Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 1217
Topic
Different Kinds of Obligations
Status
In force
Book
BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
Title
TITLE I Obligations
Chapter
CHAPTER 3 Different Kinds of Obligations
Formerly
Art. 1145a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

Payment made by one of the solidary debtors extinguishes the obligation. If two or more solidary debtors offer to pay, the creditor may choose which offer to accept. He who made the payment may claim from his co-debtors only the share which corresponds to each, with the interest for the payment already made. If the payment is made before the debt is due, no interest for the intervening period may be demanded. When one of the solidary debtors cannot, because of his insolvency, reimburse his share to the debtor paying the obligation, such share shall be borne by all his co-debtors, in proportion to the debt of each. (1145a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

Payment by any one solidary debtor discharges the whole debt; if several offer to pay, the creditor may choose whose payment to accept. The one who paid may recover from each co-debtor only that co-debtor's share, plus interest, but no interest for paying before the debt was due. A co-debtor's share that he cannot pay due to insolvency is shouldered by the others in proportion to their debts.

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

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 1217 is found in CHAPTER 3 Different Kinds of Obligations of TITLE I Obligations of BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

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