Text of the provision
Art. 1311. Contracts take effect only between the parties, their assigns and heirs, except in case where the rights and obligations arising from the contract are not transmissible by their nature, or by stipulation or by provision of law. The heir is not liable beyond the value of the property he received from the decedent. If a contract should contain some stipulation in favor of a third person, he may demand its fulfillment provided he communicated his acceptance to the obligor before its revocation. A mere incidental benefit or interest of a person is not sufficient. The contracting parties must have clearly and deliberately conferred a favor upon a third person.
(1257a)
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings.
What this article means
Contracts take effect only between the parties, their assigns and heirs (relativity), and an heir is not liable beyond the value inherited. Exception: a stipulation in favor of a third person (stipulation pour autrui) may be demanded by that third person if he communicated acceptance before revocation and the favor was clearly and deliberately conferred (not a mere incidental benefit).
Related provisions
- Article 1310 — Inequitable Determination.
- Article 1312 — Real Rights Bind Third Persons.
Cases citing this article
- The Consortium of Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Corporation vs. National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, G.R. No. 214743, December 4, 2023 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Raquel Estipona (Lelandlord E. Sto. Domingo) and Sps. Alberto Co and Lulu Co Vs, G.R. No. 207407, September 29, 2021 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Rodolfo “Sonny” D. Vicente vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 246700, March 3, 2021 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Ferro Chemicals, Inc. vs. Antonio M. Garcia, et al./Jaime Y. Gonzales vs. Hon. Court of Appeals and Ferro Chemicals, Inc./Antonio M. Garcia vs. Ferro Chemicals, Inc, G.R. No. 168134 / G.R. No. 168183 / G.R. No. 168196, October 5, 2016 — read the decision on LawPhil →
- Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) vs. Hon. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, G.R. No. 221190, October 8, 2024 — read the decision on LawPhil →
Compiled automatically from Supreme Court decisions published on LawPhil that expressly cite this article, most frequently cited first. A listing means the decision cites the provision — it is not a statement that the case is the leading authority, and it does not show whether a ruling has since been modified or abandoned. Always read the decision itself.