Special Proceedings Reviewer

PART II
SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS
Rules 72 - 109
Subject Matters of Special Proceedings: CATCH AGED SCRAM (Rules 72 109)

Change of Name
Adoption and Custody of Persons
Trustees
Constitution of Family Home
Medical Commitment of Insane Persons
Absence and Death, Declaration of
Guardianship and Custody of Children
Escheat
(Voluntary) Dissolution of Corporation
Settlement of Estate
Habeas Corpus
(Judicial) Approval of Voluntary Recognition of Minor Natural Children
Rescission and Revocation of Adoption
Cancellation or Correction of Entries in the Civil Registry
Special Proceedings is an application or proceeding to establish the status or right
of a party, or a particular fact, generally commenced by application, petition or
special form of pleading as may be provided for by the particular rule or law.
Special Proceedings is a remedy by which a party seeks to establish a status, a
right, or a particular fact (Sec. 3, Rule 1).
Petition for liquidation of an insolvent corporation is a special proceeding (Ong vs.
PDIC, 08/18/2010).
ELMER P. BRABANTE * REMEDIAL LAW REVIEWER 2016 Page 223

I. SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF DECEASED PERSONS
(Rules 73 91)
Settlement of Estate of Deceased Persons, Venue and Process (Rule 73)

The trial court cannot make a declaration of heirship in the civil action for the reason that
such a declaration can only be made in a special proceeding. The case at bar is an
action for annulment of title, reconveyance with damages, a civil action, whereas
matters which involve the settlement and distribution of the estate of a deceased person
as well as filiation and heirship partake of the nature of a special proceeding, which
requires the application of specific rules as provided for in the Rules of Court. With both
parties claiming to be the heirs of Severo Basbas, it is but proper to thresh out this issue
in a special proceeding, since Crispiniano and respondent Ricardo seeks to establish
his status as one of the heirs entitled to the property in dispute. (Heirs of Valentin
Basbas, GR No. 188773, 09/10/2014).
Which court has jurisdiction
If the decedent is an inhabitant of the Philippines at the time of his death, whether a citizen
or an alien, his will shall be proved, or letters of administration granted, and his estate
settled, in the RTC in the province in which he resides at the time of his death, and if he
is an inhabitant of a foreign country, the RTC of any province in which he had his estate.
The court first taking cognizance of the settlement of the estate of a decedent, shall
exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of all other courts (Sec. 1).
Under RA 7691, the law expanding the jurisdiction of the inferior courts, MTC, MeTC and
MCTC shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction over probate proceedings, testate
and intestate, where the value of the estate does not exceed P300,000 (outside Metro
Manila) or where such estate does not exceed P400,000 (in Metro Manila).
The jurisdiction of the RTC is limited to the settlement and adjudication of properties of the
deceased and cannot extend to collateral matters.
2003 Bar: A, a resident of Malolos, Bulacan, died leaving an estate located in Manila, worth
P200,000. In what court, taking into consideration the nature of jurisdiction and of
venue, should the probate proceeding on the estate of A be instituted?
Answer: The probate proceeding on the estate of A should be instituted in the Municipal
Trial Court of Malolos, Bulacan, which has jurisdiction, because the estate is valued at
P200,000, and is the court of proper venue because A was a resident of Malolos at the
time of his death (Sec. 33, BP 129 as amended by RA 7691; Rule 73, Sec. 1).
Venue in judicial settlement of estate
The residence of the decedent at the time of his death is determinative of the venue of the
proceeding. If he was a resident (inhabitant) of the Philippines, venue is laid exclusively
in the province of his residence, the jurisdiction being vested in the Regional Trial Court
thereof. Residence means his personal, actual, or physical habitation, his actual
residence or place of abode.
It is only where the decedent was a nonresident of the Philippines at the time of his death
that venue lies in any province in which he had estate, and then CFI thereof first taking
cognizance of the proceeding for settlement acquires jurisdiction to the exclusion

of other courts. The question of residence is determinative only of the venue and does
not affect the jurisdiction of the court. Hence, the institution of the proceeding in the
province wherein the decedent neither had residence nor estate does not vitiate the
action of the probate court.
Where the proceedings were instituted in two courts and the question of venue is
seasonably raised, the court in which the proceeding was first filed has exclusive
jurisdiction to resolve the issue (De Borja vs. Tan, 97 Phil. 872).
Extent of jurisdiction of Probate Court
The main function of a probate court is to settle and liquidate the estates of deceased
person either summarily or through the process of administration. The RTC acting a s a
probate court exercises but limited jurisdiction, thus it has no power to take cognizance
of and determine the issue of title to property claimed by a third person adversely to the
decedent unless the claimant and all other parties have legal interest in the property
consent, expressly or impliedly, to the submission of the question to the probate court.
In that case, if the probate court allows the introduction of evidence on ownership it is
for the sole purpose of determining whether the subject properties should be included in
the inventory, which is within the probate courts competence. The determination is only
provisional subject to a proper action at the RTC in a separate action to resolve the title.
The jurisdiction of the probate court merely relates to matters having to do with the
settlement of the estate and the probate of wills, the appointment and removal of
administrators, executors, guardians and trustees. The question of ownership is, as a
rule, an extraneous matter which the probate court cannot resolve with finality (Intestate
Estate of Ismael Reyes, Heirs of Reyes vs. Reyes, GR 139587, Nov. 2, 2000) .
As a general rule, the probate court cannot pass upon the issue of ownership arising during
the probate proceeding, except in the following cases:
When the heirs agree to submit the question of determination of ownership of properties
to the probate court without prejudice to third persons (Trinidad vs. CA, 1987);
For purposes of determining whether the property should be included in the inventory,
the probate court may decide prima facie the ownership of said property, but the
determination is not final and without prejudice to the right of interested parties to
ventilate the question of ownership in a proper action (Paz vs. Madrigal [1956];
Pobre vs. Gonong, 148 SCRA).
Generally, a probate court may not decide a question of title of ownership, but it may do so if
the interested parties are all heirs, or the question is one of collation or advancement, or
the parties consent to its assumption of jurisdiction and the rights of theird parties are
not impaired (Munsayacde Villa vs. CA [2003]).
Powers and Duties of Probate Court
In probate proceedings, the court:

Orders the probate of the will of the decedent (Sec. 3, Rule 77);
Grants letters of administration of the party best entitled thereto or to any qualified
applicant (Sec. 5, Rule 79);
Supervises and controls all acts of administration;
Hears and approves claims against the estate of the deceased (Sec. 11, Rule 86);
Orders payment of lawful debts (Sec. 11, Rule 88);
Authorizes sale, mortgage or any encumbrance of real estate (Sec. 2, Rule 89);
Directs the delivery of the estate to those entitled thereto (Sec. 1, Rule 90);

Issue warrants and processes necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses or to
carry into effect their orders and judgments, and all other powers granted them by
law (Sec. 3, Rule 73);
If a person defies a probate order, it may issue a warrant for the apprehension and
imprisonment of such person until he performs such order or judgment, or is
released (Sec. 3, Rule 73).
The court acts as trustee, and as such, should jealously guard the estate and see to it that it
is wisely and economically administered, not dissipated (Timbol vs. Cano, 111 Phil.
923).
Summary Settlement of Estates (Rule 74)
Summary settlement of estate is a judicial proceeding wherein, without the appointment of

executor or administrator, and without delay, the competent court summarily proceeds
to value the estate of the decedent; ascertain his debts and order payment thereof;
allow his will if any; declare his heirs, devisee and legatees; and distribute his net estate
among his known heirs, devisees, and legatees, who shall thereupon be entitled to
receive and enter into the possession of the parts of the estate so awarded to them,
respectively (Sec. 2).
2001 Bar: The rules on special proceedings ordinarily require that the estate of the
deceased should be judicially administered through an administrator or executor. What
are the two exceptions to said requirements (5%)
Answer: The two exceptions to said requirements are:
Where the decedent left no will and no debts and the heirs are all of age, or the minors
are represented by their judicial or legal representatives duly authorized for the
purpose, the parties may without securing letters of administration, divide the estate
among themselves by means of public instrument filed in the office of the register of
deeds, or should they disagree, they may do so in an ordinary action of partition. If
there is only one heir, he may adjudicate to himself the entire estate by means of an
affidavit filed in the office of the register of deeds. The parties or the sole heir shall
file in an amount equivalent to the value of the personal property as certified to
under oath by the parties and conditioned upon the payment of any just claim that
may be filed later. The fact of the extrajudicial settlement or administration shall be
published in a newspaper of general circulation in the province once a week for
three consecutive weeks (Rule 74, Section 1).
Whenever the gross value of the estate of a deceased person whether he died testate
or intestate, does not exceed ten thousand pesos, and that fact is made to appear
to the Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction of the estate by the petition of an
interested person and upon hearing, which shall be held not less than one (1)
month nor more than three (3) months from the date of the last publication of a
notice which shall be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general circulation in the province, and after such other notice to
interested persons as the court may direct, the court may proceed summarily,
without the appointment of an executor or administrator, to settle the estate (Rule
74, Sec. 2).
2005 Bar: Nestor died intestate in 2003, leaving no debts. How may his estate be settled by
his heirs who are of legal age and have legal capacity?
Answer: If the decedent left no will and no debts, and the heirs are all of age, the parties
may, without securing letters of administration, divide the estate among themselves by
means of public instrument or by stipulation in a pending action for partition and shall
file a bond with the register of deeds in an amount equivalent to the

value of the personal property involved as certified to under oath by the parties
concerned. The fact of extrajudicial settlement shall be published in a newspaper of
general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks in the province (Rule 74,
Sec. 1).
Extrajudicial settlement by agreement between heirs, when allowed
If the decedent left no will and no debts and the heirs are all of age, or the minors are
represented by their judicial or legal representatives duly authorized for the purpose,
the parties may, without securing letters of administration, divide the estate among
themselves as they see fit by means of a public instrument filed in the office o f the
register of deeds, and should they disagree, they may do so in an ordinary action of
partition. If there is only one heir, he may adjudicate to himself the entire estate by
means of an affidavit filed in the office of the register of deeds. The parties to an
extrajudicial settlement, whether by public instrument or by stipulation in a pending
action for partition, or the sole heir who adjudicates the entire estate to himself by
means of an affidavit shall file, simultaneously with and as a condition precedent to the
filing of the public instrument, or stipulation in the action for partition, or of the affidavit in
the office of the register of deeds, a bond with the said register of deeds, in an amount
equivalent to the value of the personal property involved as certified to under oath by
the parties concerned and conditioned upon the payment of any just claim that may be
filed under section 4 of this rule. It shall be presumed that the decedent left no debts if
no creditor files a petition for letters of administration within two (2) years after the death
of the decedent.
The fact of the extrajudicial settlement or administration shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation in the manner provided in the next succeeding section;
but no extrajudicial settlement shall be binding upon any person who has not
participated therein or had no notice thereof (Sec. 1).
Extrajudicial partition of the estate shall be valid when the following conditions concur:
The decedent left no will;
The decedent left no debts, or if there were debts left, all had been paid;
The heirs are all of age or if they are minors, the latter are represented by their judicial
guardian or legal representative;
The partition was made by means of a public instrument or affidavit duly filed and/or
registered with the Register of Deeds; and
The fact of the extrajudicial settlement or administration shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation once a week for three consecutive weeks.
Judicial proceedings for settlement of estate
The following is the summary of judicial proceedings for settlement of estate:

Filing of initiatory pleading
Notice of hearing publication once a week for three consecutive weeks, with notice to
heirs, legatees, devisees, interested parties
Allowance of will (probate)
Issuance of letters testamentary or of administration
Filing and approval of claims against the estate
Payments of debts, etc.
Determination of heirs and distribution
Closure delivery of remaining estate to heirs.

Two-year prescriptive period
It shall be presumed that the decedent left no debts if no creditor files a petition for letters of
administration within two (2) years after the death of the decedent (Sec. 1).
If it shall appear at any time within two (2) years after the settlement and distribution of an
estate in accordance with the provisions of either of the first two sections of this rule,
that an heir or other person has been unduly deprived of his lawful participation in the
estate, such heir or such other person may compel the settlement of the estate in the
courts in the manner hereinafter provided for the purpose of satisfying such lawful
participation. And if within the same time of two (2) years, it shall appear that there are
debts outstanding against the estate which have not been paid, or that an heir or other
person has been unduly deprived of his lawful participation payable in money, the court
having jurisdiction of the estate may, by order for that purpose, after hearing, settle the
amount of such debts or lawful participation and order how much and in what manner
each distributee shall contribute in the payment thereof, and may issue execution, if
circumstances require, against the bond provided in the preceding section or against
the real estate belonging to the deceased, or both. Such bond and such real estate
shall remain charged with a liability to creditors, heirs, or other persons for the full
period of two (2) years after such distribution, notwithstanding any transfers of real
estate that may have been made (Sec. 4).
This rule applies only to persons who participated.
Affidavit of Self-adjudication by sole heir
If there is only one heir, he may adjudicate to himself the entire estate by means of an
affidavit filed in the office of the register of deeds (Sec. 1).
1998 Bar: A, claiming to be an illegitimate child of the deceased D, instituted an intestate
proceeding to settle the estate of the latter. He also prayed that he be appointed
administrator of the said estate. S, surviving spouse, opposed the petition and As
application to be appointed the administrator on the ground that he was not the child of
her deceased husband D. The court however appointed A as the administrator of said
estate. Subsequently, S, claiming to be the sole heir of D, executed an Affidavit of
Adjudication, adjudicating unto herself the entire estate of her deceased husband D. S
then sold the entire estate to X.
Was the action of S in adjudicating the entire estate of her late husband to herself
legal? (3%)
Answer: No. An affidavit of self-adjudication is allowed only if the affiant is the sole heir
of the deceased (Rule 74, Sec. 1). In this case, A also claims to be an heir. Moreover, it
is not legal because there is already a pending judicial proceeding for the settlement of
the estate.
Summary settlement of estates of small value, when allowed
Whenever the gross value of the estate of a deceased person, whether he died testate or
intestate, does not exceed ten thousand pesos, and that fact is made to appear to the
Court of First Instance having jurisdiction of the estate by the petition of an interested
person and upon hearing, which shall be held not less than (1) month nor more than
three (3) months from the date of the last publication of a notice which shall be
published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation in the province, and after such other notice to interested persons as the court
may direct, the court may proceed summarily, without the appointment of an executor or

administrator, and without delay, to grant, if proper, allowance of the will, if any there be,
to determine who are the persons legally entitled to participate in the estate, and to
apportion and divide it among them after the payment of such debts of the estate as the
court shall then find to be due; and such persons, in their own right, if they are of lawful
age and legal capacity, or by their guardians or trustees legally appointed and qualified,
if otherwise, shall thereupon be entitled to receive and enter into the possession of the
portions of the estate so awarded to them respectively. The court shall make such order
as may be just respecting the costs of the proceedings, and all orders and judgments
made or rendered in the course thereof shall be recorded in the office of the clerk, and
the order of partition or award, if it involves real estate, shall be recorded in the proper
register's office (Sec. 2).
The court, before allowing a partition, may require the distributees, if property other than
real is to be distributed, to file a bond in an amount to be fixed by court, conditioned
for the payment of any just claim (Sec. 3).
Remedies of aggrieved parties after extra-judicial settlement of estate
The creditor may ask for administration of enough property of the estate sufficient to pay the
debt, but the heirs cannot prevent such administration by paying the obligation
(McMicking vs. Sy Conbieng, 21 Phil. 211);
Where the estate has been summarily settled, the unpaid creditor may, within the two-year
period, file a motion in the court wherein such summary settlement was had for the
payment of his credit. After the lapse of the two-year period, an ordinary action (ten year
prescriptive period) may be instituted against the distributees within the statute of
limitations, but not against the bond.
The action to annul a deed of extrajudicial settlement on the ground of fraud should be filed
within four years from the discovery of the fraud (Gerona vs. De Guzman, L-19060, May
29, 1964).
Production and Probate of Will (Rule 75)
Nature of probate proceeding
Probate of a will is a proceeding in rem. It cannot be dispensed with and substituted by

another proceeding, judicial or extrajudicial, without offending public policy. It is
mandatory as no will shall pass either real or personal property unless proved and
allowed in accordance with the Rules. It is imprescriptible, because it is required by
public policy and the state could not have intended to defeat the same by applying
thereto the statute of limitation of actions (Guevara vs. Guevara, 74 Phil. 479).
Who may petition for probate; persons entitled to notice
Any executor, devisee, or legatee named in a will, or any other person interested in the
estate, may, at any time after the death of the testator, petition the court having
jurisdiction to have the will allowed, whether the same be in his possession or not, or is
lost or destroyed. The testator himself may, during his lifetime, petition the court for the
allowance of his will (Sec. 1, Rule 76).
2006 Bar: Sergio Punzalan, 50 years old, married and residing at Ayala alabang Village,
Muntinlupa City, of sound and disposing mind, executed a last will and testament in
English, a language spoken and written by him prfociently. He disposed of

his estate consisting of a parcel of land in Makati City and cash deposit at the City Bank
in the sum of P 300 Million. He bequethed P 50 Million each to his 3 sons and P 150
Million to his wife. He devised a piece of land worth P 100 Million to Susan, his favorite
daughter-in-law. He named his best friend, Cancio Vidal, as executor of the will without
bond.
Is Cancio Vidal, after learning of Sergios death, obliged to file with the proper court a
petition of probate of the latters will and testament? (2%)
Supposing the original copy of the last will and testament was lost, can Cancio compel
Susan to produce a copy in her possession to be submitted to the probate court?
(2%)
Can the probate court appoint the widow as executor of the will? (2%)
Can the widow and her children settle extrajudicially among themselves the estate of
the deceased? (2%)
Can the widow and children initiate a separate petition for partition of the estate pending
the probate of the last will and testatment? (2%)
Answer:
Cancio Vidal is obliged to file a petition for probate and for accepting or refusing the
trust within the statutory period of 20 days under Sec. 3, Rule 75.
Yes, Cancio can compel Susan to produce the copy in her possession. A person having
custody of the will is bound to deliver the same to the court of competent jurisdiction
or to the executor, as provided in Sec. 2, Rule 75.
Yes, the probate court can appoint the widow as executor of the will if the executor does
not qualify, as when he is incompetent, refuses the trust, or fails to give bond (Sec. 6,
Rule 75).
No, the widow and her children cannot settle the estate extrajudicially because of the
existence of the will. No will shall pass either real or personal estate unless it is
proved and allowed in the proper court (Sec. 1, Rule 75).
No, the widow and her children cannot file a separate petition for partition pending the
probate of the will. Partition is a mode of settlement of the estate (Sec. 1, Rule 75).
Allowance or Disallowance of Will (Rule 76)
Contents of petition for allowance of will
A petition for the allowance of a will must show, so far as known to the petitioner:
The jurisdictional facts;
The names, ages, and residences of the heirs, legatees, and devisees of the testator or
decedent;
The probable value and character of the property of the estate;
The name of the person for whom letters are prayed;
If the will has not been delivered to the court, the name of the person having custody of
it.
But no defect in the petition shall render void the allowance of the will, or the issuance
of letters testamentary or of administration with the will annexed (Sec. 2, Rule 76).
The court shall also cause copies of the notice of the time and place fixed for proving the
will to be addressed to the designated or other known heirs, legatees, and devisees

of the testator resident in the Philippines at their places of residence, and deposited in
the post office with the postage thereon prepaid at least twenty (20) days before the
hearing, if such places of residence be known. A copy of the notice must in like manner
be mailed to the person named as executor, if he be not the petitioner; also, to any
person named as co-executor not petitioning, if their places of residence be known.
Personal service of copies of the notice at least ten (10) days before the day of hearing
shall be equivalent to mailing. If the testator asks for the allowance of his own will,
notice shall be sent only to his compulsory heirs (Sec. 4, Rule 76).
Grounds for disallowing a will
(1) The will shall be disallowed in any of the following cases;

If not executed and attested as required by law;
If the testator was insane, or otherwise mentally incapable to make a will, at the time of
its execution;
If it was executed under duress, or the influence of fear, or threats;
If it was procured by undue and improper pressure and influence, on the part of the
beneficiary, or of some other person for his benefit;
If the signature of the testator was procured by fraud or trick, and he did not intend that
the instrument should be his will at the time of fixing his signature thereto (Sec. 9,
Rule 76).
Grounds under Art. 839, Civil Code:
If the formalities required by law have not been complied with;
If the testator was insane, or otherwise mentally incapable of making a will, at the time
of its execution;
If it was executed through force or duress, or the influence of fear, or threats;
If it was procured by undue and improper pressure and influence, on the part of the
beneficiary or of some other person;
If the signature of the testator was procured by fraud;
If the testator acted by mistake or did not intend that the instrument he signed should be
his will at the time of affixing his signature thereto.
Reprobate; Requisites before will proved outside allowed in the

Philippines; effects of probate
Will proved outside Philippines may be allowed here. Wills proved and allowed in a foreign
country, according to the laws of such country, may be allowed, filed, and recorded by
the proper Court of First Instance in the Philippines (Sec. 1, Rule 77).
When will allowed, and effect thereof. If it appears at the hearing that the will should be
allowed in the Philippines, the court shall so allow it, and a certificate of its allowance,
signed by the judge, and attested by the seal of the court, to which shall be attached a
copy of the will, shall be filed and recorded by the clerk, and the will shall have the
same effect as if originally proved and allowed in such court (Sec. 3, Rule 77).
When a will is thus allowed, the court shall grant letters testamentary, or letters of
administration with the will annexed, and such letters testamentary or of administration,
shall extend to all the estate of the testator in the Philippines. Such estate, after the
payment of just debts and expenses of administration, shall be disposed of according to
such will, so far as such will may operate upon it; and the residue, if any, shall be
disposed of as is provided by law in cases of estates in the Philippines belonging to
persons who are inhabitants of another state or country (Sec. 4, Rule 77).
Certificate of allowance attached to proved will. To be recorded in the Office of Register of
Deeds. If the court is satisfied, upon proof taken and filed, that the will was duly

executed, and that the testator at the time of its execution was of sound and disposing
mind, and not acting under duress, menace, and undue influence, or fraud, a certificate
of its allowance, signed by the judge, and attested by the seal of the court shall be
attached to the will and the will and certificate filed and recorded by the clerk. Attested
copies of the will devising real estate and of certificate of allowance thereof, shall be
recorded in the register of deeds of the province in which the lands lie (Sec. 13, Rule
76).
The general rule universally recognized is that administration extends only to the assets of
the decedent found within the state or country where it was granted, so that an
administrator appointed in one state or country has no power over the property in
another state or country (Leon & Ghezzi vs. Manufacturers Life Ins., 80 Phil. 495) .
When a person dies intestate owning property in the country of his domicile as well as in
foreign country, administration shall be had in both countries. That which is granted in
the jurisdiction of the decedents domicile is termed the principal administration, while
any other administration is termed ancillary administration. The ancillary administration
is proper whenever a person dies leaving in a country other than that of his domicile,
property to be administered in the nature of assets of the decedent, liable for his
individual debts or to be distributed among his heirs (Johannes vs. Harvey, 43 Phil.
175).
Letters Testamentary and of Administration (Rule 78)
Letters testamentary is the appointment issued by a probate court, after the will has been
admitted to probate, to the executor named in the will to administer the estate of the
deceased testator, provided the executor named in the will is competent, accepts the
trust and gives a bond (Sec. 4).
2008 Bar: Domenico and Gen lived without benefit of marriage for twenty years, during
which time they purchased properties together. After Domenico died without a will, Gen
filed a petition for letters of administration. Domenicos siblings opposed the same on
the ground that Gen has no legal personality. Decide (4%)
Answer: A petition for letters of administration may be filed by any interested person
(Rule 79, Sec. 1). Gen would be considered an interested person even if she was not
married to Domenico, because she can claim co-ownership of the properties left be him
under the property regime of union without marriage under conditions provided in the
Family Code (San Luis v. San Luis, GR No. 133743, 02/06/2007) .
When and to whom letters of administration granted
No person is competent to serve as executor or administrator who:

Is a minor;
Is not a resident of the Philippines; and
Is in the opinion of the court unfit to execute the duties of the trust by reason of
drunkenness, improvidence, or want of understanding or integrity, or by reason of
conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude (Sec. 1).
Executor of executor not to administer estate. The executor of an executor shall not, as
such, administer the estate of the first testator (Sec. 2).
Married women may serve. A married woman may serve as executrix or administratrix, and
the marriage of a single woman shall not affect her authority so to serve under a
previous appointment (Sec. 3).

Letters testamentary issued when will allowed. When a will has been proved and allowed,
the court shall issue letters testamentary thereon to the person named as executor
therein, if he is competent, accepts the trust, and gives bond as required by these rules
(Sec. 4).
Where some coexecutors disqualified others may act. When all of the executors named in a
will cannot act because of incompetency, refusal to accept the trust, or failure to give
bond, on the part of one or more of them, letters testamentary may issue to such of
them as are competent, accept and give bond, and they may perform the duties and
discharge the trust required by the will (Sec. 5).
If no executor is named in the will, or the executor or executors are incompetent, refuse the
trust, or fail to give bond, or a person dies intestate, administration shall be granted:
To the surviving husband or wife, as the case may be, or next of kin, or both, in the
discretion of the court, or to such person as such surviving husband or wife, or next
of kin, requests to have appointed, if competent and willing to serve;
If such surviving husband or wife, as the case may be, or next of kin, or the person
selected by them, be incompetent or unwilling, or if the husband or widow, or next
of kin, neglects for thirty (30) days after the death of the person to apply for
administration or to request that administration be granted to some other person, it
may be granted to one or more of the principal creditors, if competent and willing to
serve;
If there is no such creditor competent and willing to serve, it may be granted to such
other person as the court may select (Sec. 6).
Order of preference
Priority in selecting an administrator

Surviving spouse, or next of kin, or both, or person as such surviving spouse, or next of
kin, requests;
One or more of the principal creditors if such surviving spouse, or next of kin, or the
person selected, be incompetent or unwilling, or if they neglect for 30 days after the
death of the decedent to apply for administration or to request that administration
be granted to some other person, it may be granted to, if competent and willing to
serve;
Such other person as the court may select.
Opposition to issuance of letters testamentary;

simultaneous filing of petition for administration
Any person interested in a will may state in writing the grounds why letters testamentary
should not issue to the persons named therein executors, or any of them, and the court,
after hearing upon notice, shall pass upon the sufficiency of such grounds. A petition
may, at the same time, be filed for letters of administration with the will annexed (Sec.
1, Rule 79).
Powers and duties of Executors and Administrators;

Restrictions on the powers (Rule 84)
An executor is the person nominated by a testator to carry out the directions and requests in
his will and to dispose of his property according to his testamentary provisions after his
death (21 Am. Jur. 369).

An administrator is a person appointed by the court, in accordance with the governing
statute, to administer and settle intestate estate and such testate estate as no
competent executor was designated by the testator.
Executor or administrator to have access to partnership books and property. How right
enforced. The executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased partner shall at all
times have access to, and may examine and take copies of, books and papers relating
to the partnership business, and may examine and make invoices of the property
belonging to such partnership; and the surviving partner or partners, on request, shall
exhibit to him all such books, papers, and property in their hands or control. On the
written application of such executor or administrator, the court having jurisdiction of the
estate may order any such surviving partner or partners to freely permit the exercise of
the rights, and to exhibit the books, papers, and property, as in this section provided,
and may punish any partner failing to do so for contempt (Sec. 1, Rule 84).
Executor or administrator to keep buildings in repair. An executor or administrator shall
maintain in tenantable repair the houses and other structures and fences belonging to
the estate, and deliver the same in such repair to the heirs or devisees when directed
so to do by the court (Sec. 2, Rule 84).
Executor or administrator to retain whole estate to pay debts, and to administer estate not
willed. An executor or administrator shall have the right to the possession and
management of the real as well as the personal estate of the deceased so long as it is
necessary for the payment of the debts and the expenses of administration (Sec. 3,
Rule 84).
An administrator of an intestate cannot exercise the right of legal redemption over a portion
of the property owned in common sold by one of the other co-owners since this is not
within the powers of administration (Caro vs. CA, 113 SCRA 10). Where the estate of a
deceased person is already the subject of a testate or intestate proceeding, the
administrator cannot enter into any transaction involving it without any prior approval of
the Court (Estate of Olave vs. Reyes, 123 SCRA 767) . The right of an executor or
administrator to the possession and management of the real and personal properties of
the deceased is not absolute and can only be exercised so long as it is necessary for
the payment of the debts and expenses of administration (Manaquil vs. Villegas, 189
SCRA 335).
Appointment of Special Administrator
When there is delay in granting letters testamentary or of administration by any cause

including an appeal from the allowance or disallowance of a will, the court may appoint
a special administrator to take possession and charge of the estate of the deceased
until the questions causing the delay are decided and executors or administrators
appointed (Sec. 1, Rule 80).
Respondent Parreo is not precluded from being appointed as a special administrator in
view of petitioner Diosdados claim of being the illegitimate son of the deceased. It is
well settled that the statutory provisions as to the prior or preferred right of certain
persons to the appointment of administrator under Section 1, Rule 81, as well as the
statutory provisions as to causes for removal of an executor or administrator under
Section 2, Rule 83, do not apply to the selection or removal of special administrator. As
the law does not say who shall be appointed as special administrator and the
qualifications the appointee must have, the judge or court has discretion in the selection
of the person to be appointed, discretion which must be sound, that is, not whimsical or
contrary to reason, justice or equity (Manungas v. Parreo, GR No. 193161,
08/22/2011).

Grounds for removal of administrator
Administration revoked if will discovered. Proceedings thereupon. If after letters of

administration have been granted on the estate of a decedent as if he had died
intestate, his will is proved and allowed by the court, the letters of administration shall
be revoked and all powers thereunder cease, and the administrator shall forthwith
surrender the letters to the court, and render his account within such time as the court
directs. Proceedings for the issuance of letters testamentary or of administration under
the will shall be as hereinbefore provided (Sec. 1, Rule 82).
Court may remove or accept resignation of executor or administrator. Proceedings upon
death, resignation, or removal. If an executor or administrator neglects to render his
account and settle the estate according to law, or to perform an order or judgment of the
court, or a duty expressly provided by these rules, or absconds, or becomes insane, or
otherwise incapable or unsuitable to discharge the trust, the court may remove him, or,
in its discretion, may permit him to resign. When an executor or administrator dies,
resigns, or is removed the remaining executor or administrator may administer the trust
alone, unless the court grants letters to someone to act with him. If there is no
remaining executor or administrator, administration may be granted to any suitable
person (Sec. 2, Rule 82).
Claims Against the Estate (Rule 86)
Administration is for the purpose of liquidation of the estate and distribution of the residue
among the heirs and legatees. Liquidation means the determination of all the assets of
the estate and payment of all debts and expenses.
The purpose of presentation of claims against decedents of the estate in the probate court
is to protect the estate of deceased persons. That way, the executor or administrator
will be able to examine each claim and determine whether it is a proper one which
should be allowed. Further, the primary object of the provisions requiring presentation is
to apprise the administrator and the probate court of the existence of the claim so that a
proper and timely arrangement may be made for its payment in full or by pro rata
portion in the due course of the administration, inasmuch as upon the death of a
person, his entire estate is burdened with the payment of all his debts and no creditor
shall enjoy any preference or priority; all of them shall share pro rata in the liquidation of
the estate of the deceased.
2002 Bar: A. X filed a claim in the intestate proceedings of D. Ds administrator denied
liability and filed a counterclaim against X. Xs claim was disallowed.
Does the probate court still has jurisdiction to allow the claim of Ds administrator by
way of offset? Why? (2%)
Suppose the administrator did not allege any claim against X by way of offset, can
Ds administrator prosecute the claim in an independent proceeding? Why?
B. A, B and C, the on;y heirs in Ds intestate proceedings, submitted a project of
partition to probate court (RTC-Manila). Upon the courts approval of the partition, two
lots were assigned to c, who immediately entered into possession of the lots.
Thereafter, C died and proceedings for the settlement of his estate were filed in the
RTC-Quezon City. Ds administrator then filed a motion in the probate court (RTC-
Manila), praying that one of the lots be turned over to him to satisfy debts corresponding
to Cs portion. The motion was opposed by the administrator of Cs estate.
How should the RTC-Manila resolve the motion of Ds administrator? (3%)

Suppose the property of D was declared escheated on July 1, 1990, in escheat
proceedings brought to the Solicitor General. Now, X, who claims to be an heir of D,
field an action to recover the escheated property. Is the action viable? Why? (2%)
Answer:
No, because since the claim of X was disallowed, there is no amount against which to
offset the claim of Ds administrator.
Yes, Ds admninstrator can prosecute the claim in an independent proceeding since the
claim of X was disallowed. If X had a valid claim and Ds administrator did not
allege any claim against X by way of offset, his failure to do so would bar his claim
forever (Sec. 10, Rule 86).
B. (a) The motion of Ds administrator should be granted. The assignment of the two
lots of C was premature because the debts of the state had not been fully paid (Sec. 1,
Rule 90).
No, the action is not viable. The action to recover excheated property must be filed
within five (5) years or forever barred (Sec. 4, Rule 90).
Time within which claims shall be filed; exceptions
In the notice provided in the preceding section, the court shall state the time for the filing of
claims against the estate, which shall not be more than twelve (12) nor less than six
months after the date of the first publication of the notice. However, at any time before
an order of distribution is entered, on application of a creditor who has failed to file his
claim within the time previously limited, the court may, for cause shown and on such
terms as are equitable, allow such claim to be filed within a time not exceeding one (1)
month (Sec. 2).
Statute of Non-claims
The rule requires certain creditors of a deceased person to present their claims for
examination and allowance within a specified period, the purpose thereof being to settle
the estate with dispatch, so that the residue may be delivered to the persons entitled
thereto without their being afterwards called upon to respond in actions for claims,
which, under the ordinary statute of limitations, have not yet prescribed (Santos vs.
Manarang, 27 Phil. 213).
Claim of Executor or administrator against the Estate
If the executor or administrator has a claim against the estate he represents, he shall give
notice thereof, in writing, to the court, and the court shall appoint a special
administrator, who shall, in the adjustment of such claim, have the same power and be
subject to the same liability as the general administrator or executor in the settlement of
other claims. The court may order the executor or administrator to pay to the special
administrator necessary funds to defend such claim (Sec. 8).
Payment of Debts (Rule 88)

If there are sufficient properties, the debts shall be paid, thus:
All debts shall be paid in full within the time limited for the purpose (Sec. 1);

If the testator makes provision by his will, or designates the estate to be appropriated for
the payment of debts they shall be paid according to the provisions of the will,
which must be respected (Sec. 2);
If the estate designated in the will is not sufficient, such part of the estate as is not
disposed of by will shall be appropriated for the purpose (Sec. 2);
The personal estate not disposed of by will shall be first chargeable with payment of
debts and expenses (Sec. 3);
If the personal estate is not sufficient, or its sale would be detrimental to the participants
of the estate, the real estate not disposed of by will shall be sold or encumbered for
that purpose (Sec. 3);
Any deficiency shall be met by contributions from devisees, legatees and heirs who
have entered into possession of portions of the estate before debts and expenses
have been paid (Sec. 6);
The executor or administrator shall retain sufficient estate to pay contingent claims
when the same becomes absolute (Sec. 4).
If the estate is insolvent, the debts shall be paid in the following manner:
The executor or administrator shall pay the debts in accordance with the preference of
credits established by the Civil Code (Sec. 7);
No creditor of any one class shall receive any payment until those of the preceding
class are paid (Sec. 8);
If there are no assets sufficient to pay the credits of any one class of creditors, each
creditor within such class shall be paid a dividend in proportion to his claim (Sec. 8);
Where the deceased was a nonresident, his estate in the Philippines shall be disposed
of in such a way that creditors in the Philippines and elsewhere may receive an
equal share in proportion to their respective credits (Sec. 9);
Claims duly proved against the estate of an insolvent resident of the Philippines, the
executor or administrator, having had the opportunity to contest such claims, shall e
included in the certified list of claims proved against the deceased. The owner of
such claims shall be entitled to a just distribution of the estate in accordance with
the preceding rules if the property of such deceased person in another country is
likewise equally apportioned to the creditors residing in the Philippines and other
creditors, according to their respective claims (Sec. 10);
It must be noted that the payment of debts of the decedent shall be made pursuant to
the order of the probate court (Sec. 11).
Time for paying debts and legacies fixed, or extended after notice, within what periods. On
granting letters testamentary or administration the court shall allow to the executor or
administrator a time for disposing of the estate and paying the debts and legacies of the
deceased, which shall not, in the first instance, exceed one (1) year; but the court may,
on application of the executor or administrator and after hearing on such notice of the
time and place therefor given to all persons interested as it shall direct, extend the time
as the circumstances of the estate require not exceeding six (6) months for a single
extension nor so that the whole period allowed to the original executor or administrator
shall exceed two (2) years (Sec. 15).
Applicable provisions under the Civil Code:
Art. 2241. With reference to specific movable property of the debtor, the following
claims or liens shall be preferred:
Duties, taxes and fees due thereon to the State or any subdivision thereof;
Claims arising from misappropriation, breach of trust, or malfeasance by public
officials committed in the performance of their duties, on the movables,
money or securities obtained by them;

Claims for the unpaid price of movables sold, on said movables, so long as they
are in the possession of the debtor, up to the value of the same; and if the
movable has been resold by the debtor and the price is still unpaid, the lien
may be enforced on the price; this right is not lost by the immobilization of
the thing by destination, provided it has not lost its form, substance and
identity; neither is the right lost by the sale of the thing together with other
property for a lump sum, when the price thereof can be determined
proportionally;
Credits guaranteed with a pledge so long as the things pledged are in the
hands of the creditor, or those guaranteed by a chattel mortgage, upon the
things pledged or mortgaged, up to the value thereof;
Credits for the making, repair, safekeeping or preservation of personal property,
on the movable thus made, repaired, kept or possessed;
Claims for laborers' wages, on the goods manufactured or the work done;
For expenses of salvage, upon the goods salvaged;
Credits between the landlord and the tenant, arising from the contract of
tenancy on shares, on the share of each in the fruits or harvest;
Credits for transportation, upon the goods carried, for the price of the contract
and incidental expenses, until their delivery and for thirty days thereafter;
Credits for lodging and supplies usually furnished to travellers by hotel keepers,
on the movables belonging to the guest as long as such movables are in
the hotel, but not for money loaned to the guests;
Credits for seeds and expenses for cultivation and harvest advanced to the
debtor, upon the fruits harvested;
Credits for rent for one year, upon the personal property of the lessee existing
on the immovable leased and on the fruits of the same, but not on money or
instruments of credit;
Claims in favor of the depositor if the depositary has wrongfully sold the thing
deposited, upon the price of the sale.
In the foregoing cases, if the movables to which the lien or preference attaches
have been wrongfully taken, the creditor may demand them from any
possessor, within thirty days from the unlawful seizure.
Art. 2242. With reference to specific immovable property and real rights of the
debtor, the following claims, mortgages and liens shall be preferred, and shall
constitute an encumbrance on the immovable or real right:
Taxes due upon the land or building;
For the unpaid price of real property sold, upon the immovable sold;
Claims of laborers, masons, mechanics and other workmen, as well as of
architects, engineers and contractors, engaged in the construction,
reconstruction or repair of buildings, canals or other works, upon said
buildings, canals or other works;
Claims of furnishers of materials used in the construction, reconstruction, or
repair of buildings, canals or other works, upon said buildings, canals or
other works;
Mortgage credits recorded in the Registry of Property, upon the real estate
mortgaged;
Expenses for the preservation or improvement of real property when the law
authorizes reimbursement, upon the immovable preserved or improved;
Credits annotated in the Registry of Property, in virtue of a judicial order, by
attachments or executions, upon the property affected, and only as to later
credits;

Claims of co-heirs for warranty in the partition of an immovable among them,
upon the real property thus divided;
Claims of donors or real property for pecuniary charges or other conditions
imposed upon the donee, upon the immovable donated;
Credits of insurers, upon the property insured, for the insurance premium for
two years.
Art. 2243. The claims or credits enumerated in the two preceding articles shall be
considered as mortgages or pledges of real or personal property, or liens within
the purview of legal provisions governing insolvency. Taxes mentioned in No. 1,
article 2241, and No. 1, article 2242, shall first be satisfied.
Art. 2244. With reference to other property, real and personal, of the debtor, the
following claims or credits shall be preferred in the order named:
Proper funeral expenses for the debtor, or children under his or her parental
authority who have no property of their own, when approved by the court;
Credits for services rendered the insolvent by employees, laborers, or
household helpers for one year preceding the commencement of the
proceedings in insolvency;
Expenses during the last illness of the debtor or of his or her spouse and
children under his or her parental authority, if they have no property of their
own;
Compensation due the laborers or their dependents under laws providing for
indemnity for damages in cases of labor accident, or illness resulting from
the nature of the employment;
Credits and advancements made to the debtor for support of himself or herself,
and family, during the last year preceding the insolvency;
Support during the insolvency proceedings, and for three months thereafter;
Fines and civil indemnification arising from a criminal offense;
Legal expenses, and expenses incurred in the administration of the insolvent's
estate for the common interest of the creditors, when properly authorized
and approved by the court;
Taxes and assessments due the national government, other than those
mentioned in articles 2241, No. 1, and 2242, No. 1;
Taxes and assessments due any province, other than those referred to in
articles 2241, No. 1, and 2242, No. 1;
Taxes and assessments due any city or municipality, other than those indicated
in articles 2241, No. 1, and 2242, No. 1;
Damages for death or personal injuries caused by a quasi-delict;
Gifts due to public and private institutions of charity or beneficence;
Credits which, without special privilege, appear in (a) a public instrument; or (b)
in a final judgment, if they have been the subject of litigation. These credits
shall have preference among themselves in the order of priority of the dates
of the instruments and of the judgments, respectively.
Art. 2245. Credits of any other kind or class, or by any other right or title not
comprised in the four preceding articles, shall enjoy no preference.
CHAPTER 3
ORDER OF PREFERENCE OF CREDITS
Art. 2246. Those credits which enjoy preference with respect to specific movables,
exclude all others to the extent of the value of the personal property to which
the preference refers.

Art. 2247. If there are two or more credits with respect to the same specific movable
property, they shall be satisfied pro rata, after the payment of duties, taxes and
fees due the State or any subdivision thereof.
Art. 2248. Those credits which enjoy preference in relation to specific real property
or real rights, exclude all others to the extent of the value of the immovable or
real right to which the preference refers.
Art. 2249. If there are two or more credits with respect to the same specific real
property or real rights, they shall be satisfied pro rata, after the payment of the
taxes and assessments upon the immovable property or real right.
Art. 2250. The excess, if any, after the payment of the credits which enjoy
preference with respect to specific property, real or personal, shall be added to
the free property which the debtor may have, for the payment of the other
credits.
Art. 2251. Those credits which do not enjoy any preference with respect to specific
property, and those which enjoy preference, as to the amount not paid, shall be
satisfied according to the following rules:
In the order established in article 2244;
Common credits referred to in article 2245 shall be paid pro rata regardless of
dates.
Actions by and against Executors and Administrators (Rule 87)

No action upon a claim for the recovery of money or debts or interest thereon shall be
commenced against the executor or administrator (Sec. 1).
Actions that may be brought against executors and administrators
An action to recover real or personal property, or an interest therein, from the estate, or to
enforce a lien thereon, and actions to recover damages for an injury to person or
property, real or personal, may be commenced against the executor or administrator
(Sec. 1).
Whenever a party to a pending action dies, and the claim is not thereby extinguished, it
shall be the duty of his counsel to inform the court within thirty (30) days after such
death of the fact thereof, and to give the name and address of his legal representative
or representatives. Failure of counsel to comply with this duty shall be a ground for
disciplinary action. The heirs of the deceased may be allowed to be substituted for the
deceased, without requiring the appointment of an executor or administrator and the
court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor heirs.
The court shall forthwith order said legal representative or representatives to appear
and be substituted within a period of thirty (30) days from notice. If no legal
representative is named by the counsel for the deceased party, or if the one so named
shall fail to appear within the specified period, the court may order the opposing party,
within a specified time, to procure the appointment of an executor or administrator for
the estate of the deceased and the latter shall immediately appear for and on behalf of
the deceased. The court charges in procuring such appointment, if defrayed by the
opposing party, may be recovered as costs (Sec. 16, Rule 3).

When the action is for recovery of money arising from contract, express or implied, and the
defendant dies before entry of final judgment in the court in which the action was
pending at the time of such death, it shall not be dismissed but shall instead be allowed
to continue until entry of final judgment. A favorable judgment obtained by the plaintiff
therein shall be enforced in the manner especially provided in these Rules for
prosecuting claims against the estate of a deceased person (Sec. 20, Rule 3).
Requisites before creditor may bring an action for recovery of

property fraudulently conveyed by the deceased
For the creditor to file an action to recover property fraudulently conveyed by the deceased,
the following requisites must be present:
There is a deficiency of assets in the hands of an executor or administrator for the
payment of debts and expenses of administration;
The deceased in his lifetime had made or attempted to make a fraudulent conveyance
of his real or personal property, or a right or interest therein, or a debt or credit, with
intent to defraud his creditors or to avoid any right, debt or duty; or had so conveyed
such property, right, debt, or credit that by law the conveyance would be void as
against his creditors;
The subject of the attempted conveyance would be liable to attachment by any of them
in his lifetime;
The executor or administrator has shown to have no desire to file the action or failed to
institute the same within a reasonable time;
Leave is granted by the court to the creditor to file the action;
A bond is filed by the creditor as prescribed in the Rules;
The action by the creditor is in the name of the executor or administrator (Sec. 10).
Distribution and Partition (Rule 90)

Before there could be a distribution of the estate, the following two stages must be followed:
Payment of obligations (liquidation of estate) under the Rules, the distribution of a
decedents assets may only be ordered under any of the following three
circumstances: (1) when the inheritance tax, among other is paid; (2) when a
sufficient bond is given to meet the payment of the inheritance tax and all other
obligations; and (3) when the payment of the said tax and all other obligations has
been provided for; and
Declaration of heirs there must first be declaration of heirs to determine to whom the
residue of the estate should be distributed. A separate action for the declaration of
heirs is not proper. And likewise after, not before the declaration of heirs is made
may the residue be distributed and delivered to the heirs.
The settlement of a decedents estate is a proceeding in rem which is binding against the
whole world. All persons having interest in the subject matter involved, whether they
were notified or not, are equally bound.
Liquidation
Sec. 1. When order for distribution of residue made. When the debts, funeral charges, and
expenses of administration, the allowance to the widow, and inheritance tax, if any,
chargeable to the estate in accordance with law, have been paid, the court, on the
application of the executor or administrator, or of a person interested in the estate, and

after hearing upon notice, shall assign the residue of the estate to the persons entitled
to the same, naming them and the proportions, or parts, to which each is entitled, and
such person may demand and recover their respective shares from the executor or
administrator, or any other person having the same in his possession. If there is a
controversy before the court as to who are the lawful heirs of the deceased person or as
to the distributive shares to which each person is entitled under the law, the controversy
shall be heard and decided as in ordinary cases.
No distribution shall be allowed until the payment of the obligations above mentioned
has been made or provided for, unless the distributees, or any of them, give a bond, in a
sum to be fixed by the court, conditioned for the payment of said obligations within such
time as the court directs.
Sec. 2. Questions as to advancement to be determined. Questions as to advancement made, or
alleged to have been made, by the deceased to any heir may be heard and determined by
the court having jurisdiction of the estate proceedings; and the final order of the court
thereon shall be binding on the person raising the questions and on the heir.
Sec. 3. By whom expenses of partition paid. If at the time of the distribution the executor or
administrator has retained sufficient effects in his hands which may lawfully be applied
for the expenses of partition of the properties distributed, such expenses of partition
may be paid by such executor or administrator when it appears equitable to the court
and not inconsistent with the intention of the testator; otherwise, they shall be paid by
the parties in proportion to their respective shares or interest in the premises, and the
apportionment shall be settled and allowed by the court, and, if any person interested in
the partition does not pay his proportion or share, the court may issue an execution in
the name of the executor or administrator against the party not paying for the sum
assessed.
Project of Partition
Project of partition is a document prepared by the executor or administrator setting forth the
manner in which the estate of the deceased is to be distributed among the heirs. If the
estate is a testate estate, the project of partition must conform to the terms of the will; if
intestate, the project of partition must be in accordance with the provisions of the Civil
Code (Camia de Reyes vs. Reyes de Ilano, 63 Phil. 629).
Remedy of an heir entitled to residue but not given his share
If there is a controversy before the court as to who are the lawful heirs of the deceased
person or as to the distributive shares to which each person is entitled under the law,
the controversy shall be heard and decided as in ordinary cases (Sec. 1).
The better practice for the heir who has not received his share is to demand his share
through a proper motion in the same probate or administration proceedings, or for
reopening of the probate or administrative proceedings if it had already been closed,
and not through an independent action, which would be tried by another court or judge
(Ramos vs. Octuzar, 89 Phil. 730).
It has been held that an order which determines the distributive share of the heirs of a
deceased person is appealable. If not appealed within the reglementary period, it
becomes final (Imperial vs. Muoz, 58 SCRA).
The Court allowed the continuation of a separate action to annul the project of partition by a
preterited heir, since the estate proceedings have been closed and terminated for over
three years (Guilas vs. Judge of the CFI of Pampanga, 43 SCRA 117) , and on the
ground of lesion, preterition and fraud (Solivio vs. CA, 99 Phil. 1069).

Instances when probate court may issue writ of execution
The only instances when the probate court may issue a writ of execution are as follows:
To satisfy the contributive shares of devisees, legatees and heirs in possession of the
decedents assets (Sec. 6, Rule 88);
To enforce payment of expenses of partition (Sec. 3, Rule 90); and
To satisfy the costs when a person is cited for examination in probate proceedings
(Sec. 13, Rule 142).
II. GENERAL GUARDIANS AND GUARDIANSHIP
Trustees (Rule 98)
Requisites for existence of a valid trust:

Existence of a person competent to create;
Sufficient words to create it;
A person capable of holding as trustee a specified or ascertainable object;
A definite trust res; and
A declaration of the terms of the trust
Distinguished from executor/administrator
Trustee Executor / Administrator

An instrument or agent of the cestui que trust, An executor is the person named in the will to
who acquires no beneficial interest in the administer the decedents estate and carry out
estate; he merely took the legal estate as the the provisions thereof.
proper execution of the trust required; and, his An administrator is the person appointed by
estate ceases upon the fulfillment of the the court to administer the estate where the
testators wishes, in which case, the same decedent died intestate, or where the will was
vests absolutely in the beneficiary. void and not allowed to probate, or where no
executor was named in the will, or the executor
named therein is incompetent or refuses to
serve as such.
An association or corporation authorized to An association or corporation authorized to
conduct the business of a trust company in the conduct the business of a trust company in the
Philippines may be appointed as trustee of an Philippines may be appointed as executor or
estate in the same manner as an individual administrator of an estate in the same manner
(Art. 1060, CC). as an individual (Art. 1060, CC).
Duties are usually governed by the intention of Duties are fixed and/or limited by law (Rule
the trustor or the parties if established by a 84).
contract.
Duties may cover a wider range.
Grounds for removal of trustee: Grounds for removal:
(a) Insanity; (a) Neglect to render an account and
(b) Incapability of discharging trust or settle the estate according to law;
evidently unsuitable therefor (Sec. 8, (b) Neglect to perform an order or

Rule 98); judgment of the court;
Neglect in the performance of his duties; Neglect to perform a duty expressly
Breach of trust displaying a want of fidelity, provided by these rules;
not mere error in the administration of Absconds, or becomes insane, or
the trust; otherwise incapable or unsuitable to
Abuse and abandonment of the trust; discharge trust;
Refusal to recognize or administer the trust; Fraud or misrepresentation (Cobarrubias
Failure or neglect or impropriety in vs. Dizon, 76 Phil. 209)..
investment of the trust estate as to give
rise to waste of trust property;
Failure to file accounts, and failure of one
co-trustee to keep himself informed of
the conduct of the other in the
administration of the trust.
Conditions of the Bond
A trustee appointed by the court is required to furnish a bond and the terms of the trust or a
statute may provide that a trustee appointed by a court shall be required to furnish a
bond in order to qualify him to administer the trust (54 Am. Jur. 425). However, the court
may until further order exempt a trustee under a will from giving a bond when the
testator has directed or requested such exemption or when all persons beneficially
interested in the trust, being of full age, request the exemption. Such exemption may be
cancelled by the court at any time, and the trustee required to forthwith file a bond (Sec.
5). If the trustee fails to furnish a bond as required by the court, he fails to qualify as
such. Nonetheless the trust is not defeated by such a failure to give bond.
The following conditions shall be deemed to be a part of the bond whether written therein or
not:
That the trustee will make and return to the court, at such time as it may order, a true
inventory of all the real and personal estate belonging to him as trustee, which at
the time of the making of such inventory shall have come to his possession or
knowledge;
That he will manage and dispose of all such estate, and faithfully discharge his trust in
relation thereto, according to law and the will of the testator or the provisions of the
instrument or order under which he is appointed;
That he will render upon oath at least once a year until his trust is fulfilled, unless he is
excused therefrom in any year by the court, a true account of the property in his
hands and of the management and disposition thereof, and will render such other
accounts as the court may order;
That at the expiration of his trust he will settle his accounts in court and pay over and
deliver all the estate remaining in his hands, or due from him on such settlement, to
the person or persons entitled thereto.
But when the trustee is appointed as a successor to a prior trustee, the court may
dispense with the making and return of an inventory, if one has already been filed,
and in such case the condition of the bond shall be deemed to be altered
accordingly (Sec. 6).
Requisites for the removal and resignation of a trustee
A trustee may be removed upon petition to the proper RTC of the parties beneficially
interested, after due notice to the trustee and hearing, if it appears essential in the
interests of the petitioners. The court may also, after due notice to all persons

interested, remove a trustee who is insane or otherwise incapable of discharging his
trust or evidently unsuitable therefor. A trustee, whether appointed by the court or under
a written instrument, may resign his trust if it appears to the court proper to allow such
resignation (Sec. 8).
A trustee whose acts or omissions are such as to show a want of reasonable fidelity will be
removed by the court and where trust funds are to be invested by the trustee, neglect to
invest constitutes of itself a breach of trust, and is a ground for removal (Gisborn vs.
Cavende, 114 US 464).
Grounds for removal and resignation of a trustee
The proper Regional Trial Court may, upon petition of the parties beneficially interested and
after due notice to the trustee and hearing, remove a trustee if such removal appears
essential in the interests of the petitioners. The court may also, after due notice to all
persons interested, remove a trustee who is insane or otherwise incapable of
discharging his trust or evidently unsuitable therefor. A trustee, whether appointed by
the court or under a written instrument, may resign his trust if it appears to the court
proper to allow such resignation (Sec. 8).
A trustee whose acts or omissions are such as to show a want of reasonable fidelity will be
removed by the court and where trust funds are to be invested by the trustee, neglect to
invest constitutes of itself a breach of trust, and is a ground for removal (Gisborn vs.
Cavende, 114 US 464).
Extent of authority of trustee
A trustee appointed by the RTC shall have the same rights, powers, and duties as if he had
been appointed by the testator. No person succeeding to a trust as executor or
administrator of a former trustee shall be required to accept such trust (Sec. 2).
Such new trustee shall have and exercise the same powers, rights, and duties as if he had
been originally appointed, and the trust estate shall vest in him in like manner as it had
vested or would have vested, in the trustee in whose place he is substituted; and the
court may order such conveyance to be made by the former trustee or his
representatives, or by the other remaining trustees, as may be necessary or proper to
vest the trust estate in the new trustee, either alone or jointly with the others (Sec. 3).
Escheat (Rule 91)
Escheat is a proceeding whereby the real and personal property of a deceased person in
the Philippines, become the property of the state upon his death, without leaving any
will or legal heirs (21 CJS, Sec. 1, p. 848).
When to file
When a person dies intestate, seized of real or personal property in the Philippines, leaving
no heir or person by law entitled to the same, the Solicitor General or his representative
in behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, may file a petition in the Court of First
Instance of the province where the deceased last resided or in which he had estate, if
he resided out of the Philippines, setting forth the facts, and praying that the estate of
the deceased be declared escheated (Sec. 1).

Requisites for filing of petition
In order that a proceeding for escheat may prosper, the following requisites must be
present:
That a person died intestate;
That he left no heirs or person by law entitled to the same; and
That the deceased left properties (City of Manila vs. Archbishop of Manila, 36 Phil. 815).
Remedy of respondent against petition; period for filing a claim
When a petition for escheat does not state facts which entitle the petitioner to the remedy
prayed for, and even admitting them hypothetically, it is clear that there is no ground for
the court to proceed to the inquisition provided by law, an interested party should not be
disallowed from filing a motion to dismiss the petition which is untenable from all
standpoints. And when the motion to dismiss is entertained upon this ground, the
petition may be dismissed unconditionally and the petitioner is not entitled to be
afforded an opportunity to amend his petition (Go Poco Grocery vs. Pacific Biscuit Co.,
65 Phil. 443).
While the Rules do not in fact authorize the filing of a motion to dismiss the petition
presented for that purpose, and the Rules permitting the interposition of a motion to
dismiss to the complaint and answer, respectively, are not applicable to special
proceedings, nevertheless, there is no reason of a procedural nature which prevents the
filing of a motion to dismiss based upon any of the grounds provided for by law for a
motion to dismiss the complaint. In such a case, the motion to dismiss plays the role of
a demurrer and the court should resolve the legal questions raised therein (Municipal
Council of San Pedro, Laugna vs. Colegio de San Jose, 65 Phil. 318) .
Guardianship (Rules 92 97)

Guardianship is the power of protective authority given by law and imposed on an individual
who is free and in the enjoyment of his rights, over one whose weakness on account of
his age or other infirmity renders him unable to protect himself (Cyclopedic Law
Dictionary, 908). Guardianship may also describe the relation subsisting between the
guardian and the ward. It involves the taking of possession of, or management of, the
estate of another unable to act for himself.
A guardian is a person lawfully invested with power and charged with the duty of taking care
of a person who for some peculiarity or status or defect of age, understanding or self-
control is considered incapable of administering his own affairs (Blacks Law
Dictionary, Fifth Edition).
Kinds of guardians:
According to scope or extent
Guardian of the person one who has been lawfully invested with the care of the
person of minor whose father is dead. His authority is derived out of that of the
parent;
Guardian of the property that appointed by the court to have the management of
the estate of a minor or incompetent person;
General guardians those appointed by the court to have the care and custody of
the person and of all the property of the ward.
According to constitution
Legal those deemed as guardians without need of a court appointment (Art.
225, Family Court);

Guardian ad litem those appointed by courts of justice to prosecute or defend
a minor, insane or person declared to be incompetent, in an action in court;
and
Judicial those who are appointed by the court in pursuance to law, as guardian
for insane persons, prodigals, minor heirs or deceased war veterans and
other incompetent persons.
Under the Family Courts Act of 1997 (RA 8369), the Family Courts are vested with
exclusive original jurisdiction over the following cases:
Criminal case where one or more of the accused is below 18 years of age but less than
9 years of age, or where one or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the
commission of the offense;
Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas corpus in relation to the latter;
Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;
Complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity of marriage and those
relating to marital status and property relations of husband and wife or those living
together under different status and agreements, and petitions for dissolution of
conjugal partnership of gains;
Actions for support and acknowledgment;
Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions of EO 209, the Family
Code;
Petitions for declaration of status of children as abandoned, dependent or neglected
children, petitions for voluntary or involuntary commitment of children; the
suspension, termination, or restoration of parental authority and other cases
cognizable under PD 603, EO 56 (s. 1986), and other related laws;
Petitions for the constitution of family home;
Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended;
Violations of RA 7610, the Anti-Child Abuse Law, as amended by RA 7658;
Cases of domestic violence against women and children;
Guardianship (Rules 92 97)
General powers and duties of guardians (Rule 96)
The powers and duties of a guardian are:

To have care and custody over the person of his ward, and/or the management of his
estate (Sec. 1);
To pay the just debts of his ward out of the latters estate (Sec. 2);
To bring or defend suits in behalf of the ward, and, with the approval of the court,
compound for debts due the ward and give discharges to the debtor (Sec. 3);
To manage the estate frugally and without waste, and apply the income and profits to
the comfortable and suitable maintenance of the ward and his family (Sec. 4);
To sell or encumber the real estate of the ward upon being authorized to do so (Sec. 4);
To join in an assent to a partition of real or personal estate held by the ward jointly or in
common with others (Sec. 5).
Conditions of the bond of the guardian
Under Sec. 1, Rule 94, the conditions for the bond of a guardian are:
To file with the court complete inventory of the estate of the ward within 3 months;

To faithfully execute the duties of his trust to manage and dispose of the estate
according to the Rules for the best interests of the ward, and to provide for the
proper use, custody, and education of the ward;
To render a true account of all the estate, and of the management and disposition of the
same;
To settle his accounts with the court and deliver over all the estate remaining in his
hands to the person entitled thereto;
To perform all orders of the court by him to be performed (Sec. 1; Sec. 14, AM 03-02-
05-SC).
Rule on Guardianship over Minors (AM 03-02-05-SC)
The father and mother shall jointly exercise legal guardianship over the person and property
of their unemancipated common child without the necessity of a court appointment. The
Rule shall be suppletory to the provisions of the Family Code on guardianship (Sec. 1).
On grounds authorized by law, any relative or other person on behalf of a minor, or the
minor himself if 14 years of age or over, may petition the Family Court for the
appointment of a general guardian over the person or property, or both, of such minor.
The petition may also be filed by the Secretary of DSWD and of the DOH in the case of
an insane minor who needs to be hospitalized (Sec. 1).
Grounds of petition (Sec. 4):
Death, continued absence, or incapacity of his parents;
Suspension, deprivation or termination of parental authority;
Remarriage of his surviving parent, if the latter is found unsuitable to exercise parental
authority; or
When the best interest of the minor so requires.
Qualifications of guardians (Sec. 4);
Moral character;
Physical, mental and psychological condition;
Financial status;
Relationship of trust with the minor;
Availability to exercise the powers and duties of a guardian for the full period of the
guardianship;
Lack of conflict of interest with the minor; and
Ability to manage the property of the minor.
Order of preference in the appointment of guardian or the person and/or property of minor
(Sec. 6):
The surviving grandparent and in case several grandparents survive, the court shall
select any of them taking into account all relevant considerations;
The oldest brother or sister of the minor over 21 years of age, unless unfit or
disqualified;
The actual custodian of the minor over 21 years of age, unless unfit or disqualified; and
Any other person, who in the sound discretion of the court, would serve the best
interests of the minor.
Factors to consider in determining custody:
Any extrajudicial agreement which the parties may have bound themselves to comply
with respecting the rights of the minor to maintain direct contact with the non-
custodial parent on a regular basis, except when there is an existing threat or
danger of physical, mental, sexual or emotional violence which endangers the
safety and best interests of the minor;

The desire and ability of one parent to foster an open and loving relationship between
the minor and the other parent;
The health, safety and welfare of the minor;
Any history of child or spousal abuse by the person seeking custody or who has had
any filial relationship with the minor, including anyone courting the parent;
The nature and frequency of contact with both parents;
Habitual use of alcohol, dangerous drugs or regulated substances;
Marital misconduct;
The most suitable physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological and educational
environment for the holistic development and growth of the minor; and
The preference of the minor over 7 years of age and of sufficient discernment, unless
the parent chosen is unfit (Sec. 14, AM No. 03-04-04-SC).
The court shall order a social worker to conduct a case study of the minor and all the
prospective guardians and submit his report and recommendation to the court for its
guidance before the scheduled hearing.
Adoption (Rules 99-100, superseded by AM 02-6-02-SC)

Adoption is a juridical act which creates between two persons a relationship similar to that
which results from legitimate paternity (Prasnick vs. Republic, 98 Phil. 669).
Adoption is a juridical act, a proceeding in rem, which creates between the two persons a
relationship similar to that which results from legitimate paternity and filiation.
Adoption is not an adversarial proceeding. An adversarial proceeding is one having
opposing parties, contested, as distinguished from an ex parte application, one of which
the party seeking relief has given legal warning to the other party and afforded the latter
an opportunity to contest it excludes an adoption proceeding. In adoption, there is no
particular defendant to speak of since the proceeding involves the status of a person it
being an action in rem.
Domestic Adoption Act (RA 8552; AM 02-06-02-SC)
Distinguish domestic adoption from inter-country adoption
Inter-Country
Domestic Adoption Adoption
Governed by RA 8552, the Domestic Adoption Governed by RA 8043, the Inter-Country
Act of 1998; procedure governed by AM No. Adoption Act of 1995; procedure governed by
02-06-02-SC, Aug. 22, 2002. the Amended Implementing Rules and
Regulations on ICAA.
Applies to domestic adoption of Filipino Applies to adoption of a Filipino child in a
children, where the entire adoption process foreign country, where the petition for adoption
beginning from the filing of the petition up to is filed, the supervised trial custody is
the issuance of the adoption decree takes undertaken and the decree of adoption is
place in the Philippines. issued outside of the Philippines.
Who may be adopted Who may be adopted
A child legally available for adoption. Only a legally free child may be adopted.
Requisites: Requisites:
a) Below 18 years of age; and a) Below 15 years of age; and
b) Judicially declared available for adoption. b) Has been voluntarily or involuntarily
Exceptions: committed to the DSWD in accordance with
a) Legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by PD 603.

the other spouse;
b) Illegitimate son/daughter by a qualified
adopter;
c) Person of legal age if, prior to the adoption
said person has been consistently
considered and treated by the adopter/s
as his/her own child since minority.
Who may adopt Who may adopt
A. Filipino Citizens A. Filipino Citizens
1) Of legal age; 1) Permanent resident of a foreign
2) In possession of full civil capacity and country;
legal rights; 2) Has the capacity to act and assume all
3) Of good moral character; rights and responsibilities of parental
4) Has not been convicted of any crime authority under Philippine laws;
involving moral turpitude; 3) Hasundergonethe appropriate
5) Emotionally and psychologically capable counseling from an accredited
of caring for children; counselor in country of domicile;
6) In a position to support and care for 4) Has not been convicted of a crime
his/her children in keeping with the involving moral turpitude;
means of the family; 5) Eligible to adopt under Philippine laws;
7) At least 16 years older than the adoptee 6) In a position to provide the proper care
but this latter requirement may be and support and to give the necessary
waived if (a) the adopter is the biological moral values and example to all his
parent of the adoptee; or (b) the adopter children, including the child to be
is the spouse of the adoptees parent; adopted;
and 7) Agrees to uphold the basic rights of the
8) Permanent resident of the Philippines. child as embodied under Philippine
B. Aliens laws, the UN Convention on Rights of
1) Same qualifications as above, and in the Child, and to abide by the rules and
addition: regulations issued to implement the
2) His/her country has diplomatic relations provisions of the ICAA;
with the Republic of the Philippines; 8) Residing in a country with whom the
3) His/her government allows the adoptee Philippines has diplomatic relations and
to enter his/her country as his/her whose government maintainsa
adopted son/daughter; similarly authorized and accredited
4) Has been living in the Philippines for at agency and that adoption is allowed in
least 3 continuous years prior to the that country;
filing of the application for adoption and 9) Possesses all the qualifications and
maintains such residence until the none of the disqualifications provided in
adoption decree is entered; and the ICAA and in other applicable
5) Has been certified by his/her diplomatic Philippine laws;
or consular office or any appropriate 10) At least 27 years of age at the time of
government agency that he/she has the the application; and
legal capacity to adopt in his/her 11) At least 16 years older than the child to
country. This requirement may be be adopted at the time of application,
waived if (a) a former Filipino citizens unless (a) adopter is the parent by
seeks to adopt a relative within the 4th nature of the child to be adopted; or (b)
degree of consanguinity or affinity; (b) adopter is the spouse of the parent by
one seeks to adopt the legitimate nature of the child to be adopted.
son/daughter of his/her Filipino spouse; B. Aliens
(c) one who is married to a Filipino 1) At least 27 years of age at the time of
citizen and seeks to adopt a relative the application;
within the 4th degree of consanguinity or 2) At least 16 years older than the child to
affinity of the Filipino spouse. be adopted at the time of application

unless the adopter is the parent by
nature of the child to be adopted or the
spouse of such parent;
3) Has the capacity to act and assume all
rights and responsibilities of parental
authority under his national laws;
4) Has undergone the appropriate
counseling from an accredited
counselor in his/her country;
5) Has not been convicted of a crime
involving moral turpitude;
6) Eligible to adopt under his/her national
law;
7) In a position to provide the proper care
and support and to give the necessary
moral values and example to all his
children, including the child to be
adopted;
8) Agrees to uphold the basic rights of the
child as embodied under Philippine
laws, the UN Convention on the Rights
of the Child, and to abide by the rules
and regulations issued to implement the
provisions of the ICAA;
9) Comes from a country with whom the
Philippines has diplomatic relations and
whose government maintains a
similarly authorized and accredited
agency and that adoption is allowed
under his/her national laws; and
10) Possesses all the qualifications and
none of the disqualifications provided in
the ICAA and in other applicable
Philippine laws.
Requirement of Joint Adoption by Spouses Requirement of Joint Adoption by Spouses
General rule: husband and wife shall jointly Rule: if the adopter is married, his/her spouse
adopt; otherwise, the adoption shall not be must jointly file for the adoption.
allowed.
Exceptions:
If one spouse seeks to adopt the
legitimate son/daughter of the other;
If one spouse seeks to adopt his/her own
illegitimate son/daughter but the other
spouse must give his/her consent;
If the spouses are legally separated from
each other.
Procedure Procedure
Where to file application: In the Family Court Where to file application: Either in (a) Family
of the province or city where the Court having jurisdiction over the place where
prospective parents reside. the child resides or may be found, or (b) Inter-
Country Adoption Board (ICAB) through an
intermediate agency, whether governmental or
an authorized and accredited agency, in the

country of the prospective adoptive parents.
After filing: The petition shall not be set for After filing: (a) if filed in the FC, court
hearing without a case study report by determines sufficiency of petition in respect to
a licensed social worker. form and substance, after which, petition is
transmitted to ICAB; (b) if petition is already
with ICAB, it conducts matching of the
applicant with an adoptive child; (c) after
matchmaking, the child is personally fetched
by the applicant for the trial custody which
takes place outside of the Philippines.
Supervised Trial Custody:
Temporary parental authority is vested in Supervised Trial Custody:
prospective adopter; This process takes place outside of the
Period is at least 6 months, but may be country and under the supervision of
reduced by the court motu propio or the foreign adoption agency;
upon motion; For a period of 6 months;
If adopter is alien, the law mandatorily If unsuccessful, ICAB shall look for
requires completion of the 6-month trial another prospective applicant.
custody and may not be reduced, Repatriation of the child is to be
except if: (1) a former Filipino citizen resorted only as a last resort;
seeks to adopt a relative within 4th If successful, ICAB transmits a written
degree of consanguinity or affinity; (2) consent for the adoption to be executed
one seeks to adopt the legitimate by the DSWD, and the applicant then
son/daughter of his/her Filipino spouse; files a petition for adoption in his/her
(3) one who is married to a Filipino country.
citizen and seeks to adopt jointly with
his/her spouse a relative within the 4th
degree of consanguinity or affinity of the
Filipino spouse.
Decree of Adoption: Issued by Philippine

Family Court. Decree of Adoption: Issued by a foreign court.
Consent Required: Written consent of the

following to the adoption is required, in Consent Required:
the form of affidavit: (1) adoptee, if 10
years of age or over; (2) biological Written consent of biological or adopted
parent/s of the child, if known, or the legal children above 10 years of age, in the form
guardian, or the proper government of sworn statement is required to be
instrumentality which has legal custody of attached to the application to be filed with
the child; (3) legitimate and adopted sons the FC or ICAB;
or daughters, 10 years of age or over, of If a satisfactory pre-adoptive relationship is
the adopter/s and adoptee, if any; (4) formed between the applicant and the
illegitimate sons/daughters, 10 years of child, the written consent to the adoption
age of over, of the adopter if living with executed by the DSWD is required.
said adopter and the latters spouse, if
any; (5) spouse, if any, of the person
adopting or to be adopted.
Effects of adoption
Transfer of parental authority except in cases where the biological parent is the spouse of
the adopter, the parental authority of the biological parents shall terminate and the
same shall be vested in the adopters (Sec. 16).

Legitimacy the adoptee shall be considered the legitimate son/daughter of the adopter(s)
for all intents and purposes and as such is entitled to all the rights and obligations
provided by law to legitimate sons/daughters born to them without discrimination of any
kind (Sec. 17).
Successional rights
In legal and intestate succession, the adopter(s) and the adoptee shall have reciprocal
rights of succession without distinction from legitimate filiation (Sec. 18);
However, if the adoptee and his/her biological parent(s) had left a will, the law on
testamentary succession shall govern (Sec. 18);
Art. 18(3) of the Family Code and Sec. 18, Art V of RA 8552 provide that the adoptee
remains an intestate heir of his/her biological parent (Obiter Dictum in In re In the
Matter of Adoption of Stephanie Naty Astorga Garcia, 454 SCRA 541) .
Issuance of new certificate and first name and surname of adoptee
The adoption decree shall state the name by which the child is to be known (Sec. 13).
An amended certificate of birth shall be issued by the Civil Registry attesting to the
fact that the adoptee is the child of the adopter(s) by being registered with his/her
surname (Sec. 14);
The original certificate of birth shall be stamped cancelled with the annotation of the
issuance of an amended birth certificate in its place and shall be sealed in the civil
registry records. The new birth certificate to be issued to the adoptee shall not bear
any notation that it is an amended issue (Sec. 14);
All records, books, and papers relating to the adoption cases in the files of the court, the
DSWD, or any other agency or institution participating in the adoption proceedings
shall be kept strictly confidential and the court may order its release under the
following conditions only: (1) the disclosure of the information to a third person is
necessary for purposes connected with or arising out of the adoption; (2) the
disclosure will be for the best interest of the adoptee; and (3) the court may restrict
the purposes for which it may be used (Sec. 15).
Instances when adoption may be rescinded
Grounds for rescission:

Repeated physical and verbal maltreatment by the adopter(s) despite having undergone
counseling;
Attempt on the life of the adoptee;
Sexual assault or violence; or
Abandonment and failure to comply with parental obligations (Sec. 19).
Prescriptive period:
If incapacitated within five (5) years after he reaches the age of majority;
If incompetent at the time of the adoption within five (5) years after recovery from such
incompetency (Sec. 21, Rule on Adoption).
Effects of rescission of adoption
Parental authority of the adoptees biological parent(s), if known, or the legal custody of the
DSWD shall be restored if the adoptee is still a minor or incapacitated;
Reciprocal rights and obligations of the adopter(s) and the adoptee to each other shall be
extinguished;
Cancellation of the amended certificate of birth of the adoptee and restoration of his/her
original birth certificate; and
Succession rights shall revert to its status prior to adoption, but only as of the date of
judgment of judicial rescission. Vested rights acquired prior to judicial rescission shall
be respected (Sec. 20).

Inter-Country Adoption (RA 8043)
Inter-Country Adoption refers to the socio-legal process of adopting a Filipino child by a
foreigner or a Filipino citizen permanently residing abroad where the petition is filed, the
supervised trial custody is undertaken, and the decree of adoption is issued in the
Philippines (Sec. 3[a]).
When allowed
Inter-country adoptions are allowed when the same shall prove beneficial to the childs best
interests, and shall serve and protect his/her fundamental rights (Sec. 2).
It is allowed when all the requirements and standards set forth under RA 8043 are complied
with.
Functions of the RTC
An application to adopt a Filipino child shall be filed either with the Philippine Regional Trial
Court having jurisdiction over the child, or with the Board, through an intermediate
agency, whether governmental or an authorized and accredited agency, in the country
of the prospective adoptive parents, which application shall be in accordance with the
requirements as set forth in the implementing rules and regulations (Sec. 10).
Best Interest of the Minor Standard
In case of custody cases of minor children, the court after hearing and bearing in mind the
best interest of the minor, shall award the custody as will be for the minors best
interests.
Best interests of the child means the totality of the circumstances and conditions as are
most congenial to the survival, protection, and feelings of security of the child and most
encouraging to his physical, psychological, and emotional development. It also means
the least detrimental available alternative for safeguarding the growth and development
of the child (Sec. 4[g], AM 004-07-SC).
Writ of Habeas Corpus (Rule 102)
Writ of habeas corpus is a writ which has been esteemed to the best and only sufficient
defense of personal freedom having for its object the speedy release by judicial decree
of persons who are illegally restrained of their liberty, or illegally detained from the
control of those who are entitled to their custody (Ballantines Law Dictionary, 2 nd
Edition; Nava vs. Gatmaitan, 90 Phil. 172).
The writ of habeas corpus shall extend to all cases of illegal confinement or detention by which
any person is deprived of his liberty, or by which the rightful custody of any person is
withheld from the person entitled thereto. The function of the special proceeding of habeas
corpus is to inquire into the legality of ones detention. In all petitions for habeas corpus, the
court must inquire into every phase and aspect of the petitioners detention from the moment
petitioner was taken into custody up to the moment the court passes upon the merits of the
petition and only after such scrutiny can the court satisfy itself that the due process clause of
the Constitution has been satisfied. However, once the person detained is duly charged in
court, he may no longer question

his detention by a petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. His remedy then
is the quashal of the information and/or the warrant of arrest duly issued. The reason for
the issuance of the writ even becomes more unavailing when the person detained files
a bond for his temporary release (Sec. 1; Bernarte vs. CA, 75 SCAD 400 [Oct. 18,
1996]).
Habeas corpus may not be used as a means of obtaining evidence on the whereabouts of a
person, or as a means of finding out who has specifically abducted or caused the
disappearance of a certain person (Martinez vs. Dir. Gen. Mendoza, GR 153795, Aug.
17, 2006).
The writs of habeas corpus and certiorari may be ancillary to each other where necessary to
give effect to the supervisory powers of the higher courts. A writ of habeas corpus
reaches the body and the jurisdictional matters, but not the record. A writ of certiorari
reaches the record but not the body. Hence, a writ of habeas corpus may be used with
the writ of certiorari for the purpose of review (Galvez vs. CA, 237 SCRA 685).
The general rule is that the release, whether permanent or temporary, of a detained person
renders the petition for habeas corpus moot and academic, unless there are restraints
attached to his release which precludes freedom of action, in which case the Court can
still inquire into the nature of his involuntary restraint. Petitioners temporary release
does not render the petition for writ moot and academic (Villavicencio vs. Lukban, 39
Phil. 778).
Some instances when the writ may issue:
To inquire into the legality of an order of confinement by a court martial (Ogvir vs. Dir. of
Prisons, 80 Phil. 401);
To test the legality of an aliens confinement and proposed expulsion from the
Philippines (Lao Tang Bun vs. Fabre, 81 Phil. 682);
To enable parents to regain custody of a minor child, even if the latter be in the custody
of a third person of her own free will (Salvaa vs. Gaela, 55 Phil. 680);
To obtain freedom for an accused confined for failure to post bail where the prosecuting
officer unreasonably delays trial by continued postponement (Conde vs. Rivera, 45
Phil. 650);
To give retroactive effect to a penal provision favorable to the accused when the trial
judge has lost jurisdiction by virtue of the finality of the judgment of conviction
(Rodriguez vs. Dir. of Prisons, 57 Phil. 133);
To determine the constitutionality of a statute (People vs. Vera, 65 Phil. 66);
To permit an alien to land in the Philippines (The Huan vs. Collector of Customs, 54
Phil. 129);
To put an end to an immoral situation, as when a minor girl, although preferring to stay
with her employer, maintains illicit relationship with him (Macazo vs. Nuez, L-
12772, Jan. 24, 1956);
When a bond given by an accused entitled thereto is not admitted or excessive bail is
required of him (In re Dick, 38 Phil. 41);
To determine the legality of an extradition (US vs. Rauscher, 119 US 407);
To determine the legality of the action of a legislative body in punishing a citizen for
contempt (Lopez vs. Delos Reyes, 55 Phil. 170);
To obtain freedom after serving minimum sentence when the penalty under an old law
has been reduced by an amendatory law.
Considering that the writ is made enforceable within a judicial region, petitions for the issuance of
the writ of habeas corpus, whether they be filed under Rule 102 of the Rules of Court or
pursuant to Section 20 of A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC, may therefore be filed with any of the
proper RTCs within the judicial region where enforcement thereof is sought.
As regards petitioners assertion that the summons was improperly served, suffice it to
state that service of summons, to begin with, is not required in a habeas corpus petition,

be it under Rule 102 of the Rules of Court or A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC. As held in Saulo v.
Cruz, 105 Phil. 315 (1959), a writ of habeas corpus plays a role somewhat comparable
to a summons, in ordinary civil actions, in that, by service of said writ, the court acquires
jurisdiction over the person of the respondent. (Tujan-Militante v. Cada-Deapara, GR
No. 210636, 07/28/2014).
2007 Bar: Husband H files a petition declaration of nullity of marriage before the RTC of
Pasig City. Wife W files a petition for habeas corpus before the RTC of Pasay City,
praying for custody over their minor child. H files a motion to dismiss the wifes petition
on the ground of the pendency of the other case. Rule. (10%)
Answer: The husbands motion to dismiss his wifes petition for habeas corpus should
be granted because the case for nullity of marriage constitutes litis pendencia. The
custody over the minor child and the action for nullity of the marriage are not separate
causes of action. Judgment on the issue of custody in the nullity of marriage case
before the RTC of Pasig City, regardless of which party would prevail, would constitute
res judicata on the habeas corpus case before the RTC of Pasay City since the former
has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter. The evidence to support the
petition for nullity necessarily involves evidence of fitness to take custody of the child,
as the court in the nullity of proceedings has a duty under the Family Code to protect
the best interest of the child (Yu vs. Yu, GR No. 164915, 03/102006; Sec. 1[e], Rule 16)
and Sec. 2, Rule 102).
2005 Bar: Mariano was convicted by the RTC for raping Victoria and meted the penalty of
reclusion perpetua. While serving sentence at the National Penitentiary, Mariano and
Victoria were married. Mariano filed a motion in said court for his release from the
penitentiary on his claim that under RA 8353, his marriage to Victoria extinguished the
criminal action against him for rape, as well as the penalty imposed on him. However,
the court denied the motion on the found that it had lost jurisdiction over the case after
its decision had become final and executory.
Is the ruling of the court correct? Explain.
What remedy/remedies should the counsel of Mariano take to secure his proper and
most expeditious release from the National Penitentiary? Explain. (7%)
Answer: No. The court can never lose jurisdiction so long as its decision has not yet
been fully implemented and satisfied. Finality of a judgment cannot operate to divest a
court of its jurisdiction to execute and enforce the judgment (Echegaray vs. Secretary of
Justice, 301 SCRA 96 [1999]). Besides, there is a supervening event which renders
execution unnecessary (So vs. CA, 388 SCRA 107 [2002]).
To secure the proper and most expeditious release of Mariano from the National
Penitentiary, his counsel should file (a) a petition for habeas corpus regarding the illegal
confinement of Mariano, or (b) a motion in the court which convicted him, to nullify the
execution of his sentence or the order of his commitment on the ground that a
supervening event had despite the finality of the judgment occurred (Melo vs. People,
85 Phil. 766).
2008 Bar: After Alma had started serving her sentence for violation of Batas Pambansa
Blg. 22, she filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, citing Vaca vs. CA where the
sentence of imprisonment of a party found guilty of violation of BP 22 was reduced to a
fine equal to double the amount of the check involved. She prayed that her sentence be
similarly modified and that she be immediately released from detention. In the
alternative, she prayed that pending determination on whether the Vaca ruling applies
to her, she be allowed to post bail pursuant to Rule 102, Section 14, which provides that
if a person is lawfully imprisoned or restrained on a charge of having committed an
offense not punishable by death, he may be admitted to bail in the discretion of the
court. Accordingly, the trial court allowed Alma to post bail and then

ordered her release. In your opinion, is the order of thr trial court correct under Rule
102? (2%)
Answer: No, Alma who is already convicted by final judgment, cannot be entitled to bail
under Sec. 14, Rule 102. The provision presupposes that she had not been convicted
yet. It provides that if she is lawfully imprisoned or restrained for an offense not
punishable by death, she may be recommitted to imprisonment or admitted to bail in the
discretion of the court or judge. (Rule 102, Section 14; Celeste v. People, 31 SCRA
391; Vicente v. Judge Majaducon, AM No. RTJ-02-1698, 06/23/2005).
2003 Bar: Widow A and her two children, both girls, aged 8 and 12 years old, reside in
Angeles City, Pampanga. A leaves her two daughters in their house at night because
she works in a brothel as a prostitute. Realizing the danger to the morals of these two
girls, B, the father of the deceased husband of A, files a petition for habeas corpus
against A for the custody of the girls in the Family Court in Angeles City. In the said
petition, B alleges that he is entitled to the custody of the two girls because their mother
is living a disgraceful life. The court issues the writ of habeas corpus. When A learns of
the petition and the writ, she brings her two children to Cebu City. At the expense of B,
the sheriff of the said Family Court goes to Cebu City and serves the writ on A. A files
her comment on the petition raising the following defense: B has no personality to
institute the petition. Resolve the petition in the light of the above defense of A. (6%)
Answer: B, father of the deceased husband of A, has the personality to institute the
petition for habeas corpus of the two minor girls, because the grandparent has the right
of custody as against the mother A, who is a prostitute (Sections 2 and 3).
Contents of the petition
Application for the writ shall be by petition signed and verified either by the party for whose
relief it is intended, or by some person on his behalf, and shall set forth:
That the person in whose behalf the application is made is imprisoned or restrained of
his liberty;
The officer or name of the person by whom he is so imprisoned or restrained; or, if both
are unknown or uncertain, such officer or person may be described by an assumed
appellation, and the person who is served with the writ shall be deemed the person
intended;
The place where he is so imprisoned or restrained, if known;
A copy of the commitment or cause of detention of such person, if it can be procured
without impairing the efficiency of the remedy; or, if the imprisonment or restraint is
without any legal authority, such fact shall appear (Sec. 3).
Contents of the Return
When the person to be produced is imprisoned or restrained by an officer, the person who
makes the return shall state therein, and in other cases the person in whose custody
the prisoner is found shall state, in writing to the court or judge before whom the writ is
returnable, plainly and unequivocably:
Whether he has or has not the party in his custody or power, or under restraint;
If he has the party in his custody or power, or under restraint, the authority and the true
and whole cause thereof, set forth at large, with a copy of the writ, order, execution,
or other process, if any, upon which the party is held;
If the party is in his custody or power or is restrained by him, and is not produced,
particularly the nature and gravity of the sickness or infirmity of such party by
reason of which he cannot, without danger, be brought before the court or judge;

If he has had the party in his custody or power, or under restraint, and has transferred
such custody or restraint to another, particularly to whom, at what time, for what
cause, and by what authority such transfer was made (Sec. 10).
Distinguish peremptory writ from preliminary citation
Peremptory writ Preliminary citation

Unconditionally commands the respondent to Requires the respondent to appear and show
have the body of the detained person before cause why the peremptory writ should not be
the court at a time and place therein specified; granted
(Lee Yick Hon vs. Collector of Customs, 41
Phil. 563)
When not proper/applicable
Instances when the writ of habeas corpus is not proper are:

For asserting or vindicating denial of right to bail (Galvez vs. CA, 237 SCRA 685);
For correcting errors in appreciation of facts or appreciation of law where the trial court
had no jurisdiction over the cause, over the person of the accused, and to impose
the penalty provided for by law, the mistake committed by the trial court, in the
appreciation of the facts and/or in the appreciation of the law cannot be corrected
by habeas corpus (Sotto vs. Director of Prisons, May 30, 1962);
Once a person detained is duly charged in court, he may no longer file a petition for
habeas corpus. His remedy would be to quash the information or warrant
(Rodriguez vs. Judge Bonifacio, Nov. 26, 2000).
When writ disallowed/discharged
If it appears that the person alleged to be restrained of his liberty is in the custody of an
officer under process issued by a court or judge or by virtue of a judgment or order of a
court of record, and that the court or judge had jurisdiction to issue the process, render
the judgment, or make the order, the writ shall not be allowed; or if the jurisdiction
appears after the writ is allowed, the person shall not be discharged by reason of any
informality or defect in the process, judgment, or order. Nor shall anything in this rule be
held to authorize the discharge of a person charged with or convicted of an offense in
the Philippines, or of a person suffering imprisonment under lawful judgment (Sec. 4).
Distinguish from writ of Amparo and Habeas Data
Writ of Habeas
Writ of Habeas Corpus Writ of Amparo Data
A remedy available to any A remedy available to any A remedy available to any
person, it covers cases of person whose right to life, person whose right to privacy
illegal confinement or liberty and security is violated in life, liberty or security is
detention by which any or threatened with violation by violated or threatened by an
person is deprived of his an unlawful act or omission of unlawful act or omission of a
liberty, or by which the rightful a public official or employee, public official or employee, or
custody of any person is or of a private individual or of a private individual or entity
withheld from the person entity. The writ covers engaged in the gathering,
entitled thereto. extrajudicial killings and collecting or storing of data or
enforced disappearances or information regarding the
threats thereof. person, family, home and
correspondence of the
BRABANT
ELMER P. E * REMEDIAL LAW REVIEWER 2016 Page 258
aggrieved party.
Who may file petition: Who may file (in order): Who may file (in order):
a) Any member of the a) Any member of the
By the party for whose relief it immediate family: spouse, immediate family:
is intended, or by some children and parents of the spouse, children and
person on his behalf. aggrieved party; parents of the aggrieved
b) Any ascendant, party;
descendant or collateral b) Any ascendant,
relative of aggrieved party descendant or collateral
within the 4th civil degree of relative of aggrieved party
consanguinity or affinity; within the 4th civil degree
c) Any concerned citizen, of consanguinity or
organization, association affinity.
or institution, if no known
member of immediate
family.
Where to file: Where to file: Where to file:
RTC, enforceable within its RTC, Sandiganbayan, CA, SC, CA, Sandiganbayan,
area of jurisdiction. SC; RTC.
CA or SC, enforceable Writ is enforceable anywhere Writ is also enforceable
anywhere in the Philippines. in thePhilippines. (No anywhere in the Philippines.
hierarchy of courts)
Petitioner is exempted to pay Indigent petitioner is
docket and other lawful fees. exempted to pay docket and
other lawful fees.
When issued: When issued: When issued:
Forthwith when a petition Immediately if on its face it Immediately if on its face it
therefor is presented and it ought to be issued; ought to be issued;
appears that the writ ought to Served immediately; Served within 3 days from
issue, Summary hearing set not later issuance;
than seven (7) days from date Summary hearing set not later
of issuance. than ten (10) work days from
date of issuance.
Contents of verified petition: Contents of verified petition: Contents of verified petition:
(a) That the person in whose a) Personal circumstances of a) Personal circumstances of
behalf the application is petitioner and of petitioner and respondent;
made is imprisoned or respondent responsible for b) The manner the right to
restrained of his liberty; the threat, act or omission; privacy is violated or
(b) The officer or name of the b) Violated or threatened right threatened and how it
person by whom he is so to life, liberty and security affects the right to life,
imprisoned or restrained; of aggrieved party, and liberty or security of
or, if both are unknown or how committed with aggrieved party;
uncertain, such officer or attendance circumstances c) Actions and recourses
person may be described detailed in supporting taken by petitioner to
by an assumed affidavits; secure the data or
appellation, and the c) Investigation conducted, information;
person who is served with specifying names, d) Location of files, registers
the writ shall be deemed personal circumstances or databases, government
the person intended; and addresses of office, and the person in
(c) The place where he is so investigating authority or charge, in possession or in
imprisoned or restrained, individuals, as well as control of the data or
if known; manner and conduct of information, if known;
(d) A copy of the investigation together with e) Reliefs prayed for, which
commitment or cause of any report; may include the updating,

detention of such person, d) Actions and recourses rectification, suppression
if it can be procured taken by petitioner to or destruction of the
without impairing the determine the fate or database or information or
efficiency of the remedy; whereabouts of aggrieved files kept by respondent;
or, if the imprisonment or party and identity of person f) In case of threats, relief
restraint is without any responsible for the threat, may include a prayer for
legal authority, such fact act or omission; and an order enjoining the act
shall appear e) The relief prayed for. complained of; and
f) May include general prayer g) Such other reliefs as are
for other just and equitable just and equitable.
reliefs.
Contents of return: Contents of return: Contents of return:
a) Whether he has or has not a) Lawful defenses; a) Lawful defenses such as
the party in his custody or b) Steps or actions taken to national security, state
power, or under restraint; determine whereabouts of secrets, privileged
aggrieved party; communications,
b) If he has the party in his
c) All relevant information confidentiality of source of
custody or power, or under
pertaining to threat, act or information;
restraint, the authority and
omission against b) Disclosure of data/info
the true and whole cause
aggrieved party; about petitioner, nature of
thereof, set forth at large,
d) If respondent is a public data/info, purpose of
with a copy of the writ,
official or employee, further collection;
order, execution, or other
state: (1) verify the identity c) Steps or actions taken by
process, if any, upon
of aggrieved; (2) recover respondent to ensure
which the party is held;
and preserve evidence security and confidentiality
c) If the party is in his related to death or of data or information;
custody or power or is disappearance of person d) Currency and accuracy of
restrained by him, and is identified in petition; (3) data or information;
not produced, particularly identify witnesses and their e) Other allegations relevant
the nature and gravity of statements; (4) determine to resolution of the
the sickness or infirmity of cause, manner, location proceedings.
such party by reason of and time of death or
which he cannot, without disappearance as well as * A general denial of the
danger, be brought before pattern or practice; (5) allegations in the petition is
the court or judge; identify and apprehend not allowed.
person/s involved in the
d) If he has had the party in death/disappearance; (6)
his custody or power, or bring suspected offenders
under restraint, and has before a competent court.
transferred such custody
or restraint to another,
particularly to whom, at
what time, for what cause,
and by what authority such
transfer was made.
Effects of failure to file return: Effects of failure to file return:
The court, justice or judge The court, justice or judge
shall proceed to hear the shall proceed to hear the
petition ex parte. petition ex parte, granting the
petitioner such relief as the
petition may warrant unless
the court in its discretion
requires petitioner to submit
evidence.

Procedure for hearing: Procedure for hearing:
The hearing on the petition The hearing on the petition
shall be summary. However shall be summary. However
the court, justice or judge may the court, justice or judge may
call for a preliminary call for a preliminary
conference to simplify the conference to simplify the
issues and determine the issues and determine the
possibility of obtaining possibility of obtaining
stipulations and admissions stipulations and admissions
from the parties. from the parties.
The hearing shall be from day
to day until completed and
given the same priority as
petitions for habeas corpus.
Interim reliefs available before (Not applicable)
final judgment:
Temporary Protection Order
protected in a government
agency of by an accredited
person or private institution
capable of keeping and
securing their safety;
Inspection Order with a
lifetime of 5 days which
may be extended, may be
opposed on the ground of
national security or
privileged information,
allows entry into and
inspect, measure, survey or
photograph the property;
Production Order to require
respondents to produce
and permit inspection,
copying or photographing
of documents, papers,
books, accounts, letters,
photographs, objects or
tangible things that contain
evidence.
Witness protection order.
Effect of filing criminal action: Effect of filing criminal action:
A criminal action first filed A criminal action first filed
excludes the filing of the writ; excludes the filing of the writ;
relief shall be by motion in the relief shall be by motion in the
criminal case. A criminal case criminal case; A criminal case
filed subsequently shall be filed subsequently shall be
consolidated with the petition consolidated with the petition
for the writ of amparo. for the writ of habeas data.
Appeal: Appeal: Appeal:
To the SC under Rule 45, To the SC under Rule 45, To the SC under Rule 45,
within 48 hours from notice of within 5 days from notice of within 5 days from notice of
judgment (Tan Chin Hui vs. adverse judgment, to be given judgment or final order, to be

Rodriguez, GR 137571, Sept. the same priority as habeas given the same priority as
21, 2000). corpus cases. habeas corpus and amparo
A writ of habeas corpus does Of both questions of law and cases.
not lie where petitioner has of fact.
the remedy of appeal or
certiorari because it will not
be permitted to perform the
functions of a writ of error or
appeal for the purpose of
reviewing mere errors or
irregularities in the
proceedings of a court having
jurisdiction over the person
and the subject matter
(Galvez vs. CA, GR 114046,
Oct. 24, 1994).
Quantum of prof Quantum of proof: Quantum of prof
By substantial evidence.
Preponderance of evidence Private respondent to prove Substantial evidence
ordinary diligence was
observed in the performance
of duty. Public
official/employee respondent
to prove extraordinary
diligence was observed, and
cannot invoke the presumption
that official duty has been
regularly performed to evade
responsibility or liability.
Rules on Custody of Minors and Writ of Habeas

Corpus in Relation to Custody of Minors (AM No.03-04-
04-SC)
The Family Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear petitions for custody of minors
and the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus in relation to custody of minors. The Court
is tasked with the duty of promulgating special rules or procedure for the disposition of
family cases with the best interests of the minor as primary consideration, taking into
account the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It should be clarified
that the writ is issued by the Family Court only in relation to custody of minors. An
ordinary petition for habeas corpus should be filed in the regular Court. The issue of
child custody may be tackled by the Family Court without need of a separate petition for
custody being filed.
The Committee chose the phrase any person claiming custody as it is broad enough to
cover the following: (a) the unlawful deprivation of the custody of a minor; or (b) which
parent shall have the care and custody of a minor, when such parent is in the midst of
nullity, annulment or legal separation proceedings (Sec. 2).
The hearings on custody of minors may, at the discretion of the court, be closed to the
public and the records of the case shall not be released to non-parties without its
approval (Sec. 21).
A motion to dismiss the petition is not allowed except on the ground of lack of jurisdiction
over the subject matter or over the parties. Any other ground that might

warrant the dismissal of the petition shall be raised as an affirmative defense in the
answer (Sec. 6).
Upon the filing of the verified answer of the expiration of the period to file it, the court may
order a social worker to make a case study of the minor and the parties and to submit a
report and recommendation to the court at least three days before the scheduled pre-
trial (Sec. 8).
Hold Departure Order The minor child subject of the petition shall not be brought out of the
country without prior order from the court while the petition is pending. The court motu
propio or upon application under oath may issue ex parte a hold departure order
addressed to the BID of the DOJ a copy of the hold departure order within 24 hours
from its issuance and through the fastest available means of transmittal (Sec.16).
The petition may be filed with the regular court in the absence of the presiding judge of the
Family Court, provided, however, that the regular court shall refer the case to the Family
court as soon as its presiding judge returns to duty. Section 20 of AM No. 03-04-04-SC
states that the writ shall be enforceable within the judicial region to which the Family
Court belongs. Considering that the writ is made enforceable within the judicial region,
petitions for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus, whether they be filed under Rule
102 of the Rules of Court or pursuant to Section 20 of AM No. 03-04-04-SC, may be
filed with any of the proper RTC within the regional region where enforecement thereof
is sought. Furthermore, service of summons is not required in a habeas corpus petition,
be it under Rule 102 of the Rules of Court or AM No. 03-04-04-SC. A writ of habeas
corpus plays a role somewhat comparable to a summons in ordinary civil actions, in
that, by service of said writ, the court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the
respondent (Cada v. Cada-Deapera, GR No. 210636, 07/28/2014) .
Writ of Amparo (AM No. 07-9-12-SC)
Coverage; Distinguish from habeas corpus and habeas data; Who may file;
Contents of return; Effects of failure to file return; Procedure for hearing;
Institution of separate action; Effect of filing of a criminal action; Consolidation;
Interim reliefs available to petitioner and respondent; Quantum of proof in
application for issuance of writ of Amparo
See table above.

The AmparoRule was intended to address the intractable problem of "extralegal killings" and
"enforced disappearances," its coverage, in its present form, is confined to these two
instances or to threats thereof. "Extralegal killings" are "killings committed without due
process of law, i.e., without legal safeguards or judicial proceedings." On the other
hand, "enforced disappearances" are "attended by the following characteristics: an
arrest, detention or abduction of a person by a government official or organized groups
or private individuals acting with the direct or indirect acquiescence of the government;
the refusal of the State to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the person concerned or a
refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty which places such persons outside the
protection of law. (Yusa v. Segui, GR No. 193652, 08/05/2014).
It would be inappropriate to apply to writ of amparo proceedings the Doctrine of Command
Responsibility as a form of criminal complicity through omission, for individual
respondents criminal liability, if there be any, is beyond the reach of amparo. If
command responsibility were to be invoked and applied to amparo proceedings, it
should, at most, be only to determine the author who, at the first instance, is
accountable for, and has the duty to address, the disappearance and harassments
complained of, so as to enable the Court to devise remedial measures that may be

appropriate under the premises to protect rights covered by the writ of amparo (Rubrico,
et al. v. Arroyo, GR No. 183871, 02/18/2010).
Differences between Amparo and search warrant
Writ of Amparo Search Warrant

SEC. 6. Issuance of the Writ. Upon the filing Sec. 4. Requisites for issuing search warrant.
of the A search warrant shall not issue except upon
petition, the court, justice or judge shall probable cause in connection with one specific
immediately order the issuance of the writ if on offense to be determined personally by the
its face it ought to issue. The clerk of court judge after examination under oath or
shall issue the writ under the seal of the court; affirmation of the complainant and the witness
or in case of urgent necessity, the justice or he may produce, and particularly describing
the judge may issue the writ in his or her own the place to be searched and the things to be
hand, and may deputize seized which may be anywhere in the
any officer or person to serve it. The writ shall Philippines.
also set the date and time for summary
hearing of the petition which shall not be later
than seven (7) days from the date of its
issuance.
Omnibus waiver rule
Defenses Not Pleaded Deemed Waived. All defenses shall be raised in the return,
otherwise, they shall be deemed waived (Sec. 10).
Writ of Habeas Data (AM No. 08-1-16-SC)
Scope of writ; Availability of writ; Distinguish from Habeas Corpus and Amparo ;
Who may file; Contents of the petition; Consolidation; Effect of filing of a
criminal action; Institution of separate action
See table above.

The writ of habeas data can be availed of as an independent remedy to enforce ones right
to privacy, more specifically the right to informational privacy. The court still found that
the remedy is wrong in this case. The Supreme Court found that there was no
reasonable expectation of privacy in cases of Facebook photos being posted specially if
there is no evidence to prove that there are only a handful of people who may view the
same. Since there is no informational privacy that may be expected on social media, the
Court found the petition to be without merit (Vivares v. St. Theresas College, GR
No. 202666, 09/29/2014).
Instances when petition may be heard in chambers
A hearing in chambers may be conducted where the respondent invokes the defense that
the release of the data or information in question shall compromise national security or
state secrets, or when the data or information cannot be divulged to the public due to its
nature or privileged character (Sec. 12).

A Habeas Data Petition is dismissible if it fails to adequately show that there exists a nexus
between the right to privacy on the one hand, and the right to life, liberty or security on
the other. Moreover, it is equally dismissible if it is not supported by substantial
evidence showing an actual or threatened violation of the right to privacy in life, liberty
or security of the victim. (Margate Lee v. Ilaga, GR No. 203254, 10/08/2014).
Change of Name (Rule 103)
Differences under Rule 103, RA 9048 and Rule 108
Rule 103 RA 9048 Rule 108

Petition should be filed in the Petitions filed with the city or Verified petition filed in the
RTC where the petitioner municipal civil registrar, or RTC where the corresponding
resides with consul general for Civil Registry is located
citizens living abroad
Civil Registrar is not a party. Civil Registrar is an
Solicitor General to be notified indispensable party. If not
by service of a copy of made a party, proceedings are
petition. null and void. Reason: he is
interested party in protecting
the integrity of public
documents. Solicitor General
must also be notified by
service of a copy of the
petition.
Petition is filed by the person Verified petition in the form of By a person interested in any
desiring to change his name affidavit is filed by any person acts, event, order or decree
having direct and personal
interest in the correction
Involves change of name only Involves first name and All cancellation or correction
nickname of entries of: (a) births; (b)
marriages; (c) deaths; (d)
legal separation; (e)
judgments or annulments of
marriage; (f) judgments
declaring marriages void from
the beginning; (g)
legitimations; (h) adoptions; (i)
acknowledgments of natural
children; (j) naturalizations; (k)
election, loss or recovery of
citizenship; (l) civil interdiction;
(m) judicial determination of
filiation; (n) voluntary
emancipation of a minor; and
(o) changes of name.
Involves substantial changes Involves clerical or Substantial and adversary if
typographical errors change affects the civil status,
citizenship or nationality of a
party; Summary if involves
mere clerical errors (Republic

vs. Valencia, 141 SCRA 462).
Grounds: Grounds: Grounds:
(a) Name is ridiculous, a) First name or nickname Cancellation or correction of
dishonorable or extremely is found to be ridiculous, entries of: (a) births; (b)
difficult to write or tainted with dishonor or marriages; (c) deaths; (d)
pronounce; extremely difficult to write legal separation; (e)
(b) Change is a legal or pronounce; judgments or annulments of
consequence of b) The first name or marriage; (f) judgments
legitimation or adoption; nickname has been declaring marriages void from
(c) Change will avoid habitually and continuous the beginning; (g)
confusion; used by petitioner legitimations; (h) adoptions; (i)
(d) One has continuously publicly known by that acknowledgments of natural
used and been known first name or nickname in children; (j) naturalizations; (k)
since childhood by a the community; election, loss or recovery of
Filipino name and was c) Change will avoid citizenship; (l) civil interdiction;
unaware of alien confusion. (m) judicial determination of
parentage; filiation; (n) voluntary
(e) Change is based on a emancipation of a minor; and
sincere desire to adopt a (o) changes of name.
Filipino name to erase
signs of former alienage,
all in good faith and
without prejudice to
anybody; and
Surname causes
embarrassment and there
is no showing that the
desired change of name
was for a fraudulent
purpose, or that the
change of name would
prejudice public interest
(Republic vs. Hernandez,
68 SCAD 279); Republic
vs. Avila, 122 SCRA 483).
Order for hearing to be Petition shall be published at Order shall also be published
published once a week for least once a week for two once a week for three
three consecutive weeks in a consecutive weeks in a consecutive weeks in a
newspaper of general newspaper of general newspaper of general
circulation in the province. circulation. circulation in the province, and
Also to be posted in a court shall cause reasonable
conspicuous place for ten notice to persons named in
consecutive days. the petition.
Entry is correct but petitioner Entry is incorrect. Cancellation or correction of
desires to change the entry correct or incorrect entries
An appropriate adversary An appropriate administrative An appropriate summary or
proceeding proceeding. adversary proceeding
depending on effects
Requires judicial order Does not require judicial Directed or changed by the
order. city or municipal civil registrar
or consul general without
judicial order
Service of judgment shall be Transmittal of decision to civil Service of judgment shall be
upon the civil register registrar general upon the civil register

concerned concerned
Appeal may be availed of if In case denied by the city or Appeal may be availed of if
judgment or final order municipal civil registrar or the judgment or final order
rendered affects substantial consul general, petitioner may rendered affects substantial
rights of person appealing. either appeal the decision to rights of person appealing, to
the civil register general or file the RTC or to the CA.
appropriate petition with
proper court by petition for
review under Rule 43.
Grounds for change of name
When the name is ridiculous, dishonorable or extremely difficult to write or pronounce;

When the change is a legal consequence of legitimation or adoption;
When the change will avoid confusion;
When one has continuously used and been known since childhood by a Filipino name and
was unaware of alien parentage;
When the change is based on a sincere desire to adopt a Filipino name to erase signs of
former alienage, all in good faith and without prejudice to anybody; and
When the surname causes embarrassment and there is no showing that the desired change
of name was for a fraudulent purpose, or that the change of name would prejudice
public interest (Republic vs. Hernandez, 68 SCAD 279); Republic vs. Avila, 122 SCRA
483).
Absentees (Rule 107)
Stages of absence:
provisional absence
declaration of absence
presumption of death
Purpose of the Rule
The purpose of the Rule is to allow the court to appoint an administrator or representative to
take care of the property of the person who is sought to be judicially declared absent. It also
aims to have the court appoint the present spouse as administrator or administratrix of the
absent spouses properties, or for the separation of properties of the spouses.
Who may file; when to file
The following may file an application for the declaration of absence of a person:
Spouse present;
Heirs instituted in a will, who may present an authentic copy of the same;
Relatives who would succeed by the law of intestacy; and
Those who have over the property of the absentee some right subordinated to the
condition of his death (Sec. 2).
After the lapse of two (2) years from his disappearance and without any news about the
absentee or since the receipt of the last news, or of five (5) years in case the absentee
has left a person in charge of the administration of his property, the declaration of his
absence and appointment of a trustee or administrator may be applied for (Sec. 2).

When a person disappears from his domicile, his whereabouts being unknown, and without
having left an agent to administer his property, or the power conferred upon the agent
has expired, any interested party, relative or friend, may petition the Court of First
Instance of the place where the absentee resided before his disappearance for the
appointment of a person to represent him provisionally in all that may be necessary
(Sec. 1).
Cancellation or Correction of Entries in the Civil Registry (Rule 108)
Entries subject to cancellation or correction under Rule 108, in relation to RA 9048
Upon good and valid grounds, the following entries in the civil register may be cancelled or
corrected: (a) births; (b) marriages; (c) deaths; (d) legal separations; (e) judgments of
annulments of marriage; (f) judgments declaring marriages void from the beginning; (g)
legitimations; (h) adoptions; (i) acknowledgments of natural children; (j) naturalization
(k) election, loss or recovery of citizenship (l) civil interdiction; (m) judicial determination
of filiation; (n) voluntary emancipation of a minor; and (a) changes of name (Sec. 2,
Rule 108).
The petition for change of first names or nicknames may be allowed when such names or
nicknames are ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to write or
pronounce; or the new name or nickname has been used habitually and continuously
petitioner and has been publicly known by that first name or nickname in the
community; or the change will avoid confusion (Sec. 4, RA 9048).
Substantial errors in a civil registry may be corrected and the true facts established provided
the parties aggrieved by the error avail themselves of the appropriate adversary
proceedings. Thus, correcting the entry on Ondes birth certificate that his parents were
married on December 23, 1983 in Bicol to "not married" is a substantial correction
requiring adversarial proceedings. Said correction is substantial as it will affect his
legitimacy and convert him from a legitimate child to an illegitimate one. (Onde v. Office
of the Local Civil Registrar of Las Pinas, GR No. 197174, 09/10/2014) .
2007 Bar: B files a petition for cancellation of the birth certificate of her daughter R on the
ground of falsified material entries therein made by Bs husband as the informant.
The RTC sets the case for hearing and directs the publication of the order once a week
for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation. Summons was
served on the Civil Registrar but there was no appearance during the hearing. The RTC
granted the petition. R filed a petition for annulment of judgment before the Court of
Appeals saying that she was not notified of the petition and hence, the decision was
issued in violation of due process. B opposed, saying that the publication of the court
order was sufficient compliance with due process. Rule (5%).
Answer: Jurisdiction of the court over a petition for the cancellation of a birth certificate
requires reasonable notice to all interested parties and also publication of the order
once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation (Rule
108, Sec. 4). In this case, publication of the order is insufficient because R, a directly
concerned party, was not given reasonable notice, hence, denied due process. The
lower court, therefore, did not acquire jurisdiction. Accordingly, the petition for
annulment of judgment before the Court of Appeals should be granted (Cerulla v.
Delantar, GR No. 140305, 12/09/2005).
2005 Bar: Helen is the daughter of Eliza, a Filipina, and Tony, a Chinese, who is married to
another woman living in China. Her birth certificate indicates that Helen is the legitimate
child of Tony and Eliza and that she is a Chinese citizen. Helen wants her birth
certificate corrected by changing her filiation fro legitimate to illegitimate and

her citizenship from Chinese to Filipino because her parents were not married. What
petition should Helen file and what procedural requirements must be observed?
Explain. (5%)
Answer: A petition to change the record of birth by changing the filiation from
legitimate to illegitimate and petitioners citizenship from Chinese to Filipino
because her parents were not married, does not involve a simple summary correction of
her certificate of birth, which could otherwise be done under the authority of RA 9048. A
petition has to be filed in and adversarial proceeding under Rule 108, which has now
been interpreted to be adversarial in nature. Procedural requirements include: (a) filing
a verified petition; (b) naming as parties all persons who have or claim any interest
which could be affected; (c) issuance of an order fixing the time and place of hearing;
giving reasonable notice to the parties named in the petition; and (e) publication of the
order once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
(Co v. The Civil Registrar of Manila, 423 SCRA 420 [2004]) .
Appeals in Special Proceeding (Rule 109)
Judgments and orders for which appeal may be taken
An interested person may appeal in special proceedings from an order or judgment

rendered by a Court of First Instance or a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court,
where such order or judgment:
Allows or disallows a will;
Determines who are the lawful heirs of a deceased person, or the distributive share of
the estate to which such person is entitled;
Allows or disallows, in whole or in part, any claim against the estate of a deceased
person, or any claim presented on behalf of the estate in offset to a claim against it;
Settles the account of an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian;
Constitutes, in proceedings relating to the settlement of the estate of a deceased
person, or the administration of a trustee or guardian, a final determination in the
lower court of the rights of the party appealing, except that no appeal shall be
allowed from the appointment of a special administrator; and
Is the final order or judgment rendered in the case, and affects the substantial rights of
the person appealing, unless it be an order granting or denying a motion for a new
trial or for reconsideration (Sec. 1).
When to appeal
Appeals in special proceedings necessitate a record on appeal as the original record should
remain with the trial court, hence the reglementary period of thirty (30) days is provided
for the perfection of appeals in special proceedings.
Modes of appeal
While under the concept in ordinary civil actions some of the orders stated in Sec. 1 may be
considered interlocutory, the nature of special proceedings declares them as
appealable orders, as exceptions to the provisions of Sec., Rule 41. Thus:
Ordinary appeal. The appeal to the CA in cases decided by the RTC in the exercise of
its original jurisdiction shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal with the court which
rendered the judgment or final order appealed from and serving a copy thereof upon
the adverse party. No record on appeal shall be required except in special
proceedings and other cases of multiple or separate appeals where the law

or the Rules so require. In such cases, the record on appeal shall be filed and
served in like manner.
Petition for review. The appeal to the CA in cases decided by the RTC in the
exercise of its appellate jurisdiction shall be by petition for review in
accordance with Rule 42.
Petition for review on certiorari. In all cases where only questions of law are raised
or involved, the appeal shall be to the SC by petition for review on certiorari in
accordance with Rule 45.
Rule on Advance Distribution
Notwithstanding a pending controversy or appeal in proceedings to settle the estate of

a decedent, the court may, in its discretion and upon such terms as it may deem
proper and just, permit that such part of the estate as may not be affected by the
controversy or appeal be distributed among the heirs or legatees, upon compliance
with the conditions set forth in Rule 90 of these rules (Sec. 2).

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PART II

Subject Matters of Special Proceedings: CATCH AGED SCRAM (Rules 72 109)

ELMER P. BRABANTE * REMEDIAL LAW REVIEWER 2016 Page 223

Settlement of Estate of Deceased Persons, Venue and Process (Rule 73)

Which court has jurisdiction

Venue in judicial settlement of estate

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Extent of jurisdiction of Probate Court

Powers and Duties of Probate Court

In probate proceedings, the court:

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Summary Settlement of Estates (Rule 74)

Summary settlement of estate is a judicial proceeding wherein, without the appointment of

ELMER P. BRABANTE * REMEDIAL LAW REVIEWER 2016 Page 226

Extrajudicial settlement by agreement between heirs, when allowed

Judicial proceedings for settlement of estate

The following is the summary of judicial proceedings for settlement of estate:

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Affidavit of Self-adjudication by sole heir

Summary settlement of estates of small value, when allowed

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Remedies of aggrieved parties after extra-judicial settlement of estate

Production and Probate of Will (Rule 75)

Nature of probate proceeding

Probate of a will is a proceeding in rem. It cannot be dispensed with and substituted by

Who may petition for probate; persons entitled to notice

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Allowance or Disallowance of Will (Rule 76)

Contents of petition for allowance of will

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Grounds for disallowing a will

(1) The will shall be disallowed in any of the following cases;

Reprobate; Requisites before will proved outside allowed in the

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Letters Testamentary and of Administration (Rule 78)

When and to whom letters of administration granted

No person is competent to serve as executor or administrator who:

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Priority in selecting an administrator

Opposition to issuance of letters testamentary;

Powers and duties of Executors and Administrators;

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Appointment of Special Administrator

When there is delay in granting letters testamentary or of administration by any cause

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Administration revoked if will discovered. Proceedings thereupon. If after letters of

Claims Against the Estate (Rule 86)

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Time within which claims shall be filed; exceptions

Claim of Executor or administrator against the Estate

Payment of Debts (Rule 88)

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Applicable provisions under the Civil Code:

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Actions by and against Executors and Administrators (Rule 87)

Actions that may be brought against executors and administrators