- Statute
- Civil Code
- Article
- Art. 1544
- Topic
- Obligations of the Vendor
- Status
- In force
- Book
- BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
- Title
- TITLE VI SALES
- Chapter
- CHAPTER 4 Obligations of the Vendor
- Formerly
- Art. 1473 of the old Civil Code
- Year
- 1949
- Cited by
- Multiple Supreme Court decisions
The provision
If the same thing should have been sold to different vendees, the ownership shall be transferred to the person who may have first taken possession thereof in good faith, if it should be movable property. Should it be immovable property, the ownership shall belong to the person acquiring it who in good faith first recorded it in the Registry of Property. Should there be no inscription, the ownership shall pertain to the person who in good faith was first in the possession; and, in the absence thereof, to the person who presents the oldest title, provided there is good faith. (1473)
Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms
When the same thing is sold to two or more buyers, the law sets who gets ownership. For movable property it goes to the first buyer to take possession in good faith. For immovable property it goes to the buyer who in good faith first records it; if none recorded, to the first good-faith possessor; and finally to whoever holds the oldest title in good faith.
An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.
Cases applying this article
- Mr. v. Mr. G.R. No. 222530
- Rosita G. Tan v. Tan G.R. No. 125861
- Hipolito Agustin v. Romana de Vera G.R. No. 233455
- Heirs of Ciriaco Bayog-Ang v. Florence Quinones G.R. No. 205680
- Rustico Mcgurk Baldoz v. Marlene D. Pecson G.R. No. 240232
- Hospicio D. Rosaroso v. Lucila Laborte Soria G.R. No. 194846
- The Roman Catholic Church v. Regino Pante G.R. No. 174118
- Anthony Orduña v. Eduardo J. Fuentebella G.R. No. 176841
Other Supreme Court decisions also apply this article.