Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 1456
Topic
Implied Trusts
Status
In force
Book
BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
Title
TITLE V TRUSTS
Chapter
CHAPTER 3 Implied Trusts
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

If property is acquired through mistake or fraud, the person obtaining it is, by force of law, considered a trustee of an implied trust for the benefit of the person from whom the property comes.

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

When a person acquires property through mistake or fraud, the law treats them as a trustee of an implied (constructive) trust for the benefit of the person the property truly came from. The wrongful acquirer holds only for the rightful owner and must reconvey. This is a key basis for actions for reconveyance.

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

Cases applying this article

Other Supreme Court decisions also apply this article.

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 1456 is found in CHAPTER 3 Implied Trusts of TITLE V TRUSTS of BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

Browse the Civil Code

Search Philippine statutes on Intellegal →

Continue your research on Intellegal

Search Philippine statutes on Intellegal →

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 Provisions may have been amended or repealed.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.