Effect Of Death On Civil Actions

Sec. 4. Effect of death on civil actions. – The death of the accused after  arraignment  and  during  the  pendency  of  the  criminal  action shall extinguish the civil liability  arising from the delict. However, the independent civil action instituted under section 3 of this Rule or  which  thereafter  is  instituted  to  enforce  liability  arising  from other sources of obligation may be continued against the estate or legal  representative  of  the  accused  after  proper  substitution  or against said estate, as the case may  be.  The heirs of the accused may   be   substituted   for   the   deceased   without   requiring   the
appointment  of  an  executor  or  administrator  and  the  court  may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor heirs.
 
The court shall forthwith order said legal representative or representatives to  appear  and  be  substituted within a period of thirty (30) days from notice.
 
A  final  judgment entered in favor of the offended party  shall be enforced  in  the manner  especially provided  in  these  rules  for prosecuting claims against the estate of the deceased.
 
If the accused dies before arraignment, the case shall be dismissed without  prejudice  to  any  civil  action  the  offended  party  may  file against the estate of the deceased.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE DEATH OF THE ACCUSED ON THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ACTIONS?

1.    If  the  accused  dies  before  arraignment,  the  case  shall  be dismissed, without prejudice to any civil action that the offended party may file against the estate of the deceased

2.    If the accused dies after arraignment and during the pendency of the criminal action, both the criminal and civil liability arising from the crime shall be extinguished

> However,  the  independent  civil  actions  may  be  filed  against the  estate  of  the  accused  after  proper  substitution,  and  the heirs of the accused may also be substituted for the deceased