus, the heirs cannot escape the legal consequence of a

was not an assignment of rights but a disposition of property which shall take effect upon

transaction entered into by their predecessor-in-interest because they have inherited the

death. It then held that the said document must first be submitted to probate before it can

property subject to the liability affecting their common ancestor. Being heirs, there is

transfer property.

privity of interest between them and their deceased mother. They only succeed to what

The NHA and the heirs of Francisca filed their respective motions which were both denied.

rights their mother had and what is valid and binding against her is also valid and binding

The CA affirmed the decision of the trial court.

as against them. The death of a party does not excuse nonperformance of a contract which involves a property right and the rights and obligations thereunder pass to the personal

Issue:

representatives of the deceased. Similarly, nonperformance is not excused by the death of

WON the decision of NHA is arbitrary.

the party when the other party has a property interest in the subject matter of the contract. In the end, despite the death of the petitioners’ mother, they are still bound to

Ruling:

comply with the provisions of the "Bilihan ng Lupa,".

Yes. The NHA gave due course to the application made by Francisca Herrera without considering that the initial applicant's death would transfer all her property, rights and Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932

obligations to the estate including whatever interest she has or may have had over the disputed properties. To the extent of the interest that the original owner had over the property, the same should go to her estate. Margarita Herrera had an interest in the property and that interest should go to her estate upon her demise so as to be able to properly distribute them later to her heirs—in accordance with a will or by operation of law. When the original buyer died, the NHA should have considered the estate of the decedent as the next "person" likely to stand in to fulfill the obligation to pay the rest of the purchase price. The opposition of other heirs to the repurchase by Francisca Herrera should have put the NHA on guard as to the award of the lots. Further, the Decision in the said Civil Case No. B-1263 (questioning the Deed of Self-Adjudication) which rendered the deed therein null and void should have alerted the NHA that there are other heirs to the interests and properties of the decedent who may claim the property after a testate or intestate proceeding is concluded. The NHA therefore acted arbitrarily in the award of the lots.

Octaviano, Clarence ∑β 1932