CIVIL LAW

2024 Bar Examinations

Office of the Bar Chairperson

I. EFFECT AND APPLICATION OF LAWS

A. When Law Takes Effect; Publication (Civil Code, art. 2)

B. Ignorance of the Law; (Civil Code, art. 3) Ignorance of Fact

C. Retroactivity of Laws (Civil Code, art. 4); Vested Rights Principle

D. Mandatory, Prohibitory and Permissive Laws (Civil Code, art. 5)

E. Waiver of Rights (Civil Code, art. 6)

F. Repeal of Laws (Civil Code, art. 7)

G. Judicial Decision (Civil Code, art. 8)

H. Duty to Render Judgment (Civil Code, art. 9)

I. Interpretation of Doubtful Statutes (Civil Code, art. 10)

J. Custom (Civil Code, arts. 11-12)

K. Legal Periods (Civil Code, art. 13, as amended by Book I, chapter 8, sec. 31 of
the Administrative Code of 1987 (E.O. No. 292))

L. Generality Principle of Penal Laws (Civil Code, art. 14)

M. Conflict of Laws (Civil Code, arts. 15-18)

1. Jurisdiction; Forum Non Conveniens
2. Choice of Law; Doctrine of Renvoi; Doctrine of Processual Presumption
a. Lex Nationalii
b. Lex Rei Sitae
c. Lex Contractus
d. Lex Loci Celebrationis
e. Lex Domicilii
f. Lex Fori
g. Lex Loci Delicti
h. Lex Loci Solutionis
3. Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgment

II. HUMAN RELATIONS

A. Abuse of Rights (Civil Code, arts. 19-22)

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 1. Acts Contra Bonus Mores
2. Breach of Promise of Marriage

B. Unjust Enrichment (Civil Code, arts. 22-23 and 2142-2143)

C. Thoughtless Extravagance (Civil Code, art. 25)

D. Tortious Interference (Civil Code, art. 1314)

III. PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS

A. Natural Persons
1. Capacity to Act; Restrictions – Civil Code, arts. 37-39
2. Commencement and End of Civil Personality – Civil Code, arts. 40-42
3. Proof of Death – Civil Code, art. 43; Rules of Court, Rule 131, sec. 3 (jj)

B. Juridical Persons (Civil Code, arts. 44-47)

C. Domicile; Residence (Civil Code, arts. 50-51)

D. Surnames (Civil Code, arts. 364-380; Family Code, arts. 176, 189 and 193; R.A.
No. 9048; R.A. No. 10172)

E. Absentees (Civil Code, arts. 381-396)

F. Marriage; General Principles (Family Code, art. 1)

*Exclude: Muslim Code (P.D. No. 1083)
1. Essential and Formal Requisites – Family Code, arts. 1-3, 5-11, 20-21, 26
and 31-35
*Exclude: Duties of a Civil Registrar – Family Code, arts. 12-19 and 23-25
2. Effects of Absence, Defect or Irregularity – Family Code, art. 4

G. Mixed Marriages (Family Code, art. 26)

H. Void Marriages; Effects and Remedies (Family Code, arts. 35-44 and 50-54)

I. Voidable Marriages; Effects and Remedies (Family Code, arts. 45-54)

*Exclude: A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC and R.A. No. 6955

J. Legal Separation (Family Code, art. 55-67)

*Exclude: A.M. No. 02-11-11-SC

K. Property Relations Between Spouses (Family Code, arts. 74-81)

1. Donation Propter Nuptias; Void Donations – Family Code, arts. 82-83, 86-
87, 43(3) and 50
2. Marriage Settlements – Family Code, arts. 75-81
a. Absolute Community of Property Regime – Family Code, arts. 84
and 88-104

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 b. Conjugal Partnership of Gains Regime – Family Code, arts. 105-
133
c. Separation of Property Regime – Family Code, arts. 143-146
3. Judicial Separation of Property – Family Code, arts. 134-142
4. Property Regime of Unions Without Marriage – Family Code, arts. 147-
148

L. Rights and Obligations Between Husband and Wife (Family Code, arts. 68-73)
*Exclude: R.A. No. 7192; R.A. No. 8187; R.A. No. 9710

M. The Family; Family Home (Family Code, arts. 149-162)

N. Paternity and Filiation

1. Concepts of Paternity, Filiation and Legitimacy – Family Code, art. 163
2. Legitimate and Illegitimate Children – Family Code, arts. 164-165 and
167-169
a. Proof of Filiation – Family Code, arts. 172, 173 and 175
b. Rights of Legitimate Children – Family Code, art. 174
c. Rights of Illegitimate Children – Family Code, art. 176 as amended
by R.A. No. 9255
d. Action to Impugn Legitimacy – Family Code, arts. 166 and 170-
171
3. Legitimated Children – Family Code, arts. 177-182; R.A. No. 9858
*Exclude: A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC
a. Rights of Legitimated Children – Family Code, art. 179
b. Action to Impugn Legitimacy – Family Code, art. 182
4. Adopted Children
a. Domestic Administrative Adoption and Alternative Child Care
Act – R.A. No. 11642
b. Inter-Country Adoption Act – R.A. No. 8043
c. Simulated Birth Rectification Act – R.A. No. 11222

O. Support (Family Code, arts. 194-208)

P. Parental Authority (Family Code, arts. 209-233)

*Exclude: A.M. No. 03-02-05-SC; A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC; R.A. No. 8972, as
amended; R.A. No. 8980; R.A. No. 9231

IV. PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP, AND ITS MODIFICATIONS

A. Classification of Property
1. Immovables and Movables – Civil Code, arts. 414-418
2. Public Dominion; Patrimonial; Private – Civil Code, arts. 419-425

B. Ownership (Civil Code, arts. 427-439)

C. Right of Accession; Movables and Immovable (Civil Code, arts. 440-475)

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 D. Quieting of Title (Civil Code, arts. 476-481)

E. Co-Ownership (Civil Code, arts. 484-501); Condominium Act (R.A. No. 4726,
as amended)

F. Possession (Civil Code, arts. 523-561)

G. Actions to Recover Ownership and Possession of Real Property

1. Accion Interdictal
2. Accion Publiciana
3. Accion Reivindicatoria

H. Easements; Easement of Right of Way (Civil Code, arts. 613-619 and 649-657)

I. Nuisance (Civil Code, arts. 694-707)

V. DIFFERENT MODES OF ACQUIRING OWNERSHIP (Civil Code, art. 712)

A. Occupation (Civil Code, arts. 713-720)

B. Donation (Civil Code, arts. 725-773)

C. Prescription (Civil Code, arts. 1106-1155)

VI. LAND TITLES AND DEEDS

A. Regalian Doctrine (1987 CONST., art. XII, sec. 2)

B. Nationality Restrictions on Land Ownership (1987 CONST., art. XII, secs. 7-8)

C. Registry of Property (Civil Code, arts. 708-711)

D. Torrens System; Certificate of Title (P.D. No. 1529, secs. 39 and 44)

E. Original Registration
1. Who May Apply – P.D. No. 1529, secs. 14, as amended by R.A. No. 11573;
C.A. No. 141, as amended; R.A. No. 8371, sec. 12
2. Decree of Registration – P.D. No. 1529, sec. 31
3. Review of Decree of Registration – P.D. No. 1529, sec. 32
4. Innocent Purchaser for Value; Rights – P.D. No. 1529, sec. 32

F. Confirmation of Imperfect Titles (R.A. No. 11573)

G. Subsequent Registration (P.D. No. 1529, secs. 51-53)

1. Voluntary Dealings – P.D. No. 1529, secs. 55-59
2. Involuntary Dealings – P.D. No. 1529, secs. 69, 74 and 76; Adverse
Claims and Notice of Lis Pendens – P.D. No. 1529, secs. 70 and 77

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 H. Non-Registrable Properties (Civil Code, art. 420)

I. Dealings with Unregistered Lands (P.D. No. 1529, sec. 113)

J. Assurance Fund (P.D. No. 1529, secs. 93-102)

K. Reconstitution of Title (P.D. No. 1529, sec. 110)

VII. WILLS AND SUCCESSION

A. General Provisions (Civil Code, arts. 774-782)

B. Testamentary Succession
1. Wills – Civil Code, arts. 783-795
2. Testamentary Capacity – Civil Code, arts. 796-803
3. Notarial and Holographic Wills; Joint Will – Civil Code, arts. 804-819
4. Witnesses to a Notarial Will; Qualifications and Disqualifications – Civil
Code, arts. 820-824
5. Codicils and Incorporation by Reference – Civil Code, arts. 825-827
6. Conflict Rules – Civil Code, arts. 16-17
7. Revocation of Wills – Civil Code, arts. 828-834
8. Republication and Revival of Wills – Civil Code, arts. 835-837
9. Allowance and Disallowance of Wills – Civil Code, arts. 838-839
10. Institution and Substitution of Heirs – Civil Code, arts 840-870
11. Dispositions with a Condition or Term – Civil Code, arts. 871-885
12. Compulsory Heirs; Legitime – Civil Code, arts. 886-914
13. Disinheritance – Civil Code, arts. 915-923
14. Legacies and Devises – Civil Code, arts. 924-959

C. Intestate Succession
1. Causes of Intestacy and Relationship – Civil Code, arts. 960-969
2. Right of Representation – Civil Code, arts. 970-977
3. Order of Intestate Succession – Civil Code, arts. 978-1014

D. Provisions Common to Testate and Intestate Succession (Civil Code, arts. 1015-
1105)

VIII. OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS

A. Obligations
1. Civil and Natural Obligations – Civil Code, arts. 1423-1430
2. General Provisions – Civil Code, arts. 1156-1162
3. Nature and Effect of Obligations – Civil Code, arts. 1163-1178
4. Different Kinds of Obligations – Civil Code, arts. 1179-1230
5. Extinguishment of Obligations – Civil Code, arts. 1231-1304

B. Contracts
1. Essential Requisites of Contract – Civil Code, art. 1318

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 a. Consent – Civil Code, arts. 1319-1346
b. Object – Civil Code, arts. 1347-1349
c. Cause – Civil Code, arts. 1350-1355
2. Principles of Contracts – Civil Code, arts. 1159 and 1305-1317
a. Obligatory Force
b. Autonomy
c. Relativity
d. Consensuality
e. Mutuality
3. Real vs. Consensual Contracts; Forms, Reformation and Interpretation
– Civil Code, arts. 1356-1379
4. Defective Contracts
a. Rescissible – Civil Code, arts. 1380-1389
b. Voidable – Civil Code, arts. 1390-1402
c. Unenforceable – Civil Code, arts. 1403-1408
d. Void – Civil Code, arts. 1409-1422

C. Estoppel (Civil Code, arts. 1431-1439)

IX. CONTRACT OF SALE

A. Nature and Form (Civil Code, arts. 1458-1488)

1. Contract of Sale vs. Contract to Sell
2. Option Contract
3. Right of First Refusal
4. Earnest Money in Contract of Sale and Contract to Sell

B. Capacity to Buy or Sell (Civil Code, arts. 1489-1492)

C. Obligations of the Vendor (Civil Code, arts. 1459-1505)

D. Double Sale (Civil Code, art. 1544)

E. Effects of Loss of Thing Sold (Civil Code, arts. 1493-1494)

F. Recto Law (Civil Code, art. 1484)

G. Maceda Law (R.A. No. 6552)

H. Rights of Unpaid Seller (Civil Code, arts. 1525-1535)

I. Conventional Redemption (Civil Code, arts. 1601 and 1606-1618); Legal

Redemption (Civil Code, arts. 1619-1623)

J. Equitable Mortgage (Civil Code, arts. 1602-1605)

X. CONTRACT OF LEASE

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 A. General Provisions (Civil Code, arts. 1642-1645)

B. Rights and Obligations of Lessor and Lessee (Civil Code, arts. 1654-1679)

C. Sublease and Assignment of Lease (Civil Code, arts. 1649-1652)

XI. AGENCY

A. Nature, Form, and Kinds (Civil Code, arts. 1868-1883)

B. Obligations of Agent and Principal (Civil Code, arts. 1864-1918)

C. Extinguishment (Civil Code, arts. 1919-1932)

XII. CREDIT TRANSACTIONS

A. Mutuum and Commodatum (Civil Code, arts. 1933-1961)

B. Deposit (Civil Code, arts. 1962-2009)

C. Guaranty and Suretyship (Civil Code, arts. 2047-2081)

D. Real Estate Mortgage (Civil Code, arts. 2124-2126 and 2128-2131)

E. Personal Property Security Act (R.A. No. 11057)

XIII. COMPROMISE AGREEMENT (Civil Code, arts. 2028-2041)

XIV. QUASI-CONTRACTS (Civil Code, arts. 2142-2143)

A. Negotiorium Gestio (Civil Code, arts. 2144-2153)

B. Solutio Indebiti (Civil Code, arts. 2154-2163)

C. Other Quasi-Contracts (Civil Code, arts. 2164-2175)

XV. TORTS AND DAMAGES

A. Common Principles
1. Torts vs. Crimes
2. Torts vs. Contracts

B. Classification of Torts
1. Negligence – Civil Code, arts. 2176-2194
2. Degrees of Diligence and Negligence; Presumption
3. Intentional – Civil Code, arts. 19-35
4. Strict Liability – Civil Code, arts. 2183-2193; R.A. No. 7394, arts. 97-102

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 C. The Tortfeasor; Joint and Direct Liabilities (Civil Code, art. 2194)

D. Proximate Cause; Concept; Doctrine of Last Clear Chance

E. Vicarious Liability (Civil Code, art. 2180; Family Code, art. 211)

F. Res Ipsa Loquitur

G. Damnum Absque Injuria

H. Defenses in Tort Actions

I. Medical Negligence and Malpractice

J. Damages; Kinds of Damages; When May Be Recovered (Civil Code, arts. 2197
and 2216)
1. Actual and Compensatory Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2199-2215
2. Moral Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2217-2220
3. Nominal Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2221-2223
4. Temperate or Moderate Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2224-2225
5. Liquidated Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2226-2228
6. Exemplary or Corrective Damages – Civil Code, arts. 2229-2235

K. Damages in Case of Death

L. Duty of Injured Party

NOTE: All Bar candidates should be guided that only laws, rules, issuances, and
jurisprudence pertinent to the topics in this syllabus as of June 30, 2023 are within the
coverage of the 2024 Bar Examinations.

-NOTHING FOLLOWS-