Civil Code, Article 1072 — Donations by Both Parents

What this article means

In collating a donation made by both parents, one-half is brought to the father's inheritance and the other half to the mother's. That given by one alone is brought to that one's inheritance.

Because collation exists to determine each parent's respective estate accurately, a joint donation from both parents is split down the middle for accounting purposes, with each half charged against that parent's own inheritance rather than treated as one lump sum. This matters when a child eventually inherits from the mother and father separately, often at different times: without the split, it would be unclear which parent's estate should bear the value of a gift the couple made together, and the child's shares in each succession could be miscalculated.

Questions about this provision

• Both my mother and father signed the deed of donation to me — how is the donation split between their two estates at collation?

Related provisions

• Article 1071 — Value at the Time of Donation.
• Article 1073 — Reducing the Donee's Share.

Cases interpreting this article

• Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.