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Q. What are the grounds for annulment? Is there a time limit for this?
1. Either party was eighteen (18) years of age but below twenty-one (21), and the
marriage was solemnized without the consent of the parents, guardian or person
having substitute parental authority over the party. You can only file the Petition
WITHIN five (5) years AFTER reaching the age of twenty-one. But you cannot
anymore file the Petition if you have freely cohabited with each other as husband
and wife after you reach the age of twenty-one. Your parent/s or guardian can also
file the Petition anytime before you reach the age of twenty-one.
2. Either party was of unsound mind at the time of marriage. You may file the
Petition ANYTIME BEFORE the death of your husband or wife. But for instance, you
freely cohabited with each after he/she came to reason, under this circumstance,
you are already precluded by law from filing the Petition.
3. The consent of either party was obtained by fraud. You can file the Petition
WITHIN five years after the discovery of the fraud, provided that
you did not freely cohabit with your husband or wife after your full knowledge of
the facts constituting the fraud. Sounds tricky?
Q. What are the kinds of fraud which constitute the ground for annulment?
GTALAW: The kinds of fraud that will give ground for annulment are as follows:
2. Concealment by the wife of the fact that at the time of the marriage, she was
pregnant by a man other than her husband;
Q. My wife fooled me into marrying her. Prior to our marriage, she told me
that she is a doctor and no sexual experience After our marriage, I found
out the truth that she is not what she claims to be. Can I file a Petition for
annulment on the ground of fraud?
GTALAW: You can only file the Petition for Annulment in the place of your
residence or the place of residence of your husband or wife.
Q. I would like to file the Petition in Cebu but I do not have residence there
yet. My husband is not also living there. But I will be accepting
a job as call center manager in Cebu a month from now. Can I file the
Petition in Cebu?
GTALAW: Yes, you can file the Petition in Cebu but you have to establish residence
in Cebu for a period of at least six (6) months prior to the filing of the Petition. This
can be arranged because you will be relocating there for your new job assignment.
LESSON II: DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE
A petition to declare the marriage void presupposes that the marriage was void or
invalid from the beginning. Legally, it can be said that the marriage did not even
exist. But there are so many questions about this issue like, do you need to file the
Petition if your marriage did not even exist from the beginning? The answers that
you have been looking for can be found below.
1. Those contracted by any party below eighteen years of age even with the
consent of parents or guardians;
6. Assuming that you caused the annulment of your first marriage. However, you
get married immediately without waiting for issuance of the Final Decree of
Annulment. Your second marriage can also be voided by the Court.
Q. I just found out that my husband was married before and I have
obtained a marriage contract from the NSO to prove this. It was also
confirmed when I confronted my husband about this. Do I still have to file
a Petition? Can I also file a criminal case against my husband? Can his ex-
wife file a criminal case against me? What is my defense, if any?
GTALAW: Although your marriage was void from beginning, the law still requires
you to obtain a declaration of absolute nullity of your marriage by filing a petition in
court. Yes, you can also file a criminal case for Bigamy against your husband. Yes,
his ex-wife may file a criminal case for bigamy against you and your husband. But
your defense is lack or absence of knowledge regarding his prior marriage or
absence of criminal intent.
GTALAW: Your second marriage will be invalid for being bigamous. The sad thing
is, you will be facing another criminal case for bigamy
in so far as your second marriage is concerned.
GTALAW: The action to declare the marriage void shall not prescribe. Meaning, you
can file the petition anytime during your lifetime.
GTALAW: Yes, your lawyer is correct. It appears to us that you have not completed
the process before you can validly contract a second marriage. You should have
brought the Court Decision and Entry of Judgment for recording at the Local Civil
Registrar where your first marriage was recorded. After the recording, you should
have gone back to the Court to show proof that the Court documents were already
recorded in the Local Civil Registrar. The Court will then issue a Final Decree of
Annulment. Since you failed to follow this process, your second marriage is void.
Q. My girlfriend and I are planning to get married this June. But we have
been living together as husband and wife for almost six (6) years now.
Both of us are still single. I have heard that we do not need to apply for a
marriage license. Is this correct?
GTALAW: Yes, you are correct. No license shall be necessary for the marriage of a
man and a woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five
years and without any legal impediment to marry each other. But you and your
girlfriend are required to execute an affidavit stating the fact of your situation and
submit it to the local civil registrar.
Article 36 of the Family Code states that “A marriage contracted by any party
who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply
with the essential marital obligations of marriage, shall likewise be void even if such
incapacity becomes manifest only after its solemnization.” This means
that the husband or the wife is psychologically incapable of complying with the
essential marital obligations, which will render the marriage void from the
beginning. It is important that this incapacity was already present during the
celebration of marriage.
GTALAW: These are the obligations of the husband and wife (1) to live together,
observe mutual love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support; (2)
to procreate children based on the universal principle that procreation of children
through sexual cooperation is the basic end of marriage; (3) to jointly support the
family (Art. 70), for the spouses are joint administrators in the partnership; and (4)
not to commit acts which will bring danger, dishonor or injury to each other or to
the family (Art. 72), for the safety and security of the family at all times is a
primordial duty of the spouses
1. By the refusal of one spouse to live, dwell and cohabit with the other after
marriage, without any fault at all from the aggrieved spouse.
2. By the deliberate refusal to give support to the other spouse, or their common
children
GTALAW: We truly understand and sympathize with your feelings regarding your
situation. However, sexual promiscuity or sexual infidelity
of the spouse is not an example of psychological incapacity contemplated by law.
The Supreme Court has recently decided a case about this issue (Please see
decision Dedel vs. CA January 29, 2005). We suggest that you submit yourself for
psychological examination. Based on the information that you will supply to the
Psychologist, there may be some other grounds that can be used to declare your
marriage void.
March 15, 2003 is the date of effectivity of the New Rule on Declaration of Absolute
Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages promulgated by the
Supreme Court. Thereafter, we wrote an article simplifying this Rule for easy
understanding to laymen (Please step-by-step procedure here). We received
numerous feedback from our web audience that the article was very useful and
informative to them. But education is a continuing process, so is our passion and
commitment to translate the law in layman’s term.
GTALAW: No. Generally, a psychological report is not required before you could file
the petition to declare your marriage void. It is also specified under the New Rule
that an expert opinion is not required to be alleged in the Petition.
GTALAW: Yes. The psychological report is the very foundation of your petition. It is
like going to battle fully prepared. In this case, it would be easier for us to allege
the manifestations of psychological incapacities because these facts are already
stated in the psychological Report.
GTALAW: Yes, you have to take the test because the psychological report is the
very foundation of your Petition. In the psychological test, our resident psychologist
will determine the psychological incapacities of your husband or even your own
incapacities. We usually recommend
that you take the test prior to the filing of the Petition.
1. The burden of proof to show nullity of the marriage belongs to the plaintiff and
any doubt must be resolved in favor of the existence of marriage and against its
nullity.
5. Such illness must be grave enough to bring about the disability of the party to
assume the essential obligations of marriage.
8. The trial court must order the fiscal and the Solicitor General to appear as
counsel for the state. No decision shall be handed down unless the Solicitor General
issues a certification, which will be quoted in the decision, briefly stating therein his
reasons for his agreement or opposition, as the case may be, to the petition. The
Solicitor General, along with the prosecuting attorney, shall submit to the court
such certification within fifteen (15) days from the date the case is deemed
submitted for resolution of the court.
Obviously, an annulment case cannot be concluded in the five (5) to eight (8)
months and without the psychological report if Courts will follow the guidelines.
GTALAW: Yes, your annulment case would take longer than what is expected. The
good news is, appeal by the Solicitor General to the Court of Appeals is not
anymore mandatory under the New Rule. But sometimes, the Solicitor General
would make an Appeal to the Court of Appeals if it feels that the proceedings in the
RTC Court was patently erroneous. We would like to take this opportunity to
express our opinion that an annulment case is not a walk in the park. We already
heard so many nightmare stories about Petitions being denied by the Court of
Appeals. We would like to tell litigants
to concentrate on strengthening their cases rather than entertaining any idea of
approaching the prosecutors or judges to expedite the process of their annulment.
GTALAW: No, you are not. As petitioner, you are only required to appear during
the pre-trial conference and during your scheduled testimony in Court.
Q. My husband and I are planning to file the petition jointly. Will this help
expedite my case?
GTALAW: Your case will be dismissed by the Court. The New Rule says that the
petition can only be filed solely by the husband or the wife. Besides, this is a clear
evidence of “collusion” oragreement of the spouses to annul their marriage, which
is a ground to dismiss the petition.
For a start, we suggest that you read our article regarding the step-by-step
procedure for annulment of marriage. We are sure you will find this very useful and
informative. Please see the article here.
GTALAW: You can check with the Local Civil Registrar of the place where where
your marriage was solemnized. You can also go directly to the NSO at East Avenue,
Quezon City. You can also request for a copy of your marriage contract on-line
through NSO website here.
GTALAW: Yes. The New Rule allows a Petitioner who is currently residing overseas
to file the Petition in the Philippines.
GTALAW: As your lawyer in the Philippines, we will send you a copy of the Petition
by e-mail. You can download the Petition in word format and print copies and sign it
afterwards. After signing the Petition, you have to have this notarized and
authenticated at the nearest Philippine Embassy in your area. After the Petition has
been authenticated, send it back to us preferably by courier for filing with the court.
GTALAW: The petition shall be filed in the Family Court of the province or city
where you or your spouse has been residing for at least six (6) months prior to the
date of filing of the Petition, or in the case of a non-resident respondent-spouse,
where he/she may be found in the Philippines. But you still have the option to file it
at the place of your residence.
GTALAW: Yes, you have to come home to attend the trial especially during the
pre-trial conference. Your Petition will be dismissed if you fail to attend the pre-trial
conference. However, your non-appearance during pre-trial conference will be
excused if you can give a valid reason like sickness.
GTALAW: None. You have to attend the trial. But we can try to schedule your
testimony immediately after the pre-trial conference. This will minimize your travel
expenses because you only have to come to the Philippines at least once.
GTALAW: Yes, you have to take the test because the psychological report is the
very foundation of your Petition. In the psychological test, our resident psychologist
will determine the psychological incapacities of your husband or as the case may
be, your psychological incapacities. We usually recommend that you take the test
prior to the filing of the Petition.
Q. Do I need to come home just to take the psychological test?
GTALAW: No.You need not come home to take the test. For purpose of filing the
Petition, our resident psychologist will take your psychological testing on-line or
through the internet. You will undergo a confirmatory test when you are already
here.
GTALAW: No, there is no guarantee. The success of your Petition will always
depend on the strength of evidence that we will present in Court.
GTALAW: Our Firm has an on-line client extranet.We shall create an on-line
database of your case once you become a client of our Firm. You can track down
the status of your case at our secured extranet anytime, anywhere using your
username and password. You can also download filed copies of your Petition and
other court documents in our database.
GTALAW: You have to further consider the custody and support of your children
and separation of your absolute community properties, if any.
GTALAW: Yes, you can but it will not be valid here in the Philippines. Our laws do
not recognize foreign divorce instituted by Filipino citizens. You still have to file an
annulment case before Philippine courts to annul your marriage.
GTALAW: No need to file the case. You can file a Divorce in the U.S. instead. The
Divorce decree will also be recognized in the Philippines allowing your Filipina wife
to re-marry. The pertinent law is Article 26 of the Family Code.
GTALAW: Not too fast. The Law says that you have to wait for the issuance of the
Decree of Annulment. Otherwise, your second married is also invalid.
Q. The Court has already issued a Finality of Judgment on my Annulment
case. Apparently, the Solicitor General did not file an Appeal to the Court of
Appeals anymore. Can I get married already? How do I get the Decree of
Annulment?
GTALAW: Not yet. The New Rule says that you have to register the Entry of
Judgment in the Local Civil Registrar of the place where your marriage was
solemnized and in the Local Civil Registrar of the Place where the RTC Court which
issued the Entry of Judgment is located. If you can show proof to the RTC Court the
that registration of the Entry of Judgment in the Local Civil Registrar has been
done, it will issue you a Decree of Annulment.
Q. My lawyer told me that before I can get married again, I also need to
show proof to the RTC Court that our common properties mentioned in the
Decision have been transferred in the name of our children. Is this true?
GTALAW: Yes, your lawyer is correct. The law says that partition and distribution
of the properties of the spouses and the delivery of the children's presumptive
legitimes shall be recorded in the appropriate civil registry and registries of
property. Otherwise, your second marriage is also void.
1. Children conceived or born before the issuance of the Entry of Judgment shall be
considered legitimate.
2. The spouse who contracted the marriage in bad faith, his or her share of the net
profits of the community property or conjugal partnership property shall be
forfeited in favor:
3. The innocent spouse may revoke the designation of the other spouse who acted
in bad faith as beneficiary in any insurance policy, even if such designation be
stipulated as irrevocable; and
3. The spouse who contracted the subsequent marriage in bad faith shall be
disqualified to inherit from the innocent spouse.
LESSON VIII: DIVORCE OBTAINED BY FORMER FILIPINO CITIZENS
ABROAD
GTALAW: No. There is no need to file the Petition. The Divorce that you obtained
in America was valid and recognized in Philippine jurisdiction. This is so because
you are no longer a Filipino citizen when the Divorce Decree was issued. This issue
was already settled by the Supreme Court in LLORENTE versus Court of Appeals
G.R. No. 124371. November 23, 2000. This will also entitle your ex-wife to marry
again.
GTALAW: No. There is no need for you to file another Petition for Annulment in the
Philippines. The Decree of Absolute Divorce can be recognized in the Philippines
because you are no longer a Filipino citizen when you obtained the Decree from the
Circuit Court in Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. Please see case of LLORENTE
versus Court of Appeals G.R. No. 124371. November 23, 2000.
GTALAW: The Local Civil Registrar correctly refused to annotate your Divorce
Decree in your marriage Contract. You have to file a Petition for the Recognition of
a Foreign Judgment of Divorce at the Regional Trial Court. You will need an
experienced lawyer to do this because there are intricate legal procedures involved
in this process.
GTALAW: No. The Divorce obtained by your Filipina wife is not valid. She is not
entitled to remarry because the Divorce which was obtained by her before American
Courts is not recognized under Philippine Law. As a Filipino citizen, the Family Code
of the Philippines should be followed on how her marriage will be dissolved.
Q: My husband is a legal permanent resident in California U.S.A. Just
recently, he obtained a Divorce in America. Is the Divorce valid under
Philippine Law?
GTALAW: No. The Divorce is not valid under Philippine Law. Your husband is still a
Filipino citizen even though he has a legal permanent status in the U.S. As a Filipino
citizen, the Family Code of the Philippines should be followed on how your marriage
will be dissolved.