Philippine Civil Code Art. 971: Legal or Intestate

Statute: Philippine Civil Code
Article: Art. 971
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
Year: 1949
Cited by: A Supreme Court decision

The provision

The representative is called to the succession by the law and not by the person represented. The representative does not succeed the person represented but the one whom the person represented would have succeeded. (n)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

Explains how representation works in inheritance: the representative (for example, a grandchild standing in for a deceased parent) is called to inherit directly by law, not by the person represented. The representative therefore takes what the represented person would have received from the deceased, stepping into that place in the line of succession.

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

Cases applying this article

Sayson v. Court of Appeals G.R. No. 89224

Civil Code, Art. 971 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 Provisions may have been amended or repealed.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.