Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 3977)
The main purpose of Act No. 3977 is to provide for the reservation of the property acquired by an adopted son from either of his adoptive parents in favor of the legitimate relatives of the adoptive parents.
It amends Section 768 to specify that while an adopted child is considered the legal heir of the adoptive parent, the child still remains the legal heir of his natural parents except in the case of property inherited from the adoptive parents, which shall go to the legitimate relatives of the adoptive parents.
The natural parents are divested of all legal rights and obligations regarding the child, except when the child is adopted under a specified provision; the child is freed from legal obligations of obedience and maintenance with respect to them.
Yes, the adopted child remains the legal heir of his or her natural parents and their relatives by nature, not by adoption.
The property inherited by the adopted child from either of the adoptive parents shall become the property of the legitimate relatives of the adoptive parents from whom it originally came.
The natural father and mother and their relatives by nature, not by adoption, shall remain the legal heirs except for the property inherited from the adoptive parents.
The adopted child is to all intents and purposes the child and legal heir of the adoptive parents and is entitled to all rights, privileges, obligations, and duties of a lawful child of said parents.
Yes, they shall participate in the order established by the Civil Code for intestate estates concerning the property inherited by the adopted child from the adoptive parents.
All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with Act No. 3977 are repealed.
The act took effect upon its approval on December 3, 1932.