Paula Llorente vs CA and Alicia Llorente

(G.R. No. 124371. November 23, 2000)

Facts:
Lorenzo Llorente (Lorenzo) was married to Paula Llorente (Paula). Lorenzo went to the US
before the outbreak of the War. He became an American Citizen.
When he came back after the liberation, he found that Alicia was already cohabiting with
Crisologo, Lorenzo’s brother. Lorenzo then obtained a Divorce decree from the US.
When he came back, he married Alicia Llorenta (Alicia) and had three children. He
executed a will in favor of Alicia and their children. Then he died.
Paula claimed that she was still the legal wife as the divorce obtained by Lorenzo abroad
is not binding in our jurisdiction. Thus, she was entitled to inherit as Lorenzo’s legal wife. The Trial
Court and the CA ruled in favor of Paula.

Issue:
Whether or not the divorce abroad was valid.

Held:
The divorce obtained by Lorenzo from the US was valid, as he was already an American
Citizen when he obtained such.
Thus, by virtue of Art. 16 of our Civil Code, the estate of Lorenzo should be governed by
the National law of the US, as he was already an American Citizen.
The case was remanded to the Trial Court, taking into consideration that the divorce
obtained abroad is declared valid in our jurisdiction.