TESTATE ESTATE OF AMOS G. BELLIS, deceased. PEOPLE’S
BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, executor. MARIA CRISTINA
BELLIS AND MIRIAM PALMA BELLIS, oppositors-appellants, vs.
EDWARD A. BELLIS, ET AL., heirs-appellees.
No. L-23678. June 6, 1967.
FACTS:
Amos Bellis was a citizen of the state of Texas of the United States. In his first wife whom he divorced, he had five legitimate children; by his second wife, who survived him, he had three legitimate children. Before he died, he made two wills, one disposing of his Texas properties and the other disposing his Philippine Properties. In both wills, his illegitimate children were not given anything. The illegitimate children opposed the will on the ground that they have been deprived of their legitimes to which they should be entitled if Philippine law were to apply.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the national law of the deceased should determine the sucessional rights of the illegitimate children.
HELD:
The Supreme Court held that the said children are not entitled to their legitimes. Under the Texas Law, being the national law of the deceased, there are no legitimes. Further, even if the deceased had given them share, such would be invalid because the law governing the deceased does not allow such.
