Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 960
Topic
Legal or Intestate Succession
Status
In force
Book
BOOK III DIFFERENT MODES OF ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP Preliminary Provision
Title
TITLE IV SUCCESSION
Chapter
CHAPTER 3 Legal or Intestate Succession
Formerly
Art. 912a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
A Supreme Court decision

The provision

Legal or intestate succession takes place: (1) If a person dies without a will, or with a void will, or one which has subsequently lost its validity; (2) When the will does not institute an heir to, or dispose of all the property belonging to the testator. In such case, legal succession shall take place only with respect to the property of which the testator has not disposed; (3) If the suspensive condition attached to the institution of heir does not happen or is not fulfilled, or if the heir dies before the testator, or repudiates the inheritance, there being no substitution, and no right of accretion takes place; (4) When the heir instituted is incapable of succeeding, except in cases provided in this Code. (912a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

Intestate (legal) succession—where the law rather than a will decides who inherits—applies when: a person dies with no valid will or one that later lost effect; a will fails to name an heir or leaves some property undisposed; or an heir cannot take because a condition failed, he died before the testator, repudiated the inheritance, or was incapable, with no substitution or accretion. Then the law governs the affected property.

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

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Civil Code, Art. 960 is found in CHAPTER 3 Legal or Intestate Succession of TITLE IV SUCCESSION 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 Provisions may have been amended or repealed.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.