Short answer. Yes, an education legacy generally ends once the purpose is fulfilled. Under Article 944 of the Civil Code, it lasts only as long as needed to finish a course being diligently pursued. Graduation signals the course is complete, so the legacy ordinarily stops at that point unless the will says otherwise.
What the law says
A legacy for education lasts until the legatee is of age, or beyond the age of majority in order that the legatee may finish some professional, vocational or general course, provided he pursues his course diligently.
Civil Code, Article 944 — A Legacy for Education or Support. Read the full provision →
When the education legacy ends
Article 944 of the Civil Code ties the life of an education legacy directly to the educational purpose it was meant to serve. The legacy runs until the legatee is of age, or — if needed — beyond majority so the legatee can finish a professional, vocational, or general course. Once that course is done, the statutory basis for continuing the payments disappears. Graduation is the clearest sign that the purpose has been fulfilled, so the estate can ordinarily stop releasing funds at that point without breaching the will.
The diligence condition matters
The statute does not allow the legacy to run indefinitely merely because the legatee has not yet graduated. The law adds a condition: the legatee must be pursuing the course diligently. A grandchild who takes five years to complete a four-year degree while keeping up their studies is still covered. One who repeatedly drops subjects, switches programs without clear reason, or stops attending may lose the protection of the legacy before graduation. In your case the grandchild has already graduated, so the diligence question is now moot — the course has been finished, which is the best possible evidence of diligent pursuit.
Does the will itself say anything about duration?
The Civil Code sets these rules as defaults. If the testator was specific — for example, "I leave money for my grandchild's education until the age of 30" — the will controls. Read the exact language of the legacy carefully. Some testators use "education" loosely to mean ongoing support, or include graduate studies as part of their intention. If the will is silent on when the legacy ends, Article 944 supplies the answer: it ends when the educational purpose is achieved.
What happens to any remaining balance
If payments were already made up to graduation, the legacy has been consumed in full. If there is a lump sum that was set aside and not yet distributed, the unused portion does not automatically become the grandchild's property simply because it was labeled for education. It reverts to the estate, to be distributed according to the rest of the will or the rules on intestacy if there is no provision for it. The executor or administrator should account for any undistributed amount as part of the estate settlement. Consulting a lawyer at this stage can prevent disputes among the other heirs about how the balance is treated.