ORDER OF INTESTATE SUCCESSION

Compulsory Heirs in Legitimes Intestate Heirs

1. Legitimate child/descendant 1. Legitimate child/descendant
2. Illegitimate child/descendant 2. Illegitimate child/descendant
3. Legitimate parent/ascendant 3. Legitimate parent/ascendant
4. Illegitimate parent 4. Illegitimate parent
5. Surviving Spouse 5. Surviving Spouse
6. Brother/sister
Nephew/niece
7. Other collaterals up to the 5th degree
8. State

Notes:
- The first 5 intestate heirs exclude the last 3, except intestate heirs 5&6, who will concur

RULES OF EXCLUSION AND CONCURRENCE IN INTESTACY

Excludes Concurs with Excluded by

Legitimate children • Parents • Surviving spouse
• Collaterals • Illegitimate children No one
• The state
Illegitimate children • Illegitimate parents • Surviving spouse
• Collaterals • Legitimate children No one
• The state • Legitimate parents
Legitimate parents • Collaterals • Illegitimate children Legitimate children
• The state • Surviving spouse
Illegitimate parents • Collaterals • Surviving spouse • Legitimate children
• The state • Illegitimate children
Surviving spouse • Collaterals other • Legitimate &
than brothers, illegitimate children
sisters, nephews, • Legitimate & No one
nieces illegitimate parents
• The state • Brothers, sisters,
nephews & nieces
Brothers & sisters, • All other collaterals • Surviving spouse • Legitimate &
nephews & nieces • The state illegitimate children
• Legitimate &
illegitimate parents
Other collaterals • Collaterals in • Collaterals in the • Legitimate &
remoter degrees same degree illegitimate children
• The state • Legitimate &
illegitimate parents
• Surviving spouse
• Brothers & sisters,
nephews & nieces
The state No one No one Everyone
COMBINATIONS IN INTESTATE SUCCESSION

COMBINATION LEGITIME TOTAL INTESTACY

1 LC LC = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
2 LC & SS LC = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
SS = share of 1 LC (SS counted as 1 LC)
3 1LC & SS 1LC = 1/2 LC = 1/2
SS = 1/4 SS = 1/2
4 LC & IC LC = 1/2 Whole estate, each IC getting 1/2 share of 1 LC
IC = 1/2 share of 1LC
5 LC, IC & SS LC = 1/2 Whole estate, each IC getting 1/2 share of 1 LC
IC = 1/2 share of 1LC (SS counted as 1 LC)
SS = share of 1LC
6 1LC, IC & SS 1LC = 1/2 Whole estate, each IC getting 1/2 share of 1LC
IC = 1/2 share of 1LC (SS counted as 1 LC)
SS = 1/4
7 LP LP = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
8 LA LA = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
(observe rule of division by line)
9 LP & IC LP = 1/2 LP = 1/2
IC = 1/4 IC = 1/2
10 LP & SS LP = 1/2 LP =1/2
SS = 1/4 SS = 1/2
11 LP, IC & SS LP = 1/2 LP = 1/2
IC = 1/4 IC = 1/4
SS = 1/8 SS = 1/4
12 SS SS = 1/2 Whole estate
13 SS & IC SS = 1/3 SS = 1/2
IC = 1/3 IC = 1/2
14 SS & IP SS = 1/4 SS = 1/2
IP = 1/4 IP = 1/2
15 IC IC = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
16 IP IP = 1/2 Whole estate divided equally
17 LB/LS If all full blood or if all half blood, divide whole
estate equally;
If mixed blood, half blood gets 1/2 share of full
blood
18 LB/LS & SS LB/LS = none LB/LS = 1/2
SS = 1/2 SS = 1/2
19 IB/IS If all full blood or if all half blood, divide whole
estate equally;
If mixed blood, half blood gets 1/2 share of full
blood
20 IB/IS & SS IB/IS = none IB/IS = 1/2
SS = 1/2 SS = 1/2
21 N/N If all full blood or if all half blood, inherit per
capita;
If mixed blood, half blood gets 1/2 share of full
blood
22 N/N & U/A N/N = whole estate divided equally
U/A = none (excluded)
23 Other collaterals Whole estate divided equally
Notes:
- A legitimate child includes an adopted child
- Rule of division by line (8):
o Should there be more than one ascendant of equal degree belonging to the same line,
they shall divide the inheritance per capita
o Should they be of different lines but of equal degree, 1/2 shall go to the paternal and
the other half to the maternal ascendants. In each line, the division shall be made per
capita
- Brothers/sisters and nephews/nieces are not compulsory heirs. Hence, they have no legitime
(17&22)
- Nephews/nieces may inherit only by right of representation (20, 21)
- Uncles & Aunts are excluded by nephews/nieces  the nearer excludes the more remote (22)