Palaganas V Palaganas Digest
Palaganas V Palaganas Digest
Palaganas V Palaganas Digest
PALAGANAS
Summary: Ruperta, a naturalized US citizen, executed a will in the US, but left properties in the
US. Her brother Ernesto filed for the probate of the will. Her nephews opposed, arguing that the
will should be probated in the US, where it was executed. RTC admitted it into probate, CA
affirmed, SC affirmed.
Doctrine: A foreign will can be given effect in our jurisdiction. To do this, the Rules do not
require proof that the will has already been allowed and probated in the country of its execution.
They merely require that the petition for the allowance of the will show, among others, the
jurisdictional facts.
Facts:
● Ruperta Palaganas, a Filipino who became a naturalized US citizen, died single and
childless. She named her brother Sergio as executor of her will since she left properties
in the Philippines.
● Respondent Ernesto, another brother of the deceased, filed with the RTC of Malolos,
Bulacan a petition for the probate of Ruperta’s will and for his appointment as special
administrator of her estate.
● Petitioners Manuel and Benjamin, nephews of the deceased, opposed the petition on the
ground that Ruperta’s will should not be probated in the Philippines, but in the US, where
she executed it.
● RTC: Admitted the will to probate; appointed Ernesto as special administrator at Sergio’s
(US based) request; issued letters of administration to Ernesto.
● CA: Affirmed the RTC.
Ruling:
● Petition denied.