In Re Will of Riosa
In Re Will of Riosa
In Re Will of Riosa
the time of its execution, it would unjustly disappoint his lawful right of disposition to apply to it a
rule subsequently enacted, though before his death.
It is true, that every will is ambulatory until the death of the testator, and the disposition made by it
does not actually take effect until then. General words apply to the property of which the testator dies
possessed, and he retains the power of revocation as long as he lives. The act of bequeathing or
devising, however, takes place when the will is executed, though to go into effect at a future time.
This was applied by the Court. In doing so, it held that, citing the general rule of statutory
construction, all statutes are to be construed as having only a prospective operation unless the
purpose and intention of the Legislature is to give them retrospective effect.
The language of Act No. 2645 did not indicate a retrospective effect. Also, section 634 of the Code of
Civil Procedure states that a will shall be disallowed if not executed and attested as provided by this
Code.
d. Third rule states that statutes relating to the execution of wills, when they increase the necessary
formalities, should be construed so as not to impair the validity of a will already made and, when they lessen
the formalities required, should be construed so as to aid wills defectively executed according to the law in
force at the time of their making.
HELD
Order reversed