The settlement of a person’s estate after his/her death, based on our experience, is potentially one of the more bitter litigations. It’s never good to see relatives fighting each other. Some persons, with the intent of controlling the disposition of his/her properties after his/her death (and hopefully prevent fighting among his/her heirs over the properties left), prepare a “last will and testament”. Let’s have a brief discussion on this matter.
I. “LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT”
A “last will and testament,” or simply a “will,” is “an act whereby a person is permitted, with the formalities prescribed by law, to control to a certain degree the disposition of his estate”. It is a document whereby a person, called the “testator,” disposes of his/her properties or “estate,” to take effect upon his/her death.
The “testator” is the deceased person who made a last will and testament.
The person who is given PERSONAL property through a will is technically called the “legatee,” while the person who is given REAL property in a will is called the “devisee.”
The person named in the will who is entrusted to implement its provisions is called the “executor.” If the “executor” is female, she is formally known as the “executrix”.
II. WILL VS. INHERITANCE
A “will” is different from “inheritance”. A will is different from inheritance, which “includes all the property, rights and obligations of a person which are not extinguished by his death” (Civil Code, Art. 776). In other words, the basic difference between a “will” and “inheritance” is that a “will” is the document that determines the disposition of the “inheritance”.
III. WILLS VS. DONATIONS
A document entitled “last will and testament”, but provides that all properties must be transferred during the lifetime of the testator, is not a “will”. A will takes effect upon death of the testator. If the disposition takes effect before his/her death, it is a donation and is governed by the formalities of and legal provisions on donations.
IV. KINDS OF WILLS
There are two kinds of wills — holographic and notarial. A holographic will must be entirely written, dated, and signed by the hand of the testator himself. It is subject to no other form, and may be made in or out of the Philippines, and need not be witnessed (Article 810, Civil Code; See Holographic Wills: Form, Requirements for Validity and Probate).
On the other hand, a notarial will may be printed, signed by the testator and at least three witnesses, and notarized. [See Notarial Wills: Form and Requirements]
V. ABSENCE OF WILL
A will enables a person to have control over the disposition of his/her estate. In the absence of a will (or if the will is not probated), the general provisions of law govern the disposition of the estate of the deceased person. The proceedings in the absence of a will is called “intestate proceedings.” [See also: Basic Concepts in Estate Proceedings and Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate]
VI. PROBATE
“Probate” is a special proceeding to establish the validity of a will. Probate is mandatory, which means that no will passes either real or personal property unless it is proved and allowed in a proper court. Courts in probate proceedings, as a rule, are limited to pass only upon the extrinsic validity of the will sought to be probated, but the courts are not powerless to do what the situation constrains them to do, and pass upon certain provisions of the will, under exceptional circumstances.
A will may be probated during the lifetime of the testator. This way, the testator could himself/herself affirm the validity of the will.
VII. REPROBATE
It is a special proceeding to establish the validity of a will previously proved in a foreign country.
VIII. DUTY OF THE CUSTODIAN OF A WILL
The person who has custody of the will has the legal obligation to produce it. The practical problem with this is when only a few persons know about the existence of the will and all of them agree not to produce it. This is one of the reasons why some testators sometimes entrust the custody of a will to their lawyers, who are then obligated upon death of said testator to enforce the provisions of his/her will.
In the case of Dy Yieng Sangio vs. Reyes (G.R. Nos. 140371-72 (27 November 2006), a petition for the settlement of the intestate estate was filed. The oppositors argued that the deceased has a holographic will and that the intestate proceedings should be automatically suspended and replaced by the proceedings for the probate of the will. A petition for probate of the holographic will was eventually filed. The Supreme Court ordered the probate of the will and the suspension of the intestate proceedings. According to the SC, it is a fundamental principle that the intent or the will of the testator, expressed in the form and within the limits prescribed by law, must be recognized as the supreme law in succession. All rules of construction are designed to ascertain and give effect to that intention. It is only when the intention of the testator is contrary to law, morals, or public policy that it cannot be given effect.
IX. ERROR IN TITLE OF DOCUMENT
Even if a document is not entitled “last will and testament,” it still can be treated as a will. In the case of Dy Yieng Sangio vs. Reyes, the document is entitled “Kasulatan ng Pag-Aalis ng Mana.” The document, although it may initially come across as a mere disinheritance instrument, conforms to the formalities of a holographic will prescribed by law. It is written, dated and signed by the hand of the testator himself. An intent to dispose mortis causa (upon death) can be clearly deduced from the terms of the instrument, and while it does not make an affirmative disposition of the latter’s property, the disinheritance, nonetheless, is an act of disposition in itself. In other words, the disinheritance results in the disposition of the property of the testator in favor of those who would succeed in the disinherited heir.
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Matagal napo ako na may boss na matandang dalaga. For almost 8 years napo kaming magkasama, sa hirap at mga sakit madami na kaming napagdaan sa buhay. Pero, nauwi ito sa pag mamahal ko sa kanya na tinuring ko ng isang tiyahin. Napahirap po ang wala napo syang mga compulsary heirs. 73 years old napo sya at babae. Wala napo syang ina at ama ito ay yumao napo at kapatid. Sya na lamang ang nag-iisang naiwan sa kanyang pamilya. At dahil dito halos ako na ang kanyang tinuring na pamilya. Ako po ang ang nag-papalago ng kanyang mga kabuhayan sa ngayun at bilang legal representative. Madalas po nya sa akin sinasabi na ikaw ang mag-mamana ng lahat ng itong aking mga ari-arian. Pero ako ay natatakot at madalas nababahala sa aking setwasyun. Sa kadahilanang meron po syang mga pinsan sa father side na first degree cousin na nag-hahabol sa kanyang mga ari-arian. Itatanong ko lang po AKO BA AY MAY KARAPATANG MAG_MANA SA KANYANG WILL NA TANGGAPIN LAHAT NG PROPERTY nya. PANO PO KUNG AKO AY EH CONTEST NG MGA PINSAN SA AMA.
Paanu po gumawa ng will may kasosyo po kami mag asawa s pag ahente po ng hardware matls. ang usapan namin dun share ng 3 katao ang total amount ng pera Kaso po malubha n sakit nya at gusto nya n ung parte nya ay s anak nya mauwi kasi mag naghahabol n kamag anak panu po gagawin s last will nya
Kailangan b ilagay din pangalan at pati amount ng sharing dun sa last will ng ka share namin kahit dun s anak iiwan ung parte nya lang
Hi good afternoon!
I got confused with this statement.. “If the disposition takes effect before his/her death, it is a donation and is governed by the formalities of and legal provisions on donations.” Thus this override the provision in computing estate taxes? As far as I remember this is called transfer in contemplation of death, so thus part of estate tax. The will may not be called “last will and testament”, but not in all cases that the legal provisions on donations will apply.
My dead parents executed a last joint will and testament in 1990. IT was opened in May 2017 when my father died. My mother passed away in 2008. The will was brought out due disagreement on division of inheritance. Both my parents emphasised to my sister n I that the will will be opened should there will be problems of dividing the inheritance if no problems the will need not be taken out. Unfortunately my brother contested our father’s car as to ownership hence the will appeared. Upon investigation we learned that it was not valid since it was a joint will. Are the wishes of parents be disregarded?
Hi good day. Tanong ko lang po kung halimbawa na hindi ako tunay na anak ng parents ko pero sa birth certificate ko po nkasign ang parents ko. Bale pnalabas po na galing tlga ako sa mommy ko am i legally adopted or not? Wala po akong adoption papers kase nga po pinalabas na anak tlg ako ng mommy ko.
Hi
Yung tita ko po byuda na nang mamatay. Bago mamatay sabi nya na nagpa gawa xa nang last will kaso hindi namin alam kung kaninong abogado nya po ito hinabilin. Paano po yun malalaman o mahahanap yun. Also, since yung tita ko po ay walang anak kanino po buh maiiwan ang property nya sa lola po buh namin (nanay nang tita q) o sa mga kapatid nya ( tito,tita at papa ko).
Thanks,
Hi,
I just want to ask what if my great grand parents had a lot of land somewhere in Visayas and they will almost all of it to just one of their children. On my great grand dads end of days they made him put his thumbmark on a document saying that his son will inherit 90% of their properties. Is it even legal to do that? does that even count?
Now that my grandma died and my relatives are confused how come she only has so little land.
Does a thumbmark on a dying day a legal way of disposing hundreds of hectares of land to just one son? and leaving so little to the other children?
thank you.
I have a question. Please answer me
I am an illegitimate child. My mom, half sister and step are in good terms. Now the issue here is I put up 3 units apartment on my mother’s land that she own before they get married. My question is if my mother die without any last will and testament. What will happen to the property I am building now? Thank you
Hi,
i need some help or legal advice po.
Namatay po kasi dad ng half sister ko and ang naiwan na pamana nya eh bahay at lupa. He died due to stroke and inalagaan siya nung last na naging kalive in nya pero wala silang anak and hindi sila kasal. May ginawang parang will yung kalive in nya na kasama yung half sis ko sa will na yun na napirmahan ng dad ni half sis pero hindi msyado clear dhil nga nastroke sya, maythumb mark pa sa paper. Now eh ang problema , after mamatay nung dad ni half sis , napagusapan nila na ibebenta yung bahay at lupa para hati sa pera then 1year ang lumipas eh biglang inaangkin nung last na nakalive in nya yung bahay at lupa at gusto nalang daw bgyan ng konting pera half sis ko which is na hndi ganun pinagusapan nila dati. ang tanong ko po eh pano po yung laban ng half sis ko sa pamana sa kanya ng dad nya and pano iverify if valid yung will or can it be voided and yung pamana ay mapunta sa legit child which is my half sis. Any opinion or answers will be much appreciated. Thanks po and godbless
May kaibigan po ako, may will of testament po na iniwan sa kanya ang mother nya. Nagiisang anak lang siya, sa kanya pinamana ng nanay nya through will ang bahay at lupa nila. Pero nasa Canada po ang friend ko. Inaatasan nya akong ako ang maglakad ng pag ttransfer ng property ng nanay nya to him. Wala siya kasing pinagkakatiwalaan kung hindi ako lang. papano ko po ba uumpisahan at ano po mga requirements pra malakad ko ang pagttransfer ng arian ng mother sa pangalan nya? Ano po ba ang dapat kong gawin?