Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 532
Topic
Acquisition of Possession
Status
In force
Book
BOOK II PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP, AND ITS MODIFICATIONS
Title
TITLE V POSSESSION
Chapter
CHAPTER 2 Acquisition of Possession
Formerly
Art. 439a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
Multiple Supreme Court decisions

The provision

Possession may be acquired by the same person who is to enjoy it, by his legal representative, by his agent, or by any person without any power whatever: but in the last case, the possession shall not be considered as acquired until the person in whose name the act of possession was executed has ratified the same, without prejudice to the juridical consequences of negotiorum gestio in a proper case. (439a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

Possession can be acquired by the person who will enjoy it, by a legal representative or agent, or even by someone acting with no authority at all. In that last case, possession is not treated as acquired until the person in whose name the act was done ratifies it — without prejudice to the rules on negotiorum gestio (unauthorized management of another's affairs).

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

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 532 is found in CHAPTER 2 Acquisition of Possession of TITLE V POSSESSION of BOOK II PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP, AND ITS MODIFICATIONS 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 Provisions may have been amended or repealed.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.