Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 1140
Topic
Prescription of Actions
Status
In force
Book
BOOK III DIFFERENT MODES OF ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP Preliminary Provision
Title
TITLE V PRESCRIPTION
Chapter
CHAPTER 3 Prescription of Actions
Formerly
Art. 1962a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

Actions to recover movables shall prescribe eight years from the time the possession thereof is lost, unless the possessor has acquired the ownership by prescription for a less period, according to articles 1132, and without prejudice to the provisions of articles 559, 1505, and 1133. (1962a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

A suit to recover movable (personal) property must be brought within eight years from when possession was lost. This limit does not apply if the current holder has already acquired ownership through a shorter prescriptive period, and it yields to other rules protecting good-faith acquirers.

An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.

Intellegal Wiki · How the courts apply it

In Calatagan Golf Club v. Sixto Clemente, Jr., the Supreme Court held: The Corporation Code's rule on unpaid stock subscriptions does not govern membership dues of fully paid shares; an action to recover such shares prescribes in eight years (Article 1140), and a club that acts in bad faith in giving notice is liable in damages.

One leading Supreme Court case applying this provision.

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 1140 is found in CHAPTER 3 Prescription of Actions of TITLE V PRESCRIPTION of BOOK III DIFFERENT MODES OF ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP Preliminary Provision of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

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Reviewed by the Intellegal Legal Team for currency against amending laws and Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Research aid — not legal advice. Verify the current text against the Official Gazette. Provisions may have been amended or repealed. Using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer.