Dear PAO,

My nephew died single and without children. His parents have also long been deceased. I am his maternal aunt and the only one left to administer his properties since he did not leave a will. Another relative, the daughter of my nephew's first cousin, is meddling with how I am handling things. She is asserting her so-called rights to the estate of my nephew. Do I not exclude her, being a relative nearer in degree to my nephew?

Mita

Dear Mita,

To answer your question, let us draw your attention to Article 962 of the Civil Code of the Philippines, which states in part: