Persons Reviewer

ATENEO CENTRAL BAR OPERATIONS 2007
Civil Law
SUMMER REVIEWER
LAW ON PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS
PRELIMINARY TITLE
New Civil Code: took effect on August 30, 1950
WHEN LAWS TAKE EFFECT:
General Rule: 15 days after completion of publication
in OG or newspaper of general
circulation
Exception: The law can provide for its own date of
effectivity, i.e., less than or greater than
15 days after publication
Publication is MANDATORY (even if the law
provides its own date of effectivity)
Publication must be in full (otherwise it is not
deemed published at all) since its PURPOSE is
to inform the public of its contents
- Effect of Publication: The people are deemed
to have conclusively been notified of the law
even if they have not read them.
COVERED BY PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT:
Presidential Decrees and Executive Orders
Administrative rules and regulations, if their
purpose is to enforce or implement existing law
pursuant to a valid legislation
NOT COVERED BY THE REQUIREMENT OF
PUBLICATION:
Interpretative
regulations
and
those
administrative regulations internal in nature
Letters of Instructions
Municipal ordinances (because they are
covered by the Local Government Code)
Compliance with the Law: Ignorance of the law
excuses no one from compliance therewith.
(Ignorantia juris neminem excusat)
RETROACTIVITY: Generally,
are
not
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Exceptions: PIERCER
1. Penal laws when favorable to the accused
who is not a habitual delinquent
2. Interpretative statutes
3. When the law itself expressly provides
- Exception to the exception:
a. ex post facto law
b. when retroactivity impairs the
obligation of contract
4. Remedial statutes
5. Curative statutes
6. Emergency laws
7. Laws creating new rights
Acts Violating Mandatory or Prohibitory Laws
are VOID
Exception: AVV
1. When law itself authorizes their validity
2. When law makes the act only voidable
and not void
3. When law makes the act valid but
punishes the violator
REQUISITES OF A VALID WAIVER: RCCLF
1. Person making the waiver must have the
right he is waiving
2. He must have the capacity to make the
waiver
3. The waiver must be made in a clear and
unequivocal manner
4. Such waiver is not contrary to law, public
order, public policy, morals or good customs
or is prejudicial to third person.
5. If required, formalities must be complied with.
REPEAL OF LAWS
1. Express repeal - repeal of repealing law will
not revive the old law (unless expressly
provided)
2. Implied repeal - the provisions of the
subsequent law are incompatible with those of
the previous law
Requisites:
1. Both laws cover the same subject matter
2. The latter law is repugnant to the earlier law
CUSTOMS are rules of conduct formed by
repetition of acts, uniformly observed as a social
rule, legally binding and obligatory
A local custom as a source of right cannot be
considered by a court of justice unless such
custom is properly established by competent
evidence like any other fact
Juridical custom must be differentiated from
social custom. Juridicial custom can
supplement statutory law or applied in the
absence of such statute. Not so with social
custom.
Adviser: Atty. Mel Sta. Maria, Dean Cynthia Roxas-Del Castillo; Heads: Joy Marie Ponsaran, Eleanor Mateo;
Understudies: Joy Stephanie Tajan, John Paul Lim; Subject Heads: Stephanie Michelle Tan, Joan Mae To; Pledgees:
Charles Francis Decangchon, Jamara Leigh Fernandez, Charmaine Haw, Kristelle Singson,
Civil Law Summer Reviewer

Custom, even if proven, cannot prevail over a

statutory rule or even a legal rule enunciated by
Supreme Court
REQUISITES FOR MAKING CUSTOM AN

OBLIGATORY RULE: PPOT
1. Plurality of acts or acts have been repeatedly
done
2. Generally practised by the great mass of the
social group
3. The community accepts it as a proper way of
acting, such that it is considered obligatory upon all
4. The practice has been going on for a long period
of time
STARE DECISIS requires courts to follow the rule
established in earlier SC decisions. The doctrine,
however, is not inflexible, so that when in the light of
changing conditions, a rule has ceased to be
beneficial to the society, courts may depart from it.
LAWS APPLICABLE:
1. Penal Laws principle of territoriality applies,
those of public security and safety obligatory
upon all who live or sojourn in the Philippines.
2. Status Laws principle of nationality applies,
Laws relating to family rights and duties or to the
status, condition and legal capacity of persons
binding upon Filipino citizens even though living
abroad.
Exception: Article 26(2) of Family Code
3. Laws on property lex rei sitae: real property as
well as personal property is subject to the law of
the country where it is situated
4. Laws on forms and solemnities lex loci
celebrationis applies
RULES
ON
INSTRINSIC
VALIDITY
OF
CONTRACTS:
1. Law stipulated by parties shall be applied
2. In default thereof and the parties are of the
same nationality, their national law shall be
applied
3. If the parties are of different nationalities, the
law of the place of the perfection of the
and a
obligation or of theQuickTime
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shall govern
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4. If the above places are not specified and they
cannot be deduced from the nature and
circumstances of the obligation, then the law
of the passive subject shall apply
5. RENVOL DOCTRINE: Where the conflict
rules of the forum refer to a foreign law, and
the latter refers it back to the internal law, the
latter law (law of forum) shall apply
If the foreign law refers it to a third country, the

said countrys law shall govern (transmission
theory)
CONFLICT RULES
LEX
LEX RAE
NATIONALIS
SITAE
Art. 15 NCC
Basis:
Citizenship
Covers:
family rights
and duties,
status,
condition,
and legal
capacity
Exception:
Article 26
para. 2
Family Code
LEX LOCI
CELEBRATIONIS
Art 16 NCC
Basis: Law of
the
place
where
the
property
is
situated
Covers:
real
and
personal
property
Art 17 NCC
Basis: Law of the
place where the
contract
was
executed
Covers: only forms
and solemnities
(extrinsic validity)
Exceptions:
1. Capacity to
succeed
2. Intrinsic
validity of
the will
3. Amount of
successional
rights
4. Order of
succession
Exceptions:
1. Article 26 para.
1 of Family Code
(marriage
involving
Filipinos
solemnized
abroad,
when
such are void in
the Philippines)
2. Intrinsic validity
of contracts
Formalities for the acquisition, encumbering,
and alienation of property shall not be
governed not by lex rei sitae but lex loci
celebrationis
Art. 17(1) speaks of the extrinsic validity of
contracts, wills, and other public instruments. It
is silent on what law shall govern the intrinsic
validity of contracts
DOCTRINE OF PROCESSUAL PRESUMPTION
The foreign law, whenever applicable, should be
proved by the proponent thereof; otherwise, such
law shall be presumed to be exactly the same as
the law of the forum.
RULES ON PROHIBITIVE LAWS

General Rule: Prohibitive laws concerning
persons, their acts or property and laws which
have for their object public order, public policy or
good customs are not rendered ineffective by
Page 2 of 297

laws, judgments promulgated or conventions agreed
upon in foreign country.
Exception: Art. 26 (2) of Family Code
PRINCIPLE OF ABUSE OF RIGHTS (Art. 19)
When the right is exercised for the purpose of
prejudicing or injuring another
REQUISITES:
1. There is a legal right or duty;
2. Which is exercised in bad faith;
3. For the sole intent of prejudicing or injuring
another
DOCTRINE OF VOLENTI NON FIT INJURIA (to
which person assents is not esteemed in law as
injury)
Pertains to self-inflicted injuries or to the consent to
injury which precludes the recovery of damages by
one who has knowingly and voluntarily exposed
himself to danger, even if he is not negligent in doing
so
ACTS CONTRA BONUS MORES (Art. 21)
presupposes loss or injury, material or otherwise,
which one may differ as a result of such violation
ELEMENTS:
1. There is an act which is legal;
2. But which is contrary to morals, good
customs, public order, or public policy;
3. And it is done with intent to injure
Under Arts. 19 & 21 the act must be done

intentionally. However, Art. 20 does not
distinguish, the act may be done either willfully or
negligently, as long as the act is be contrary to
law.
While a breach of promise to marry is not
actionable, it has been held that to formally set a
wedding and go through and spend for all the
wedding preparations and publicity, only to walk
out of it when the matrimony was about to be
solemnized is a different matter. Such act is
palpably and unjustifiably contrary to good
customs for which the defendant must be held
answerable for damages
in accordance with Art.
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ACCION IN REM VERSO (Art. 22)

Action for recovery of what has been paid without just
cause
REQUISITES:
1. Defendant has been enriched
2. Plaintiff suffered a loss
3. Enrichment of defendant is without just or
legal ground
4. Plaintiff has no other action based on

contract, quasi-contract, crime, or quasidelict
Distinguished from solutio indebiti: Mistake is an
essential element in solutio indebiti but not in
accion in rem verso.
PROTECTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY (Art. 26)
Every person shall respect the dignity, personality,
privacy and peace of mind of his neighbors and
other persons.
Acts which, though not criminal, produce
cause of action for damages, prevention, and
other relief:
1. Prying into the privacy of anothers
residence;
2. Meddling with or disturbing the private
life or family relations of another;
3. Intriguing to cause another to be
alienated from friends;
4. Vexing or humiliating another on
account of his religious beliefs, lowly
station in life, place of birth, physical
defect, or other personal condition
RELIEF AGAINST PUBLIC OFFICIALS (Art. 27)
A public officer who commits a tort or other
wrongful act, done in excess or beyond the scope
of his duty, is not protected by his office and is
personally liable therefore like any private
individuals
CIVIL ACTIONS
When accused is acquitted in a criminal case
because his guilt was not proved beyond
reasonable doubt: plaintiff may still file a civil
action for damages for the same act or
omission.
Independent civil actions: Articles 31 to 34,
2176
- Art. 31: based on an obligation NOT arising
from felony
- Art. 32: violation of civil liberties
- Art. 33: defamation, fraud, and physical
injuries
- Art. 34: police refuses/fails to render aid or
protection to any person in case of danger to
life or property
- Art. 2176: quasi-delict
Art. 36: Prejudicial Questions
General Rule : if both criminal and civil cases
are filed in court, the criminal case takes
precedence.
Exception : When there is a prejudicial
question or a question that arises in a case,
Page 3 of 297

the resolution of which is a logical antecedent of
the issue involved herein, and the cognizance of
which pertains to another tribunal
Elements :
1. Civil action involves an issue intimately
related to the issue in criminal action
2. Resolution of issue in civil case
determines whether or not the criminal
action may proceed
3. Cognizance of civil case pertains to
another tribunal
PERSONS
CHAPTER 1: CIVIL PERSONALITY
KINDS OF CAPACITIES
Juridical Capacity
Fitness to be the
subject
of
legal
relations
Passive
Inherent
Lost only through death
Can
exist
without
capacity to act
Cannot be limited or
restricted
CAPACITY TO ACT
Power to do act with
legal effects
Active
Merely acquired
Lost through death and
other causes
Cannot exist without
juridical capacity
Can
be
restricted,
modified, or limited
THEORIES ON CAPACITY TO ACT

Theory of General
Theory of Special
Capacities
Capacities
Applies
to
natural Applies to juridical
persons
persons
One has the ability to do The powers of juridical
all things with legal persons are limited
effects except only in only to those that are
those
specific expressly
conferred
circumstances
where upon them or those
the capacity to act is which can be implied
restrained
therefrom or incidental
thereto
CIVIL PERSONALITY is the aptitude of being the
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subject, active or passive,
of rights
and obligations.
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COMMENCEMENT OF CIVIL PERSONALITY:

A. NATURAL PERSONS
General Rule: determined by birth, extinguished by
death
Exception: the law considers the conceived child as
born for all purposes favorable to it if born alive.
Therefore, the child has a presumed personality,
which has two characteristics:
1. Limited and
2. Provisional/conditional
- Concept of provisional personality
cannot be invoked to obtain damages
for and in behalf of an aborted child.
BUT a conceived child shall be considered
born for all purposes favorable to it, provided it be
born later under the following conditions:
1. If it is alive at the time it is completely
delivered from the mothers womb
2. BUT if it had an inter-uterine life of at less
than 7 months, only if it lives for at least
24 hours after its complete delivery from
the maternal womb
Doubts as to Order of Death: As between two or
more persons called to succeed each other, if
there is doubt as to which of them died first,
whoever alleges the death of prior to the other
shall prove the same, in the absence of proof, it is
presumed that they died at the same time and
there shall be no transmission of rights from one
to the other.
This rule applies only to cases involving
succession.
PROOF OF DEATH
Applies only to persons who are called to
succeed each other. Otherwise, Rules of
Court shall apply.
The proof of death must be established by
positive evidence. Proof of death can never be
established from mere inference arising from
another inference or from presumptions or
assumptions
B. JURIDICAL PERSONS
1. The state and its political
subdivisions
2. Other corporations, institutions,
and entities for public interest or
purpose, created by law
3. Corporations, partnerships, and
associations for private interest or
purpose
- Creation: (1) and (2) are created by
the laws creating or recognizing them,
private corporations are governed by
the Corp. Code (BP 68) and
partnership and associations are
governed by the provisions of the New
Civil Code on partnerships.
- Extinguished: by termination of
existence
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DOMICILE
A minor follows the domicile of his parents
Domicile of origin can only be lost and a change of
domicile occurs when the following requisites are
present:
1. an actual removal or an actual change of
domicile;
2. a bona fide intention of abandoning the
former place of residence establishing a
new one; and
3. acts which correspond with the purpose.
The husband and the wife shall fix the
family domicile. In case of disagreement,
the court shall decide.
Requirements for the acquisition of new domicile:
1. Bodily presence in a new locality
2. Intention to remain therein (animus manendi)
3. Intention to abandon the old domicile (animus
non revertendi)
Kinds of Domicile
1. Domicile of origin received by a person at birth
2. Domicile of choice the place freely chosen by a
person sui juris
3. Constructive domicile assigned to a child by law
at the time of his birth
CITIZENSHIP
In the Philippine jurisdiction, what is followed is the
concept of jus sanguinis (citizenship by blood) as
opposed to jus soli (citizenship by place of birth).
CHAPTER 2: MARRIAGE
FAMILY CODE
MARRIAGE is
1. A special contract
2. Of permanent union
3. Between a man and a woman
4. Entered into in accordance with law
5. For the establishment of conjugal and family
life
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DUNCAN ASSOCIATION
OF DETAILMAN,
ET AL
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v. GLAXO WELLCOME PHILIPPINES, INC. 438
SCRA 343 (2004)
FACTS:
Tecson signed a contract of employment with
GLAXO saying agreeing to study and abide by the
existing company rules which includes disclosure to
management any existing or future relationship by
consanguinity and affinity with co-employees or
employees of competing drug companies and

should management find that such relationship
poses a possible conflict of interest, to resign from
the company.
Tecson got married to Betsy, an employee of
Astra Pharmaceuticals, a competitor of Glaxo.
Glaxo then transferred Tecson to Butuan City,
Tecson asked the company to reconsider but it
was denied. Because they were unable to resolve
the issue, Glaxo offered Tecson a separation pay
but he declined offer.
HELD:
Glaxos policy on marriage is a valid exercise of
management prerogative. This is reasonable
under the circumstances because relationships of
that nature might compromise the interests of the
company. Stipulation is valid because it does not
pose an absolute prohibition to marry. The
Constitution also recognizes the right of
enterprises to adopt and enforce such a policy to
protect its right to reasonable returns on
investments and expansion and growth. Company
has right to protects its economic interests
ESSENTIAL REQUISITES OF MARRIAGE:
1. Legal capacity of contracting parties
2. Consent freely given in the presence of
the solemnizing officer
FORMAL REQUISITES OF MARRIAGE: ALC
1. Authority of solemnizing officer
2. Valid marriage license (except in cases
where a marriage license is not required),
valid only for 120 days from issue in any
part of the Philippines
3. Marriage ceremony where the contracting
parties appear before the solemnizing
officer, with their personal declaration that
they take each other as husband and wife
in the presence of not less than two
witnesses of legal age
EFFECTS:
1. Absence of essential or formal
requisites void ab initio
Except: If the marriage is solemnized by
unauthorized person, the marriage will still
be valid if either or both contracting
parties believed in good faith that the
solemnizing officer had legal authority
[Article 35(2)]
2. Defect in any of the essential requisites
voidable
3. Irregularity in any of the formal
requisites does not affect the validity of
Page 5 of 297

the marriage but will make the party
responsible
civilly,
criminally,
or
administratively liable
AUTHORIZED SOLEMNIZING OFFICERS:
JPCCCM
1. Incumbent member of the judiciary within the
courts jurisdiction
2. Duly authorized priest, rabbi, imam or the
minister of any church or religious sect
3. Ship captain or airplane chief
Can solemnize marriages only in articulo
mortis between passengers or crew
members while the ship is at sea or the
plane is in flight and also during stopover
at ports of call
4. Military commander of a unit to which a
captain is assigned
Can solemnize marriage only if it is in
articulo mortis between persons within
the zone of military operations whether
members of the armed forces or civilians
and only in the absence of the chaplain
5. Consul-general, consul or vice-consul
Can solemnize marriage between
Filipinos abroad
6. Mayor (Local Government Code of 1991)
CHAPTER 3: MARRIAGE EXEMPT FROM

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Marriage in articulo mortis
2. If the residence of either party is so located
that there is no means of transportation to
enable such party to appear personally
before the civil registrar
3. Marriage solemnized outside the Philippines
where no marriage license is required by the
country where it was solemnized
4. Marriage among Muslims or among
members of ethnic cultural communities in
accordance with their customs
5. Marriage between persons who have lived
together as husband and wife for at least five
years and withoutQuickTime
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impediment to
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marry eachTIFF
other.
- The 5-year period is to be computed on
the basis of cohabitation as husband and
wife where the only missing factor is the
marriage contract to validate the union.
This 5-year period should be the years
immediately before the day of the
marriage and it should be a period of
cohabitation characterized by exclusivity
meaning no third party was involved at
any time within the 5 years and

continuity that is unbroken
Requisites:
1. Man and woman must have been
living together as husband and
wife for at least five years before
marriage
2. The parties must have no legal
impediment to marry each other
3. The fact of absence of legal
impediment between the parties
must be present at the time of
marriage
4. The parties must execute an
affidavit stating that they have
lived together for at least five
years [and are without legal
impediment to marry each other]
5. The solemnizing officer must
execute a sworn statement that
he
had
ascertained
the
qualifications of the parties and
that he had found no legal
impediment to their marriage
AUTHORIZED VENUES FOR MARRIAGE

General Rule: Must be solemnized publicly,
and not elsewhere, in the:
1. Chambers of the judge or in open court
2. Church, chapel or temple
3. Office of consul-general, consul or viceconsul
Exceptions:
1. Marriage at the point of death (articulo
mortis)
2. Marriage in remote places
3. Marriage at a house or place designated
by the parties in a sworn statement upon
their written request to the solemnizing
officer
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Either or Both Parties
18 years old and above
but below 21
21 years old and above
but below 25
EFFECTS:
Lack of parental
consent
Lack of parental
advice or
lack of marriage
Requires
Parental consent
Marriage counseling
Parental advice
Marriage counseling
Marriage is VOIDABLE
Of NO EFFECT on the
validity of marriage
However, this will suspend
Page 6 of 297

counseling
the issuance of the marriage

license for a period of 3
months from the completion
of
publication
of
the
application
for
marriage
license.
If the parties get married
during the 3-month period
without a license, the
marriage shall be VOID.
On the other hand, if they
are able to obtain a
license during the 3month
period,
the
marriage will still be valid
but may be held civilly
and criminally liable.
MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED ABROAD

General Rule: Marriages solemnized outside the
Phils. in accordance with the law of the foreign
country shall be valid in the Philippines (lex loci
celebrationis)
Exceptions:
1. Where either or both parties are below 18
years old
2. Bigamous or polygamous marriage (except
Art. 41 on presumptive death of spouse)
3. Mistake in identity
4. Marriages void under Art. 53 contracted
following the annulment or declaration of
nullity of a previous marriage but before
partition
5. Psychological incapacity
6. Incestuous marriages
7. Marriage void for reasons of public policy
DIVORCE BY FOREIGNER-SPOUSE:
If a Filipino is married to a foreigner and the latter
subsequently obtains a valid divorce abroad
capacitating him/her to remarry, the Filipino
spouse shall likewise have the capacity to
remarry under the Philippine law. (Art. 26 para. 2)
Requisites:
a.) There is a valid marriage that had been
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and a
celebrated between
Filipino
citizen and a
foreigner
b.) A valid divorce is obtained abroad by the
alien spouse capacitating him or her to
remarry
The traditional rule: applies when parties at the
time of celebration are a Filipino and an alien
BUT
Republic v. Orbecido III 472 SCRA 114 (2005)
The intent of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 is to

avoid the absurd situation where the Filipino
spouse remains married to the alien spouse
who, after obtaining a divorce, is no longer
married to the Filipino spouse.
Thus, taking into consideration the legislative
intent, Paragraph 2 of Article 26 should be
interpreted to include cases involving parties
who, at the time of the celebration of the
marriage, were Filipino citizens but, later on,
one of them becomes naturalized as a foreign
citizen and obtains a divorce decree. The
Filipino spouse should likewise be allowed to
remarry as if the other party was a foreigner at
the time of the solemnization of the marriage.
To rule otherwise would be to sanction absurdity
and injustice.
REPUBLIC VS. IYOY
SEPTEMBER 21, 2005
G.R. NO. 15277
For the second paragraph of Article 26 to apply,

a spouse who obtained the divorce must not be
a Filipino at the time of the divorce. If the
obtaining-spouse is still a Filipino at the time of
the divorce, then the divorce is not recognized in
the Philippines.
The root cause in psychological incapacity must
still be determined even if there is no
requirement that a personal examination of the
respondent be made prior to a declaration of
nullity of marriage.
Office of the Solicitor General has personality to
appeal a decision in a declaration-of-nullity of
marriage case.
REPUBLIC VS. OBRECIDO G.R. NO. 154380
OCTOBER 5, 2005
Facts:
Orbecido and Villanueva were married and had
2 children. Wife went to us and was naturalized
as an American citizen. He later found that his
wife obtained a divorce decree and married a
foreigner. He filed a petition for authority to
remarry invoking Article 26 of the FC, which the
court granted.
Held:
Petition for authority to marry was treated as
Petition for declaratory relief.
The determination of when the spouse who
obtained a divorce was a foreigner is at the time
of the divorce not at the time of the celebration
of the marriage. The proper remedy for the
Page 7 of 297

Filipino spouse need not be annulment for this
would be long, tedious and not feasible
(considering that the marriage appears to have the
badges of validity); it is not also legal separation as
this will not sever the marriage tie.
CHAPTER 4: VOID MARRIAGES
A. Void ab initio under Art. 35:
1. Contracted by any party below 18 years old
2. Solemnized by unauthorized solemnizing
officer (Except if either or both parties
believed in good faith that the officer had
authority)
3. Solemnized without marriage license (Except
when license not required)
4. Bigamous or polygamous marriages
Except: Art. 41 marriage contracted by
a person whose spouse has been absent
for 4 years (ordinary absence) or 2 years
(extraordinary absence), where such
person has a well founded belief that
his/her absent spouse is already dead,
and after the absent spouse is judicially
declared presumptively dead
5. Mistake in identity
6. Subsequent marriage void under Art. 53
Art. 53 provides that a person whose

marriage has been annulled may
remarry as long as he complies with
Art. 52 which requires that after the
marriage is annulled the properties of
the spouses must be partitioned and
distributed and the presumptive
legitimes of the children be distributed.
Furthermore,
the
judgment
of
annulment or absolute nullity, the
partition and distribution of the
spouses properties, and the delivery of
the childrens presumptive legitimes
must be recorded in the appropriate
civil registry and registries of property.
Failure to comply with these requisites
will make the subsequent marriage
void ab initio.
NOTE: The enumeration of
void marriages
under Art
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B. Void under Article 36: where one party, who at
the time of the celebration of the marriage, was
psychologically incapacitated to comply with the
essential marital obligations.
CARATING-SIAYNCO v. SIAYNCO 441 SCRA
422 (2004)
FACTS:
Juanita and Manuel were married civilly and in
the Catholic Church. Discovering that they could
not have a baby they adopted a baby boy. After
24 years of marriage, Manuel filed a declaration
of nullity on ground of Psychological Incapacity.
He alleged that Juanita exhibited an over
domineering and selfish attitude towards him
which was exacerbated by her extremely volatile
and bellicose nature, that she incessantly
complained about almost everything and
anyone connected with him like his elderly
parents, staff, she showed no respect for his
prestige and high position as judge in the
Municipal Trial Court. Juanita said that Manuel
is still living with her at their conjugal home in
Bulacan, that he invented malicious stories
against her so that he could marry his
paramour, that she supported Manuel in all his
endeavors despite his philandering, that she
was raised in a real happy family and had a
happy childhood contrary to what was said by
Manuel.
HELD:
Psychological Incapacity must be judged on a
case to case basis. It should refer to no less
than a mental (not physical) incapacity. It must
be characterized by a. gravity b. juridical
antecedence c. incurability --- this was not met.
Sexual infidelity does not constitute psycho
incapacity within contemplation of family
code. It must be shown that Manuels
unfaithfulness is a manifestation of a disordered
personality which makes him completely unable
to discharge the essential marital state and not
merely due to his ardent wish to have a child of
his own flesh and blood. The negative traits
must paralyze her from complying with the
essential
obligations
of
marriage.
Unsatisfactory marriage is not a null and void
marriage. Mere showing of irreconcilable
differences and conflicting personalities DOES
NOT constitute psychological incapacity.
REPUBLIC v. QUINTERO-HAMANO 428
SCRA 735 (2004)
FACTS:
Hamano, a Japanese national, abandoned his
wife and daughter. RTC and CA granted the
petition for psychological incapacity.The Office
of the Solicitor General appealed to the SC on
the ground that respondent was not able to
prove the psychological incapacity of Toshio
Hamano to perform his marital obligations,
Page 8 of 297

despite respondents failure to comply with the
guidelines laid down in the Molina case.
ISSUE:
Whether psychological incapacity is a ground for
nullity in mixed-marriage?
HELD:
Molina doctrine does not require personal medical
examination of the person who is psychologically
incapacitated to marry. However, evidence of
medical and clinical finding of any illness
constituting psychological incapacity will greatly
help. This can be done by an expert witness
Mere abandonment is not constitutive of
psychological incapacity. There must be proof of a
natal or supervening disabling factor in the person,
an adverse integral element in the personality
structure that effectively incapacitates a person
from accepting and complying with the obligations
essential to marriage. In proving psychological
incapacity, we find no distinction between an alien
spouse and a Filipino spouse. We cannot be
lenient in the application of the rules merely
because the spouse alleged to be psychologically
incapacitated happens to be a foreign national. The
medical and clinical rules to determine
psychological incapacity were formulated on the
basis of studies of human behavior in general.
Hence, the norms used for determining
psychological incapacity should apply to any
person regardless of nationality..
DEDEL v. COURT OF APPEALS 421 SCRA 461
(2004)
Mere sexual infidelity or perversion and
abandonment do not by themselves constitute
psychological incapacity within the contemplation of
the Family Code. Neither could emotional
immaturity and irresponsibility be equated with
psychological incapacity. It must be shown that
these acts are manifestations of a disordered
personality with make respondent completely
unable to discharge the essential obligations of a
marital state, not merely to her youth, immaturity or
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Buenaventura v. CA GR No. 127358, March 31,
2005
It is contradictory to characterize acts as a product
of psychological incapacity, hence beyond the
control of the party because of an innate inability,
while at the same time considering the same set of
acts as willful.
A finding of psychological incapacity on the part

of one spouse negates any award of moral and
exemplary damages against him/her. Award of
moral damages should be predicated, not on the
mere act of entering into the marriage, but on
specific evidence that is was done deliberately
and with malice by a party who had known of his
or her disability and yet willfully concealed the
same.
PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY has no exact
definition but is restricted to psychological
incapacity to comply with the essential marital
obligations of marriage.
It involves a senseless, protracted, and constant
refusal to comply with the essential marital
obligations by one or both of the spouses
although he, she, or they are physically capable
of performing such obligations (Chi Ming Tsoi
v. CA 266 SCRA 234 [1997])
ELEMENTS:
1. Mental disposition
2. Applies to a person who is martiallycontracted to another
3. Marriage entered into with volition
4. Failure to perform or comply with the
essential obligations in marriage
5. Failure to perform is chronic
6. Cause is psychological in nature
7. Cause is serious, with juridical
antecedence and must be incurable
8. Incapacity results in the failure of the
marriage
JURISPRUDENTIAL
GUIDELINES:
BREIGOIC
(Republic v. CA & Molina 268 SCRA 198
[1997])
1. Burden of proof to show the nullity of
marriage belongs to plaintiff
2. The root cause of the psychological
incapacity must be:
a. Medically or clinically identified
b. Alleged in the complaint
c. Sufficiently proven by experts
d. Clearly explained in the decision
3. The incapacity must be proven to be
existing at the time of the celebration of
the marriage.
4. Such incapacity must be shown to be
medically or clinically permanent or
incurable
5. Such illness must be grave enough to
bring about the disability of the party to
Page 9 of 297

assume the essential obligations of
marriage
6. Essential marital obligations must be those
embraced by Art. 68-71, as well as Art.
220, 221, and 225 of the Family Code.
7. Interpretations given by the National
Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the
Catholic Church in the Philippines, while
not controlling or decisive, should be given
great respect by our courts
8. The trial court must order the prosecuting
attorney or fiscal and the Solicitor General
to appear as counsel for the state
Antonio v. Reyes GR No. 155800, March 10, 2006
Judicial understanding of psychological incapacity
may be informed by evolving standards, taking into
account the particulars of each case, current trends
in psychological and even canonical thought, and
experience. It is under the auspices of the
deliberate ambiguity of the framers that the Court
has developed the Republic v. CA & Molina rules,
which have been consistently applied since 1997.
Molina has proven indubitably useful in providing a
unitary framework that guides courts in adjudicating
petitions for declaration of nullity under Article 36.
At the same time, the Molina guidelines are not set
in stone, the clear legislative intent mandating a
case-to-case perception of each situation.
It should be noted that the lies attributed to
respondent were not adopted as false pretenses in
order to induce petitioner into marriage. They
indicate a failure on the part of respondent to
distinguish truth from fiction, or at least abide by the
truth. Petitioners witnesses and the trial court were
emphatic on respondents inveterate proclivity to
telling lies and the pathologic nature of her
mistruths, which according to them, were revelatory
of respondents inability to understand and perform
the essential obligations of marriage. Indeed, a
person unable to distinguish between fantasy and
reality would similarly be unable to comprehend the
legal nature of the marital bond, much less its
psychic
meaning,
and
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MALLION VS, ALCANTARA October 31, 2006
G.R. No. 141528
Facts:
Petitioner filed a case to declare void the marriage
due to psychological incapacity. Petition was
denied. Later, he filed a case to again declare his
marriage void because of absence of marriage

license. Supreme Court denied the Petition
HELD:
Res Judicata applies.
There is only one cause of action which is the
nullity of marriage. Hence when the second
case was filed based on another ground there is
a splitting of a cause of action which is
prohibited. Petitioner is estopped from asserting
that the first marriage had no marriage license
because in the first case he impliedly admitted
the same when he did not question the absence
of a marriage license.
C. Void for Being Incestuous under Art. 37:
Whether relationship is legitimate or
illegitimate
1. Between ascendants and descendants of
any degree
2. Between brothers and sisters, whether full
or half blood
D. Void for Reason of Public Policy under Art.
38:
1. Between collateral blood relatives up to
the 4th civil degree
2. Between step-parents and step-children
3. Between parents-in-law and children-inlaw
4. Between adopting parent and adoptive
child
5. Between surviving spouse of the adopter
and the adopted
6. Between surviving spouse of the adopted
and the adopter
7. Between adopted and legitimate child of
adopter
8. Between adopted children of same
adopter
9. Between parties where one, with the
intention to marry the other, killed that
other persons spouse or his/her own
spouse
NOTES: RA 6995 (Mail Order Bride Act) declares
as unlawful the practice of matching Filipino
women for marriage to foreign nationals on a mailorder basis and other similar practices including
the advertisement, publication, printing or
distribution of brochures, fliers, and other
propaganda materials in furtherance thereof.
Under the new Family Code, the following can
now marry each other:
1. Brother-in-law and sister-in-law
2. Stepbrother and stepsister
Page 10 of 297

3. Guardian and ward
4. Adopted and illegitimate child of the adopter
5. Parties who have been convicted of adultery
or concubinage
E. Subsequent marriages
1. Without judicial declaration of nullity of
previous void marriage (Art. 40)
- For the purposes of remarriage, the only
legally acceptable basis for declaring a
previous marriage an absolute nullity is a
final judgment declaring such previous
marriage void, whereas, for purposes
other than remarriage, other evidence is
acceptable
- In a case for concubinage, the accused
need not present a final judgment
declaring his marriage void for he can
adduce evidence in the criminal case of
nullity of his marriage other than proof of
final judgment declaring his marriage
void. Hence, the pendency of the civil
action for nullity of marriage does not
pose a prejudicial question in a criminal
case for concubinage.
- However, a judicial declaration of nullity
is not needed where no marriage
ceremony at all was performed by a duly
authorized solemnizing officer as where
the parties merely signed a marriage
contract on their own. (Lucio Morigo v.
People, G.R. No. 145226. Feb. 06,
2004)
2. Rule on bigamous marriages (Art. 41)
General Rule: Marriage contracted by any
person during the subsistence of a previous
marriage is VOID
Exception: If before the celebration of the
subsequent marriage:
a. the previous spouse had been absent for
4 consecutive years (ordinary absence) or
2 years (extraordinary absence) and
b. the remaining spouse has a well-founded
belief that the absent spouse was already
dead
c. judicial declaration
of presumptive death
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- In this
the
subsequent marriage
is valid but it shall be automatically
terminated by the recording of the
affidavit of reappearance of the absent
spouse.
Exception to the Exception: If both spouses of
the subsequent marriage acted in bad faith,
such marriage is void ab initio (Art. 44)
TENEBRO v. COURT OF APPEALS 423

SCRA 272 (2004)
FACTS:
Tenebro contracted marriage with private
respondent in 1990. In 1991, Tenebro told his
wife that he had been previously married in
1986. He then left the private respondent and
lived with his first wife. In 1993, he then
contracted another marriage. It was here when
private respondent confirmed with the first wife
that petitioner was indeed previously married.
Private respondent then filed a case against
petitioner for bigamy. Tenebro claims that he is
not guilt of bigamy because:
- That there was no valid second marriage
because no marriage ceremony took place to
solemnize their union
- That the declaration of the nullity of the second
marriage on the ground of Psychological
Incapacity, which is an alleged indicator that his
marriage to private respondent lacks the
essential requisites for validity, retroacts to the
date on which the second marriage was
celebrated.
HELD:
There is no requirement in the law that a
marriage contract needs to be submitted to the
civil registrar as a condition precedent for the
validity of marriage. The law penalizes the mere
act of contracting a second or a subsequent
marriage during the subsistence of a valid
marriage. The moment petitioner entered into
marriage with private respondent, he already
committed bigamy. There is criminal bigamy
even if the second marriage is void because of
psychological incapacity.
MORIGO v. PEOPLE 422 SCRA 376 (2004)
FACTS:
Petitioner contracted marriage with Lucia in
1990. In 1991, Lucia filed with the Ontario Court
a petition for divorce against pet which was
granted and took effect on Feb. 17, 1992. On
Oct 4, 1992, petitioner married Maria. Less than
a year after such marriage, petitioner filed a
complaint of Judicial Declaration of Nullity with
Lucia on the ground that no marriage ceremony
took place. On Oct 19, 1993, the City prosecutor
then charged him with the crime of bigamy and
he was subsequently found guilty. While the
criminal case was pending in the Court of
Appeals, in 1997, the Judicial Declaration of
Nullity of marriage between petitioner and Lucia
was rendered final and executory.
Page 11 of 297

HELD:
GENERALLY, even if the first marriage is judicially
declared void only after contracting the second
marriage, the second marriage is still bigamous.
This is true only if the first marriage ostensibly
transpired as there was a marriage ceremony.
However, if the first marriage is judicially declared
void only after contracting second marriage, the
second marriage is not bigamous if the first
marriage was void due to the fact that no marriage
ceremony was solemnized at all. The mere
signing of a marriage contract bears no semblance
to a valid marriage and thus needs no judicial
declaration of nullity.
NOTES: Where there was failure to record in the civil
registry and registry of property the judgment of
annulment or absolute nullity of the marriage, the
partition and distribution of the property of the
spouses, and the delivery of the childrens
presumptive legitimes, it shall not affect third
persons. (Arts. 52-53)
Even if a marriage is void, it must be declared void
first before the parties to such void marriage can
remarry. The parties cannot decide for themselves
the invalidity of their marriage. (Except: when the
purpose is other than remarriage, a collateral attack
of the marriage is allowed.)
EFFECTS OF TERMINATION OF SUBSEQUENT
MARRIAGE: LDDRI
1. Children of the subsequent marriage
conceived prior to its termination shall be
considered legitimate
2. The absolute community or conjugal
partnership shall be dissolved and liquidated.
If either spouse acted in bad faith, his/her
share in the net profits shall be forfeited:
a. In favor of the common children
b. If none, in favor of the children of the
guilty spouse by previous marriage
c. In default of children, in favor of the
innocent spouse
3. Donations by reason of the marriage remain
valid except if the
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4. The innocent spouse may revoke the
designation of the spouse in bad faith as the
beneficiary in any insurance policy, and
5. The spouse who contracted the subsequent
marriage in bad faith shall be disqualified to
inherit from the innocent spouse by testate or
intestate succession
NOTE: The above effects apply in voidable bigamous
marriages. Except for (1), the above effects also
apply to marriages which are annulled or declared

void ab initio under Art. 40.
REQUISITES
FOR
DECLARATION
OF
PRESUMPTIVE DEATH:
1. That the absentee spouse has been
missing for 4 consecutive years if the
disappearance occurred where there is
danger of death under circumstances in
Art. 391 of New Civil Code.
2. The present spouse wishes to remarry
3. The present spouse has a well-founded
belief that the absentee is dead
4. The present spouse files a summary
proceeding for the declaration of
presumptive death
EFFECT OF REAPPEARANCE:
General Rule: The subsequent bigamous
marriage under Art. 41 remains valid despite
reappearance of the absentee spouse.
Exception: If the reappearance was made in a
sworn statement recorded in the civil registry, the
subsequent marriage is automatically terminated.
Exception to the Exception: If there was a
previous judgment annulling or declaring the first
marriage a nullity, the subsequent bigamous
marriage remains valid.
RP VS. CA G.R. NO. 163604 MAY 6, 2005
The summary proceeding to judicially declare a
person presumptively dead under Article 41 of the
Civil Code is not a special proceeding. Hence
appeal in relation to decisions are made only via a
Notice of Appeal.
REPUBLIC VS. BERNUDES-LORINO 449 SCRA
57 (2005)
Summary proceedings under the Family Code is
final and executory pursuant to Article 247. Hence,
a decision judicially declaring a person
presumptively dead is non-appealable. If appealed
to the Court of Appeals, the latter has no
jurisdiction to try the case.
There is a big difference between having the
supposed appeal dismissed for lack of jurisdiction
by virtue of the fact that the RTC decision sought
to be appealed is immediately final and executory,
and the denial of the appeal for lack of merit. In
the former, the supposed appellee can
immediately ask for the issuance of an Entry of
Judgment in the RTC, whereas, in the latter, the
appellant can still raise the matter to this Court on
petition for review and the RTC judgment cannot
Page 12 of 297

be executed until the Court makes the final
pronouncement.
The STD does not

have to be concealed
The STD
concealed
CHAPTER 5: ANNULLABLE MARRIAGES
The STD must be

serious and incurable
The STD does not

have to be serious and
appears incurable
The STD itself is the
ground for annulment
GROUNDS FOR ANNULMENT (Art. 45): PUFFIS

1. Lack of parental consent
2. Either party is of unsound mind
3. Fraudulent means of obtaining consent of
either party
Circumstances constituting fraud: (Art. 46)
a. Non-disclosure of conviction by final
judgment of crime involving moral
turpitude
b. Concealment of pregnancy by
another man
c. Concealment
of
sexually
transmissible disease, regardless of
nature, existing at the time of
marriage
d. Concealment of drug addiction,
habitual alcoholism, homosexuality
and lesbianism
4. Force, intimidation or undue influence
5. Physical incapability of either party to
consummate the marriage with the other, and
such incapacity continues and appears to be
incurable
Requisites of Annulment due to
Impotence:
a. Impotence exists at the time of the
celebration of marriage
b. Permanent
c. Incurable
d. Unknown to the other spouse
e. The other spouse must not also be
impotent
- Doctrine of Trennial Cohabitation:
Presumption that the husband is
impotent should the wife still remain
a virgin after 3 years of living
together with her husband.
6. Affliction of sexually transmissible disease
found to be serious and which appears
incurable
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b. Sexually transmissible disease
c. Serious
d. Appears incurable
ARTICLE 45
The STD is a ground
for annulment
ARTICLE 46
The STD is a type of
fraud which in turn is a
ground for annulment
It is the concealment,
and not the STD, which
gives rise to the
annulment
must
be
SEE:
Annex A Effects of Termination of Marriage
Annex B Effects of Voidable Marriages,
Bigamous Marriages, Declarations of Nullity,
and Annulments
Annex C Distinctions between Void and
Voidable Marriages
A.M. NO. 02-11-10-SC
PROPOSED RULE ON DECLARATION OF
ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF VOID MARRIAGES
AND ANNULMENT OF VOIDABLE MARRIAGES
SCOPE:
Petitions for declaration of absolute nullity
of void marriages and annulment of
voidable marriages under the Family
Code
The Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily
PETITION FOR DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTE
NULLITY:
Who may file: solely the husband or wife
What to allege: complete facts showing either
one is incapacitated from complying with marital
obligations at the time of the celebration of the
marriage including physical manifestations, if any
Actions or defenses shall NOT prescribe
PETITION FOR ANNULMENT OF VOIDABLE
MARRIAGES:
Who may file:
1. contracting party whose parent, or guardian, or
person exercising substitute parental authority
did not give his/her consent, w/in 5 years after
attaining the age of 21 unless after attaining
the age of 21, such party freely cohabited with
the other as husband and wife; or the parent,
guardian or person having legal charge of the
contracting party at any time before such party
has reached the age of 21
2. the sane spouse who had no knowledge of the
others sanity; or by any relative, guardian, or
person having legal charge of the insane, at
any time before the death of either party; or by
the insane spouse during a lucid interval after
Page 13 of 297

3.
4.
5.
6.
regaining sanity, provided that the petitioner, after

coming to reason, has not freely cohabited with
the other husband and wife;
the injured party whose consent was obtained by
fraud, w/in 5 years after the discovery of the fraud,
provided that said party, with full knowledge of the
fact constituting the fraud, has not freely cohabited
with the other husband and wife;
the injured party whose consent was obtained by
force, intimidation, or undue influence, w/in 5
years from the time the force, intimidation, or
undue influence disappeared or ceased, provided
that the force, intimidation, or undue influence
having disappeared or ceased, said party has not
thereafter freely cohabited with the other husband
and wife;
the injured party where the other spouse is
physically incapacitated of consummating the
marriage with the other and such incapacity
continues and appears to be incurable, w/in 5
years after the celebration of marriage; and
the injured party where the other party was
afflicted with a sexually transmissible disease
found to be serious and appears to be incurable,
w/in 5 years after the celebration of the marriage.
A. Venue: Family Court of the province or city where

the petitioner or the respondent has been residing for
at least 6 months prior to the date of filing (or nonresident respondent: where he may be found in the
Philippines) AT THE ELECTION OF THE
PETITIONER.
B. Petition shall allege:
1. complete facts constituting the cause of action;
2. state the names and ages of the common children
of the parties and specify the regime governing
their property relations, and the properties
involved;
3. verified and accompanied by a certification against
forum shopping, which must be signed personally
by the petitioner
Petition may not be signed solely by
counsel or through an attorney-in-fact
If petitioner is in a foreign country, the
verification and
certificate
against forum
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duly authorized officer of the Philippine
embassy or legation, consul general,
consul, vice-consul, or consular agent in
said country
4. filed in 6 copies to be served to the office of the
Solicitor-General and the Office of the City or
Provincial Prosecutor, w/in 5 days from the date of
its filing and submit to the court proof of such
service w/in the same period
Failure to comply with any of the

abovementioned requirements may
be a ground for immediate dismissal
of the petition.
C. Service of Summons
Governed by the Rule 14 of the Rules
of Court and the following:
1. Respondent cannot be located at
his given address or his
whereabouts are unknown and
cannot be ascertained by diligent
inquiry:
(a) Service
of
summons
by
publication once a week for 2
consecutive
weeks
in
a
newspaper of general circulation
in the Philippines and in such
places as the court may order
(b) Served at respondents last
known address by registered mail
or any other means the court may
deem sufficient
2. Summons to be published shall
be contained in a court order with
the following data:
(a) title of the case
(b) docket number
(c) nature of the petition
(d) principal grounds of the petition
and the reliefs prayed for
(e) a directive for the respondent to
answer w/in 30 days from the last
issue of the publication
D. Motion to Dismiss: not allowed, except for
lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter or over
the parties (however, any ground that might
warrant a dismissal may be raised as an
affirmative defense in an answer)
E. Answer
verified by the respondent himself filed w/in
15 days from service of summons or from
the last issue of publication in case of
service of summons by publication
failure to answer shall NOT make him in
default
court will order the public prosecutor to
investigate if there is collusion if no answer
is filed or when answer does not tender an
issue
Page 14 of 297

F. Investigation Report of the Public Prosecutor
to be made w/in 1 month after the receipt of
the court order
shall state whether the parties are in collusion
and the basis for such finding and serve
copies thereof on the parties and their
respective counsels, if any
(a) there is collusion parties shall file their
respective comments on the finding of
collusion w/in 10 days from receipt of a
copy
(b) no collusion set the case for pre-trial
public prosecutor is duty bound to appear at
the pre-trial
G. Court may require a social worker to conduct a
case study and submit the corresponding report at
least 3 days before the pre-trial
H. Pre-trial
MANDATORY
Notice of pre-trial shall be served separately
to the parties, their respective counsel and the
public prosecutor, containing: date of pre-trial
conference and order directing the parties to
file pre-trial brief in such manner that ensures
the receipt of the adverse party at least 3 days
before the date of pre-trial
Parties should appear personally at the pretrial
Notice of pre-trial shall still be sent to
respondent even if he did not file an answer
Failure to file the pre-trial brief or to comply
with its required contents shall have the same
effect as failure to appear at the pre-trial
Failure to appear at the pre-trial personally
w/o the valid cause: case will be dismissed
If respondent filed his answer but fails to
appear at the pre-trial, the court shall proceed
but the public prosecutor will be required to
investigate the reason for non-appearance
Court may refer the issues to a mediator but
should this fail or is not allowed, the court
shall proceed with the pre-trial conference
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Public prosecutor shall appear for the state to
prevent collusion
Parties not allowed to raise issues or present
witnesses and evidence other than those
stated in the pre-trial order
Parties have 5 days from receipt of pre-trial
order to make corrections or modifications
J. Prohibited Compromise
(a) Civil status of persons
(b) Validity of marriage or legal separation
(c) Any ground for legal separation
(d) Future support
(e) Jurisdiction of courts
(f) Future legitimes
K. Decision
Copies will be served on the parties,
including the SolGen and public prosecutor
Final after expiration of 15 days from notice
to the parties
Should be registered in the Civil Registry
where the marriage was celebrated and in
the Civil Registry of the place where the
Family Court is located before decree shall
be issued
L. Appeal
Not
allowed
if
no
motion
for
reconsideration or new trial is made w/in
15 days from notice of judgment
M. Death
Party dies before entry of judgment: court
shall order the case closed and
terminated w/o prejudice to the settlement
of the estate in proper proceedings in the
regular courts
Party dies after the entry of judgment:
binding upon the parties and their
successors-in-interest in the settlement of
the estate in the regular courts.
N. Date of Effectivity: March 15, 2003
CORPUS v. OCHOTERENA 435 SCRA 446
(2004)
In a nullity-of-marriage case, the prior investigation
to determine for collusion is a condition sine qua
non for further proceedings in the event the
defendant does not answer. This is true even if
during the hearing the fiscal participated and
cross-examined the witnesses.
CHAPTER 6: LEGAL SEPARATION
GROUNDS: PRC-FAL-BILA
1. Repeated physical violence or grossly abusive
conduct directed against petitioner, a common
child or a child of the petitioner
2. Physical violence or moral pressure to compel
the petitioner to change religious or political
affiliation
Page 15 of 297

3. Attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce the
petitioner, a common child, or a child of the
petitioner, to engage in prostitution, or
connivance in such corruption or inducement
4. Final judgment sentencing respondent to
imprisonment of more than 6 years (even if
pardoned)
5. Drug addiction or habitual alcoholism
6. Lesbianism or homosexuality
7. Subsequent bigamous marriage
8. Sexual infidelity or perversion
9. Attempt by respondent against the life of the
petitioner
10. Abandonment for more than 1 year without
justifiable cause
GROUNDS TO DENY LEGAL SEPARATION:
C4D-GP-DR
1. Condonation
failure of the husband to look for his adulterous
wife is not condonation to wifes adultery
2. Consent
3. Connivance
4. Collusion
5. Mutual guilt
6. Prescription action for legal separation must be
filed within five years from the time of the
occurrence of the cause of action
7. Death of either party during the pendency of the
case (Lapuz-Sy v. Eufemio 43 SCRA 177
[1972])
8. Reconciliation of the spouses during the
pendency of the case
EFFECTS OF SEPARATION:
1. Spouses are entitled to live separately
2. Marriage bond is not severed
3. Dissolution of property regime
4. Forfeiture of the share of the guilty spouse in the
net profits of the ACP/CPG
5. Custody of minor children to innocent spouse
(subject to Art. 213 which provides that parental
authority shall be exercised by parent designated
by the court)
6. Guilty spouse is disqualified from intestate
succession and provisions
made
by innocent
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picture. be revoked by
operation of law
7. Innocent spouse may revoke the donation made
by him in favor of the offending spouse.
However, alienations, liens and encumbrances
registered in good faith before the recording of
the complaint for revocation in the registries of
property shall be respected.
8. Innocent spouse may revoke designation of guilty
spouse as beneficiary in the insurance policy
even if such designation be stipulated as

irrevocable
A.M. NO. 02-11-11-SC
PROPOSED RULE ON LEGAL SEPARATION
The Rules of Court shall apply suppletorily
Who may file: solely the husband or wife
When to file: within 5 years from the occurrence
of any of the grounds
Procedure is almost the same as in the Rule
on Declaration of Absolute Nullity &
Annulment (above)
Creditors are furnished copies of the petition
Pre-trial set not earlier than 6 months from
filing of the petition for possibility of
reconciliation (COOLING OFF PERIOD)
- Exception: There is no cooling-off period if
the ground alleged are those under RA
9262 (Violence Against Women &
Children).
RA 9262: Anti-Violence Against Women and
Their Children Act of 2004
Sec. 19: Legal Separation Cases - In cases of
legal separation, where violence as specified in
this Act is alleged, Art. 58 of the Family Code
shall not apply. The court shall proceed in the
main case and other incidents of the case as soon
as possible. The hearing on any application for a
protection order filed by the petitioner must be
conducted within the mandatory period specified
in this Act.
Decree of Reconciliation:
a. If the spouses had reconciled: joint
manifestation under oath, duly signed by both,
may be filed in the same proceeding for legal
separation.
b. Reconciliation while proceeding is pending:
court shall immediately order termination of
proceeding.
c. Reconciliation after judgment granting petition
but before the issuance of the decree:
spouses express in their manifestation
whether or not to revive the former
property regime or choose a new regime.
court immediately issue decree of
Reconciliation setting aside proceeding
and specifying the property regime of
spouses
d. Reconciled after the issuance of the decree:
court, upon motion, issue decree of
reconciliation declaring decree as set aside
Page 16 of 297

but the separation of property and any

forfeiture of the share of the guilty spouse
already effected subsists, unless the spouses
have agreed to revive their former regime of
property relations or adopt a new regime.
e. In (b), (c), and (d), if choose to adopt different
property regime, the spouses shall comply with
Sec. 24 of the Rule
f. Decree of reconciliation: recorded in Civil
Registries where marriage and decree of legal
separation had been registered
Date of Effectivity: March 15, 2003
Ong Eng Kiam a.k.a. William Ong v. Lucita Ong
G.R. No. 153206, Oct. 23, 2006
FACTS:
Lucita Ong filed a complaint for legal separation
before the RTC, alleging that she suffered physical
violence, threats, intimidation, and grossly abusive
conduct. The RTC and CA decreed the legal
separation. William claims that Lucita is guilty of
abandonment and should, therefore, be denied legal
separation following Art. 56(1).
ISSUE:
Whether Lucita is guilty of abandonment and should
be denied the decree of legal separation
Held:
The claim of William as regards Lucitas
abandonment is without merit. The abandonment
referred to by the Family Code is abandonment
without justifiable cause for more than one year.
As it was established that Lucita left William due
to his abusive conduct, such does not constitute
abandonment
contemplated
by the
said
provision.
CHAPTER 7: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
OBLIGATIONS OF HUSBAND AND WIFE:
L2H2DS
1. Live together
QuickTime and a
respect
and fidelity
2. Observe mutual
love,
TIFF (Uncompressed)
decompressor
3. Render mutual help and support
4. Management of the household
5. Fix the family domicile
6. Joint responsibility for the support of the
family
PROFESSION
General Rule: Either spouse may exercise any

legitimate profession/business without the consent
of the other
Exception: The other spouse may object on valid,
serious and moral grounds. In case of
disagreement, the court shall decide whether
a.
The objection is proper AND
b.
Benefit has accrued to the family
before and after the objection.
If benefit accrued to the family before the
objection, the resulting obligation shall be
enforced against the separate property of the
spouse who has not obtained consent
If benefit accrued to the family after the
objection has been made, the resulting
obligation shall be enforced against the
community property
CHAPTER 8: PROPERTY RELATIONS
BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
WHAT GOVERNS PROPERTY RELATIONS
BETWEEN SPOUSES:
1. Marriage settlement future spouses may
agree upon the regime of ACP, CPG,
complete separation of property. or any
other regime
2. Family Code if there is no marriage
settlement or when the regime agreed
upon therein is void, the system of ACP
shall govern
3. Local customs
REQUISITES OF A VALID MARRIAGE
SETTLEMENT: WSB-TC-CR
1. In writing
2. Signed by the parties
3. Executed before the celebration of
marriage
4. To fix the terms and conditions of their
property relations
5. If a party executing the settlement needs
parental consent, the parent/guardian
whose consent is needed must be made a
party to the agreement
6. If the party executing the settlement is
under civil interdiction or any other
disability, the guardian appointed by the
court must be made a party to the
settlement
7. Registration (to bind 3rd persons)
NOT APPLICABLE:
1. When both are aliens, even if married in
the Phils.
2. As to extrinsic validity of contracts
3. Contrary stipulation
Page 17 of 297

DONATIONS BY REASON OF MARRIAGE
Before Marriage
General Rule: Future spouses cannot donate to
each other more than 1/5 of their
present property (excess shall be
considered void)
Requisites:
1. Made before celebration of marriage
2. In celebration of marriage
3. In favor of one or both future spouses
Exception: If they are governed by ACP
During Marriage
General Rule:
Spouses cannot donate to each

other, directly or indirectly
(donations made by spouses to
each other during the marriage
are VOID)
Ratio:
1. To protect unsecured creditors from
being defrauded
2. To prevent stronger spouse from
imposing upon the weaker one the
transfer of the latters property to the
former
3. To prevent indirect modification of the
marriage settlement
Exception:
1. Moderate gifts on the occasion of any
family rejoicing
2. Donation mortis causa
Applied to common law spouses (Art. 87)
GROUNDS TO REVOKE DONATION PROPTER

NUPTIAS: VICALC
1. Marriage is not celebrated or is judicially
declared void ab initio
2. Marriage without the needed parental
consent
3. Marriage is annulled and donee is in bad
faith
4. If it is with a resolutory condition and the
condition is complied with
5. In legal separation
and and
donee
is the guilty
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a
spouse
6. Donee commits acts of ingratitude such as:
a. If the donee commits an offense against
the person, honor or property of the
donor, his wife, or his children under his
parental authority
b. If the donee imputes to the donor any
criminal offense or any act involving
moral turpitude, unless the crime was
c.
committed against the donee himself,

his wife, or his children under his
authority
If the donee unduly refuses to support
the donor when he is legally or
morally bound to give such support
DONATION PROPTER NUPTIAS V. ORDINARY

DONATION
Donations
Ordinary
Bases
Donations
Propter Nuptias
Governed by the
rules on ordinary
Governed by
donations except
rules on
that if future
Formalities
donations (Art.
property is
725-773 of
donated, it must
NCC)
conform with
formalities of wills
No limit except
May be donated
that donor shall
Present
but up to 1/5 of
leave property
donor's present
Property
enough for his
property
support
May be included
Cannot be
Future
provided donation
included
Property
is mortis causa
Grounds
Art. 86 of Family
Art. 760, 764,
for
Code
765 of NCC
revocation
PRESCRIPTIVE PERIOD FOR FILING ACTION
FOR REVOCATION OF DONATION PROPTER
NUPTIAS:
If
marriage
is
not 5 years (Art. 1149 NCC)
celebrated
from the time marriage is
(except: donations
not solemnized on the
contained in the marriage fixed date
settlement which are
automatically rendered
void if the marriage does
not take place)
If marriage is judicially
declared void, it depends:
(a) if
subsequent by operation of law if
marriage is void donee-spouse
pursuant to Art. 40 contracted subsequent
in relation to Arts. void marriage in bad
52 and 53, because faith
contracted by a
spouse before prior
void marriage is
judicially declared
void
(b) Judicially declared
5 years from finality of

Page 18 of 297

void on grounds
other than Art. 40 in
relation to Arts. 52
and 53
When marriage takes

place
without
the
required parental consent
If resolutory condition is
complied with
When
marriage
is
annulled and donee in
bad faith
If donee commits an act
of ingratitude
In
cases
of
legal
separation
judicial declaration
nullity (if action
recover property)
1. In cases of disagreement, husbands

decision shall prevail
Wife can go to court within 5 years
2. In case one spouse is incapacitated or
unable to participate in the administration
of the common properties, other spouse
may assume sole powers.
These powers do not include:
a. disposition and
b. encumbrance
Any encumbrance is void if without the
written consent of the other spouse.
of
to
5 years
5 years from happening

of condition
5 years from finality of
decree
1 year from donors
knowledge of that fact
5 years from the time the
decree of separation has
become final
PROPERTY RELATIONS
A. SYSTEM OF ABSOLUTE COMMUNITY:
The property regime of the spouses in the
absence of a marriage settlement or when the
marriage is void. This is so because it is more in
keeping with Filipino culture.
GENERAL RULE: The community property consists of all
the property owned by the spouses at the time of the
celebration of the marriage or acquired thereafter.
EXCEPTIONS: Exclusions from Community Property:
1. Property acquired before the marriage by either
spouse who has legitimate descendants by a
former marriage and its fruits and income
2. Property for personal and exclusive use except
jewelry
3. Property acquired during the marriage by
gratuitous title, except when the donor, testator,
or grantor expressly provides otherwise
No waiver of rights allowed during the marriage
except in case of judicial separation of property.
The waiver must be inQuickTime
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G.R.to see
No.
March 11,
2005
Encumbrance or disposition of the community of
property without the consent of the other spouse is
void. Benefit to the family must always be proven.
ADMINISTRATION
OF
THE
COMMUNITY
PROPERTY:
General Rule: It shall belong to both spouses
Exceptions:
Rules on Game of Chance:

LOSS: Borne by the loser spouse and shall not
be charged to the community property
WINNINGS: Form part of the community
property
CHARGES UPON THE ACP: BDT-SLAPPOD
1. Debts and obligations contracted by either
spouse without the consent of the other to
the extent that it benefited the family
2. Debts and obligations contracted during
the marriage by designated administratorspouse, both spouses, or by one with the
consent of the other
3. Taxes, liens, charges and expenses upon
community property
4. Support of spouses, their common children
and legitimate children of either spouse
5. Expenses of litigation between spouses
unless the suit is found to be groundless
6. Ante-nuptial debts which redounded to the
benefit of the family
7. Taxes and expenses for mere preservation
made during the marriage upon the
separate property of either spouse used by
the family
8. Expenses for professional or vocational
course
9. Other ante-nuptial debts, support of
illegitimate child, and liabilities for crime or
quasi-delicts in absence of separate
property
10. Donated or promised to common legitimate
children for profession, vocational course
or self improvement
If the community property is insufficient to

cover all these liabilities, except those falling
under (9), spouses shall be solidarily liable for
the unpaid balance with their separate
properties.
Administration of community property belongs
to both
Page 19 of 297

-
Dispute: husband prevails

If the wife decides to go to court, must do so
within 5 years from the contract
Both spouses must approve any dispositions or
encumbrances, and consent of the other spouse
must be in writing
- Otherwise, brought to court and the court will
give the authority, if proper
- If one spouse acts without the consent of the
other or without court approval, such
disposition/encumbrance is void. However,
the transaction shall be construed as a
continuing offer on the part of the consenting
spouse and the 3rd person which may be
perfected as a binding contract upon
acceptance by the spouse or court approval.
TERMINATION OF ACP/CPG: DLAS

1. Death of either spouse
2. Decree of legal separation
3. Annulment or declaration of nullity of
marriage
4. Judicial separation of property during
marriage
PROCEDURE FOR DISSOLUTION OF ACP:
1. Inventory of all properties
a. Inventory of community property
b. Inventory of separate property of the wife
c. Inventory of separate property of the
husband
2. Debts and obligation of ACP are paid
3. Remainder of the separate properties of the
spouses are returned to the owner
4. Net remainder of the ACP is divided equally
between husband and wife
5. Presumptive legitimes of children are
delivered
6. Adjudication of conjugal dwelling and custody
of common children
B. SYSTEM OF CONJUGAL PROPERTY OF
GAINS
The spouses contribute the following to a common
fund:
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1. Proceeds, products,
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and
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separate properties
ofseespouses
2. Everything acquired by spouses through their
efforts
3. Everything acquired by spouses through
chance
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY IN CPG:
1. That brought into the marriage as his/her own
2. That acquired during the marriage gratuitously
3. That acquired by redemption, barter or

exchange with exclusive property
4. That purchased with exclusive money of
spouse
WHAT CONSTITUTES CPG: FOLCHIC
1. Fruits of conjugal property due or received
during the marriage and net fruits of
separate property
2. Those acquired through occupation
3. Livestock in excess of what was brought
to the marriage
4. Those acquired during the marriage with
conjugal funds
5. Share in hidden treasure
6. Those obtained from labor, industry, work
or profession of either or both spouse
7. Those acquired by chance
Rules in Cases of Improvement of Exclusive
Property:
1. Accession if the cost of the improvement
of the plus value is equal to or less than
the value of the principal property at the
time of the improvement, the entire
property remains the exclusive property of
the spouse
2. Reverse Accession if the cost of the
improvement and the plus value is more
than the value of the principal property at
the time of the improvement, the property
becomes
conjugal
(subject
to
reimbursement)
CHARGES UPON CPG: BDT-SLAPPD
1. Debts and obligations contracted by one
without the consent of the other to the
extent that the family benefited
2. Debts and obligations contracted during
the marriage by administratorspouse,
both spouses or one with the consent of
the other
3. Taxes, liens, charges, expenses upon
conjugal property
4. Support of the spouses, their common
children and legit children of either spouse
5. Expenses of litigation
6. Ante-nuptial debts to extent family
benefited
7. Taxes and expenses for mere preservation
of separate property
8. Expenses for professional, vocational or
self-improvement courses of either spouse
9. Value of what is donated or promised to
common legit children for professional,
vocation or self improvement courses
Page 20 of 297

PROCEDURE FOR DISSOLUTION OF CPG:
1. Inventory of all property
2. Amounts advanced by CP as payment for
personal debts and obligations of either
spouse are credited
3. Reimbursement for use of exclusive funds
4. Debts and obligations of the CP are paid
5. Remains of exclusive properties are returned
6. Indemnify loss of deterioration of movables
belonging to either spouse used for the
benefit of the family
7. Net remainder of conjugal property is divided
equally
8. Delivery of childrens presumptive legitimes
9. Adjudication of conjugal dwelling and custody
of children
NOTES:
Property bought on installments paid partly from
exclusive funds of the spouses and partly from
conjugal funds:
a. If full ownership is vested before the
marriage it shall belong to the buyerspouse
b. If full ownership was vested during the
marriage it shall belong to the conjugal
partnership
The separate properties shall be solidarily and
subsidiarily liable for the obligations if the
community or conjugal properties are insufficient
The ACP shall also be liable for ante-nuptial
debts, support of illegitimate children, and
liabilities incurred by either spouse by reason of a
crime or quasi-delict in case of insolvency of the
exclusive property of the debtor-spouse. Payment
advanced by the ACP, subject to deduction from
the share of the debtor-spouse
The conjugal partnership property shall likewise
be liable for the payment of the personal debts of
either spouse insofar as they have redounded to
the benefit of the family.
Ayala Investment Corporation v. CA G.R. No.
118305, Feb. 12, 1998
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Indirect benefits thatTIFFmight
accrueandtoa a husband in his
to see this picture.
signing as a surety are
or needed
guarantee
agreement not in
favor of the family but in favor of his employer
corporation are not the benefits that can be
considered as giving a direct advantage accruing to
the family. Hence, the creditors cannot go against the
conjugal partnership property of the husband in
satisfying the obligation subject of the surety
agreement. A contrary view would put in peril the
conjugal partnership property by allowing it to be
given gratuitously as in cases of donation of

conjugal partnership property, which is prohibited.
ABALOS v. MACATANGAY 439 SCRA 649
(2004)
Prior to the liquidation of the conjugal partnership,
the interest of each spouse in the conjugal assets
is inchoate, a mere expectancy, which constitutes
neither a legal nor an equitable estate, and does
not ripen into title until it appears that there are
assets in the community as a result of liquidation
and settlement. The interest of each spouse is
limited to the net remainder resulting from the
liquidation of the affairs of the partnerships after its
dissolution. Thus, the right of the husband or wife
to one-half of the conjugal assets does not vest
until the dissolution and liquidation of the conjugal
partnership or after dissolution of the marriage ,
when it is finally determined that, after settlement
of conjugal obligations, there are net assets left
which can be divided between the spouses or their
respective heirs.
The Family Code requires WRITTEN consent of
the other spouse or authority of the court for the
disposition
or
encumbrance
of
conjugal
partnership by the other spouse if the former
spouse is incapacitated or otherwise unable to
participate in the administration of the conjugal
partnership. Otherwise, the disposition is void.
DISTINCTION BETWEEN ACP AND CPG
ACP
CPG
All
the
properties Each spouse retains his/her
owned by the spouses property before the marriage
at the time of marriage and only the fruits and
become
community income of such properties
become part of the conjugal
property
properties
during
the
marriage
Upon dissolution and Upon dissolution of the
liquidation
of
the partnership, the separate
community prop what is property of the spouses are
divided
equally returned and only the net
between the spouses or profits of the partnership are
their heirs is the net divided equally between the
remainder
of
the spouses of their heirs
properties of the ACP
Page 21 of 297

SEPARATION OF PROPERTY
In the absence of an express declaration in
the marriage settlements, the separation of
property between the spouses during the
marriage shall not take place except by
judicial order.
Judicial separation of property may either be
voluntary or for sufficient cause.
SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR JUDICIAL
SEPARATION OF PROPERTY: CAPAAS
1. Petitioners spouse has been sentenced to a
penalty which carries with it civil interdiction
2. Petitioners spouse has been declared an
absentee
3. Loss of parental authority of petitioners
spouse has been decreed by the court
4. Abandonment by petitioners spouse or
failure to comply with family obligations
5. Spouse granted the power of administration
in marriage settlements has abused that
power
6. At the time of petition, the spouses have
been separated in fact for at least one year
and reconciliation is highly improbable
GROUNDS FOR REVIVAL OF FORMER
PROPERTY REGIME:
1. When civil interdiction of the prisoner-spouse
terminates
2. When the absentee spouse reappears
3. When the court, being satisfied that the
spouse granted the power of administration
in the marriage settlement will not again
abuse that power, authorizes resumption of
administration by the spouse formerly
exercising such power
4. When the spouse, who has left the conjugal
home without a decree of legal separation,
returns and resumes common life with the
other
5. When parental authority is judicially restored
to the spouse previously deprived thereof
6. When the spouses who have separated in
and a
fact for at least QuickTime
one year,
reconcile and
are needed
resume common
lifeto see this picture.
7. When after voluntary dissolution of ACP or
CPG, spouses agree to revive their former
property regime
GROUNDS FOR TRANSFER OF
ADMINISTRATION OF EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF
EITHER SPOUSE: GACA
1. One spouse becomes guardian of the other
2. One spouse judicially declared absent
3. One spouse sentenced to penalty with

civil interdiction
4. One spouse becomes a fugitive from
justice or is hiding as an accused in a
criminal case
PROPERTY REGIME OF UNIONS WITHOUT
MARRIAGE
Art.147
Art.148
1. man and woman
2. living together as
husband and wife
3. with capacity to
marry (Art.5
without any legal
impediment)
at least 18
years old
not Art. 37
Applicability
(incestuous
void marriage)
not Art. 38
(void marriage
by reason of
public policy)
not bigamous
4. other void
marriages / livein
Salaries
and wages
Properties
acquired
through
exclusive
funds
Properties
acquired by
both
through
work or
industry
Properties
acquired
while living
together
Forfeiture in
Owned in equal
shares
1. man and woman

2. living together as
husband and
wife
3. NOT capacitated
to marry
(Art.35(1) under
18 years old)
4. adulterous
relationship (e.g.
concubinage)
5. bigamous/polyga
mous marriage
(Art.35(4))
6. incestuous
marriages under
Art.37
7. Void marriages
by reason of
public policy
under Art.38
Exclusively owned;
married party
property of CPG of
legitimate marriage
Remains exclusive
provided there is
proof
Remains exclusive
Governed by rules
on co-ownership
Owned in common
in proportion to
respective
contribution
Owned in equal
shares since it is
presumed to have
been acquired
through joint
efforts
if one party did
not participate in
acquisition,
presumed to have
contributed
through care and
maintenance of
family and
household
When only one of
Presumed to be
equal; however,
proofs may be
shown to show that
their contribution
and respective
shares are not
equal
If one party is
Page 22 of 297

case one
party is in
bad faith
the parties is in
good faith, the
share of the party
in bad faith shall be
forfeited:
1. In favor of their
common
children
2. In case of
default of or
waiver by any or
all of the
common
children or their
descendants,
each vacant
share shall
belong to the
respective
surviving
descendants
3. In the absence
of such
descendants,
such share
belongs to the
innocent party
validly married to
another:
- his/her share in
the co-owned
properties will
accrue to the
ACP/CPG of
his/her existing
valid marriage
If the party who
acted in bad faith is
not validly married
to another, his/her
share shall be
forfeited in the
same manner as
that provided in Art
147
The same rules on
forfeiture shall
apply if both parties
are in bad faith
JOAQUINO v. REYES 434 SCRA 260 (2004)

FACTS:
Respondent Reyes is the widow of Rodolfo Reyes.
Reyes had illicit relations with petitioner Joaquino. A
property in BF Homes Paranaque was executed in
favor of Joaquino. Joaquino had no means to pay for
this property. The funds used to purchase this
property were earnings of Reyes from his position as
corporate executive and from a loan secured from
Commonwealth Insurance Corporation. Joaquino and
Reyes had 3 illegitimate children.
HELD:
Article 148 is the property regime that will apply in
case where the partners have a legal impediment to
marry each other. In this property regime, only the
property acquired by them through their actual joint
contribution of money, property or industry shall be
owned by them in common and in proportion to their
respective contributions. The registration of a
and a
property in the name
of QuickTime
the paramour
who had no
income whatsoever at the time of the donation by a
husband is tantamount to a donation which is void
under Article 87 of the Family Code. The paramour
then holds the property under a constructive trust
under Article 1456
in favor of the conjugal
partnership of the husband with the legitimate
spouse. Status of an illegitimate child who claimed to
be an heir to a decedents estate could not be
adjudicated in an ordinary civil action such as in a

case for recovery of property.
VILLANUEVA v. COURT OF APPEALS 427
SCRA 439 (2004)
FACTS:
Several properties are the subject of dispute
between petitioner (illegitimate son) and the
legitimate family of Nicolas, the decedent.
Petitioner is contending that the subject properties
are not part of the conjugal partnership of Nicolas
and his legal wife (Eusebia) but under the regime
of co-ownership between Nicolas and petitioners
mother.
HELD:
For as long as it is proven that property was
acquired during the marriage, the presumption of
conjugality will attach regardless in whose
name the property is registered. The
presumption is not rebutted by the mere fact that
the certificate of title of the property or the tax
declaration is in the name of one of the spouses.
A reading of Article 148 shows that there must be
proof of actual joint contribution by both the live-in
partners before the property becomes co-owned
by them in proportion to their contribution. The
presumption of equality of contribution arises only
in the absence of proof of their proportionate
contributions, subject to the condition that actual
joint contribution is proven first. Simply put, proof
of actual contribution by both parties is required;
otherwise there is no co-ownership and no
presumption of equal sharing.
CHING vs. COURT APPEALS 423 SCRA 371
(2004)
The presumption of conjugality arises as long as it
is shown that it is acquired during the marriage. It
is not even necessary to prove that the properties
were acquired with funds of the partnerships. In
fact, even when the manner in which the
properties were acquired does not appear, the
presumption will still apply. The presumption shall
subsist in the absence of clear, satisfactory and
convincing evidence to overcome the same.
Benefit to the family must be direct and not just a
by-product or a spin-off of the loan itself. Where a
husband contracts obligations on behalf of the
family business, the law presumes and rightly so
that such obligation will redound to the benefit of
the conjugal partnership.
Rivera v. Heirs of Romualdo Villanueva G.R.
No. 141501 July 21, 2006
FACTS:
Page 23 of 297

From 1927 until her death in 1980, Pacita Gonzales
cohabited with Romualdo Villanueva without the
benefit of marriage because the latter was married to
Amanda Musngi who died in 1963. During the 53
years of their cohabitation they acquired the several
properties contested in this case.
In July 1980, Pacita died without leaving a will.
On August 1980, Romualdo and Angelina (said to be
the illegitimate child of Pacita and Romualdo)
executed a deed of extrajudicial partition with sale of
a number of properties of Pacitas estate. Petitioners
(Pacitas half-brothers, etc.) filed a case for partition
of her estate and annulment of titles and damages.
In dismissing the complaint, the RTC made two
findings: (1) Pacita was never married to Romualdo
even after Amandas death, and (2) respondent
Angelina was Pacitas illegitimate child by Romualdo
and therefore her sole heir (to the exclusion of the
petitioners). CA affirmed.
ISSUE:
Whether the real properties acquired during the
cohabitation of Pacita and Romualdo are equally
owned by them.
HELD:
NO. Pacita and Romualdo lived together without the
benefit of marriage and therefore their property
relations were governed by Art. 144 of the Civil Code.
However, the contending parties agreed that the
relationship of Pacita and Romualdo was adulterous,
at least until the death of Amanda in 1963.
Because the cohabitation of Pacita and Romualdo
from 1927 to 1963 was adulterous, their property
relations during those 36 years were not governed by
Art. 144 of the Civil Code which applies only if the
couple living together is not in any way incapacitated
from getting married. According to the doctrine laid
down by Juaniza v. Jose, no co-ownership exists
between parties to an adulterous relationship. In
Agapay v. Palang, the Court expounded on this
doctrine by declaring that in such a relationship
(adulterous), it is necessary for each of the
partners to prove his or her actual contribution to
the acquisition of property in order to be able to
lay claim to any portionQuickTime
of it. Presumptions
of coand a
ownership and equal
contribution
not apply.
are
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The only property acquired after Amandas death in
1963 and registered in the names of both Villanueva
and Gonzales was only one property. This is
governed by the rules on co-ownership pursuant to
Art. 144 of the Civil Code. Half of it should pertain to
Pacitas heirs and the other half, to Romualdo. The
rest of the properties registered solely in Pacitas
name were also acquired after the death of Amanda
in 1963. These properties are governed by co-
ownership under Art. 144 of the Civil Code. Again,

half should accrue to Pacitas heirs and the other
half, to Romualdo.
Properties registered solely under Pacitas name,
although acquired during their cohabitation,
accrue to the petitioners.
Properties acquired after Amandas death in 1963,
both those registered under their names and those
registered in Pacitas name, will be the only ones
governed by the rules on co-ownership pursuant
to Art. 144 of the Civil Code.
FRANCISCO VS. MASTER IRON 451 SCRA 494
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
FACTS:
Creditor levied on the property, which were
alleged by wife to be solely owned by her, for the
debt of Mr. Francisco (husband). She later filed a
case for the annulment of their marriage on the
ground that Mr. Francisco was already married.
HELD:
For Article 148 of the Family Code to give rise to a
co-ownership relation between parties, there must
be proof of actual joint contribution of money,
property or industry and only to the extent of their
proportionate share. Co-ownership may ensue in
case of cohabitation where one party has preexisting valid marriage provided that the parties
prove their actual joint contribution of money,
property. Mrs. Francisco in this case failed to
adduce preponderance of evidence that she
contributed in the acquisition of the property and
hence is not a co-owner.
HOMEOWNER SAVING & LOAN BANK VS.
MIGUELA DAILO, G.R. No. 153802, March 11,
2005.
Encumbrance or disposition of the community
property without the consent of the other spouse is
totally void. To say that it is void only as to the
share of the spouse who did not give his consent
and valid as to the share of the spouse who
contracted the encumbrance is erroneous.
Benefit to the family must always be proven.
CHAPTER 9: FAMILY
FAMILY basic social institution which public
policy cherishes and protects
Hence, no suit between members of the family
shall prosper unless compromise between
parties has failed
FAMILY RELATIONS INCLUDE:
Page 24 of 297

1.
2.
3.
4.
Between husband and wife

Between parents and children
Among other ascendants and descendants
Among brothers and sisters, full or half blood.
NOTE: Suit between members of the same family it

should appear from the verified complaint or petition
that earnest efforts towards a compromise have
been made but failed. Allegation of earnest efforts is
JURISDICTIONAL, if it is absent, the court can
dismiss the case. BUT this rule is inapplicable to the
following cases: CLV-FJF
1. Civil status of persons
2. Any ground for legal separation
3. Validity of marriage or legal separation
4. Future support
5. Jurisdiction of courts
6. Future legitime
Under the Family Code, a family home is

deemed constituted from the time it is
occupied as a family residence
Actual value of the family home shall not
exceed P300,000 in URBAN areas and
P200,000 in RURAL areas (Art.157)
FAMILY HOME
1. It is constituted
a. jointly by the husband and the
wife or
b. by an unmarried head of the
family
2. It is the dwelling house where they and
their family reside, and the land on
which it is situated
GENERAL RULE: (Art. 153) The family home (FH) is
exempted from:
1. Execution
2. Forced Sale
3. Attachment
EXCEPTIONS: (Art. 155)
1. Non-payment of taxes
2. Debts incurred prior to constitution of home
3. Debts secured by mortgages on the
QuickTime and a
premises TIFF (Uncompressed)
decompressor
4. Debts due laborers, mechanics, architects,
builders, materialmen, and others who have
rendered service or furnished materials for
the construction of the building
NOTE: The exemption is limited to the value allowed
by the Family Code
GUIDELINES:
FH is deemed constituted from time of

actual occupation as a family residence
FH must be owned by person constituting
it
FH must be permanent
Rule applies to valid and voidable and
even to common-law marriages under
Arts.147 and 148
FH continues despite death of one or
more spouses or unmarried head of family
for 10 years or as long as there is a minor
beneficiary (Art.159)
Can only constitute one family home
BENEFICIARIES OF A FAMILY HOME

1. Husband and wife, or unmarried head of
the family
2. Parents (may include parent-in-laws),
ascendants,
brothers
and
sisters
(legitimate/illegitimate) living in the family
home and dependent on head of family for
support
SALE, ALIENATION, DONATION,
ASSIGNMENT, OR ENCUMBRANCE OF THE
FAMILY HOME
1. The person who constituted the same
must give his/her written consent
2. The spouse of the person who constituted
the family home must also give his/her
written consent
3. A majority of the beneficiaries of legal age
must also give their written consent
4. In case of conflict, the court shall decide
REQUISITES FOR CREDITOR TO AVAIL OF
THE RIGHT TO EXECUTE: (Art. 160)
1. He must be a judgment creditor;
2. His claim is not among those excepted
under Art.155, and
3. He has reasonable grounds to believe that
the family home is worth more than the
maximum amount fixed in Art. 157
PROCEDURE:
1. The creditor must file a motion in the court
proceeding where he obtained a favorable
for a writ of execution against the family
home.
2. There will be a hearing on the motion
where the creditor must prove that the
actual value of the family home exceeds
the maximum amount fixed by the Family
Code, either at the time of its constitution
or as a result of improvements introduced
thereafter its constitution.
Page 25 of 297

3. If the creditor proves that the actual value
exceeds the maximum amount the court will
order its sale in execution.
4. If the family home is sold for more than the
value allowed, the proceeds shall be applied
as follows:
a. First, the obligations enumerated in
Art. 155 must be paid (listed above)
a. Then the judgment in favor of the
creditor will be paid, plus all the costs
of execution
b. The excess, if any, shall be delivered
CHAPTER 10: PATERNITY AND FILIATION
CHILDREN BY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION ARE
CONSIDERED LEGITIMATE:
1. The artificial insemination is made on the
wife, not on another woman AND
2. The artificial insemination on the wife is done
with the sperm of the husband, or of a donor,
or both the husband and a donor AND
3. The artificial insemination has been
authorized or ratified by both spouses on a
written instrument executed and signed by
them before the birth of the child, AND
4. The written instrument is recorded in civil
registry together with the birth certificate of
LEGITIMATE CHILDREN
Only children conceived OR born during a valid
marriage (Art.164)
the child
EXCEPTIONS: Those children who are:
1. conceived as a result of artificial insemination
2. born of a voidable marriage before decree of
annulment
3. conceived or born before judgment of
annulment or absolute nullity under Art. 36
(psychological incapacity) becomes final &
executory
4. conceived or born of a subsequent marriage
under Art. 53 (failure to record the judgment,
partition and distribution of properties, and
delivery of childrens presumptive legitime)
QuickTime and a
5. of mothers TIFF
who
may
have
declared against
(Uncompressed)
decompressor
their legitimacy or was sentenced as an
adulteress (Art.167)
6. legally adopted
7. legitimated, conceived and born outside of
wedlock of parents without impediment at the
time of conception and who subsequently
married
1. born of marriages which are void ab initio

such as bigamous and incestuous
marriages and void marriages by reason
of public policy
2. born of voidable marriages born after the
decree of annulment
ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN
Only children conceived AND born outside a
valid marriage (Art.164)
WHO MAY IMPUGN THE LEGITIMACY OF A
CHILD:
1. General Rule: Only the husband can
impugn the legitimacy of a child
2. Exceptions: The heirs of the husband may
impugn the childs filiation in the following
cases:
a. If the husband dies before the
expiration of period for filing the
action
b. If the husband dies after filing
without desisting
c. If the child was born after the death
of the husband
Arnel Agustin v CA G.R. No. 162571, June 5,
2005
DNA Testing is a valid means of determining
paternity. It is not against the Constitutional right
against self-incrimination nor against the right to
privacy.
Rosendo Herrera v Alba G.R. No. 148220 June
15, 2005)
Trial Courts should require at least 99.9% as the
minimum value of DNA Test Result on Probability
of Paternity prior to a paternity inclusion. This
rebuttable presumption of paternity is subject to
the Vallejo Test
People v. Vallejo G.R. No. 144656, May 9,
2002 doctrine reiterated in People v. Yatar
G.R. No. 150224, May 19, 2004
Vallejo Test: Factors to consider as to probative
value of DNA evidence:
1. how samples were collected
2. how they were handled
3. possibility of contamination of samples
4. procedures followed in analyzing the samples
5. whether the proper standards and procedures
were followed in conducting the test
6. qualification of analyst who conducted the test
EXCEPTIONS: Those children who are:

Page 26 of 297

GERARDO CONCEPCION VS. COURT OF
APPEALS
GR. NO. 123450 August 31, 2005
A child born inside a valid marriage is legitimate.
Hence a child born inside a bigamous marriage which
is void is the child of the first marriage which has not
been nullified or annulled.
An agreement by parties as to the status of a child is
void. Only the law determines legitimacy or
illegitimacy. Thus, an admission in pleadings by the
wife and his second husband that the child is their
legitimate son cannot stand in the face of proof that
the first valid marriage of the wife was not annulled
or nullified and hence the child is the legitimate child
in the eyes of the law of the first husband.
Any declaration of the mother that her child is
illegitimate has no probative value.
GROUNDS TO IMPUGN THE LEGITIMACY OF THE
CHILD: (this list is EXCLUSIVE) PBA
1. It was physically impossible for the husband
to have sexual intercourse with his wife
within the first 120 days of the 300 days
which immediately preceded the birth of the
child because of:
a. Physical incapacity of the husband to
have sexual intercourse with his wife
b. The fact that the husband and wife
were living separately in such a way
that sexual intercourse was not
possible, or
c. Serious illness of the husband which
absolutely prevented intercourse
2. If its proved that for biological or other
scientific reasons, the child could not have
been that of the husband, except in the case
of children conceived through artificial
insemination
3. In case of children conceived through
artificial insemination, when the written
authorization or ratification of either parent
was obtained through mistake, fraud,
violence, intimidation, or undue influence
PERIODS FOR FILING OF ACTION TO IMPUGN
LEGITIMACY:
1. If the husband (orQuickTime
his heirs,
and a in proper cases)
resides in the
SAME
city
are needed
to see this
picture.or municipality:
within 1 year from knowledge of the birth OR
its recording in the civil register
2. If the husband (or his heirs) does not reside
in the city or municipality where the childs
birth took place or was recorded but his
residence is IN THE PHILIPPINES: within 2
years
3. If the childs birth took place or was recorded
in the Philippines while the husband has his
residence abroad, or vice-versa: within 3

years
NOTE: The period shall be counted from the
knowledge of the childs birth or its recording in
the civil register.
HOWEVER, if the childs birth was
concealed from or was unknown to the
husband or his heirs, the period shall be
counted from the discovery or knowledge
of the birth of the child or of the act of
registration of said birth, whichever is
earlier.
NOTE: Legitimacy CANNOT be collaterally
attacked or impugned. It can be impugned only in
a direct suit precisely filed for the purpose of
assailing the legitimacy of the child.
RULE ON STATUS OF A CHILD BORN WITHIN
300 DAYS AFTER TERMINATION OF FORMER
MARRIAGE (Art.168):
Rules in the absence of proof to the contrary:
1. 1st Marriage: if the child was born before
the lapse of 180 days after celebration of
2nd marriage provided born within 300
days after the termination of the 1st
marriage
Provided within 300

X
180 days
st
1 Marriage
Ends
nd
2 Marriage
Begins
X = conceived during former marriage
2. 2nd Marriage: If the child was born after

180 days following the celebration of the
2nd marriage whether born within 300 days
after termination of 1st marriage or
afterwards
Page 27 of 297

Even if within 300 days

X
180 days
st
1 Marriage
Ends
continuous and clear manifestations of parental

affection and care, which cannot be attributed to
pure charity. Such acts must be of such a nature
that they reveal not only the conviction of
paternity, but also the apparent desire to have and
treat the child as such in all relations in society
and in life, not accidentally, but continuously.
nd
2 Marriage
Begins
X = conceived during subsequent marriage
PROOF OF FILIATION
GENERAL RULE: (Art.172) Filiation of legitimate (or
illegitimate) children is established by any of the
following:
1. The record of birth appearing in the civil
register or a final judgment; or
2. An admission of legitimate (or illegitimate)
filiation in a public document or a private
handwritten instrument and signed by the
parent concerned
EXCEPTION: (Para. 2, Art.172)
In the absence of these evidences, the legitimate
filiation may be proved by:
3. Open and continuous possession of the
status of a legitimate (or illegitimate) child
4. Any other evidence allowed by the Rules of
Court and special laws
IMPORTANT: For illegitimate children when the
action is based on the para. 2 of Art. 172, the action
may be brought ONLY during the lifetime of the
alleged parent.
Mendoza v. Court of Appeals G.R. No. 86302, Sep.
24, 1991
Continuous does not mean that the concession of
status shall continue forever but only that it shall not
be of an intermittent character while it continues. The
possession of such status means that the father has
treated the child as his own, directly and not through
others, spontaneously and without concealment
though without publicity. There must be a showing of
and a
permanent intention
of QuickTime
the supposed
father to
are
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consider the child as his own by continuous
and clear
manifestation of paternal affection and care.
Jison v. Court of Appeals G.R. No. 124853 Feb.
24, 1998
To prove open and continuous possession of the
status of an illegitimate child, there must be evidence
of the manifestation of the permanent intention of the
supposed father to consider the child as his, by
CABATANIA vs. COURT OF APPEALS 441

SCRA 96 (2004)
A certificate of live birth purportedly identifying the
putative father is not competent evidence of
paternity when there is no showing that the
putative father had a hand in the preparation of
said certificate. The local civil registrar has no
authority to record the paternity of an illegitimate
child on the information of a third person. While a
baptismal certificate may be considered a public
document, it can only serve as evidence of the
administration of the sacrament on the d ate
specified but not the veracity of the entries with
respect to the childs paternity. Thus, certificates
issued by the local civil registrar and baptismal
certificates are per se inadmissible in evidence as
proof of filiation and they cannot be admitted
indirectly as circumstantial evidence to prove the
same.
The fact that Florencias husband is living and
there is a valid subsisting marriage between them
gives rise to the presumption that a child born
within marriage is legitimate even though mother
may
have
declared
against
legitimacy.
Presumption of legitimacy doesnt flow out of a
declaration in statute but is based on broad
principles of natural justice.
ECETA vs. ECETA 428 SCRA 204 (2004)
The due recognition of an illegitimate child in a
record of birth, a will, a statement before a court of
record, or in any authentic writing is, in itself, a
consummated act of acknowledgement of the
child, and no further court action is required. In
fact, any authentic writing is treated not just a
ground for compulsory recognition; it is in itself a
voluntary recognition that does not require a
separate action for judicial approval.
Rivera v. Heirs of Romualdo Villanueva G.R.
No. 141501, July 21, 2006
FACTS:
From 1927 until her death in 1980, Pacita
Gonzales cohabited with Romualdo Villanueva
without the benefit of marriage because the latter
was married to Amanda Musngi who died in 1963.
During the 53 years of their cohabitation they
Page 28 of 297

acquired the several properties contested in this
case.
In July 1980, Pacita died without leaving a will.
On August 1980, Romualdo and Angelina (said to be
the illegitimate child of Pacita and Romualdo)
executed a deed of extrajudicial partition with sale of
a number of properties of Pacitas estate. Petitioners
(Pacitas half-brothers, etc.) filed a case for partition
of her estate and annulment of titles and damages.
In dismissing the complaint, the RTC made two
findings: (1) Pacita was never married to Romualdo
even after Amandas death, and (2) respondent
Angelina was Pacitas illegitimate child by Romualdo
and therefore her sole heir (to the exclusion of the
petitioners). CA affirmed.
ISSUE:
Whether Angelina is entitled to inherit from Pacita.
HELD:
NO. Both the TC and the CA ruled that Angelina was
the illegitimate daughter of the decedent, based
solely on her birth certificate. The CA found this to be
adequate proof that respondent Angelina was
Pacita's illegitimate child. However, a closer
examination of the birth certificate reveals that
respondent Angelina was listed as adopted by both
Pacita and Romualdo.
The mere registration of a child in his or her birth
certificate as the child of the supposed parents is
not a valid adoption, does not confer upon the
child the status of an adopted child and the legal
rights of such child, and even amounts to
simulation of the childs birth or falsification of his or
her birth certificate, which is a public document.
In Benitez-Badua v. CA, it is well-settled that a
record of birth is merely a prima facie evidence of
the facts contained therein. It is not conclusive
evidence of the truthfulness of the statements
made there by the interested parties. Following the
logic of Benitez, Angelina should have adduced
evidence of her adoption, in view of the contents of
her birth certificate. The records, however, are bereft
of any such evidence.
There are crucial differences between Benitez-Badua
and this case which QuickTime
ineluctably
support the
and a
TIFF (Uncompressed)
decompressor
conclusion that Angelina
was
not
Pacita's
daughter,
whether illegitimate or adopted. Pacita, unlike
Benitez-Badua's alleged mother Chipongian, was not
only 36 years old but 44 years old, and on the verge
of menopause at the time of the alleged birth. Unlike
Chipongian who had been married to Vicente Benitez
for only 10 years, Pacita had been living childless
with Romualdo for 20 years. Under the
circumstances, we hold that it was not sufficiently
established that respondent Angelina was Pacitas
biological daughter, nor even her adopted

daughter. Thus, she cannot inherit from Pacita.
Since she could not have validly participated in
Pacitas estate, the extrajudicial partition which
she executed with Romualdo was invalid.
ACTION TO CLAIM LEGITIMACY:
1. The child can bring the action during his
lifetime
2. If the child dies after reaching majority
without filing an action, his heirs can
longer file the action after death
3. If the child dies during minority in the state
of insanity, his heirs can file the action for
him within 5 years form the childs death
4. If the child dies after commencing the
action, the action will survive and his heirs
will substitute for him
5. If the child is a minor, incapacitated or
insane, his guardian can bring the action
in his behalf
RIGHTS OF LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE
CHILDREN
LEGITIMATE
Surname
Legitime
Support
Action for
claim for
legitimacy or
illegitimacy
Use of father
and mothers
surname
Entitled to
legitime and
other
successional
rights granted to
them by the
NCC
Entitled to
receive support
from parents,
ascendants, and
in proper cases,
brothers and
sisters under
Art.174
His/her whole
lifetime
regardless of
type of proofs
provided under
Art.172
ILLEGITIMATE
Use of mothers
surname
NOTE: RA 9255
amended Art.176
of FC as of
March 19, 2004
can use
fathers surname
Entitled only to
of legitime of
legitimate child
Receive support
according to the
provision of the
FC
His/her whole
lifetime
regardless of
type of proofs
provided
under Art.172
para. 1
ONLY lifetime
of alleged
parent for
Art.172 para.
Page 29 of 297

2
Transmissible
to heirs under
Art.173?
Right to inherit
ab intesto
Yes
No
Yes
No right to inherit
ab intesto from
legitimate
children and
relative of father
and mother
under Art.992 of
NCC
IMPORTANT:
Use the surname of the mother if the requisites of
RA 9255 are not complied with
Use the surname of the father (RA 9255, Sec. 1,
effective March 19, 2004)
R.A. No. 9255

Illegitimate children may use the surname of their
father if their filiation has been expressly recognized
by the father, either through:
1. record of birth in civil register
2. fathers admission in public document
3. fathers admission in private handwritten
document
The father under RA 9255, Sec. 1 has the right to file
an action to prove non-filiation during his lifetime.
LEGITIMATED CHILDREN
REQUISITES FOR LEGITIMATION:
1. The child was conceived and born outside of
wedlock;
2. The parents, at the time of childs conception,
were not disqualified by any impediment to
marry each other
3. There is a valid marriage subsequent to the
childs birth
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LegitimationTIFFare
takes
by the subsequent
needed place
marriage of the childs parents
Effect of legitimation:
- Confers on the child the rights of
legitimate children
- Retroacts to the time of the childs
birth
Legitimation may be impugned only by those
who are prejudiced in their rights within 5
years from the time the cause of action
accrues (death of parents of legitimated

child)
CHAPTER 11: ADOPTION
R.A. 8552: DOMESTIC ADOPTION ACT
WHO MAY ADOPT: Any person provided he is:
1. FILIPINO CITIZEN
a. of legal age
b. in possession of full civil capacity
and legal rights
c. of good moral character
d. has not been convicted of any
crime involving moral turpitude,
emotionally and psychologically
capable of caring for children,
e. At least 16 years older than the
person to be adopted, unless:
i. The adopter is the natural
parent of the child to be
adopted, or
ii. The adopter is the spouse
of the legitimate parent of
the person to be adopted
f. In possession of full civil capacity
and legal rights
g. In a position to support and care
for his legitimate and illegitimate
children, in keeping with the
means of the family
2. ALIEN
a. possessing
the
same
qualifications as above stated for
Filipino nationals
b. his/her country has diplomatic
relations with the Philippines
c. he/she has been living in the
Philippines for at least 3
continuous years prior to the filing
of the application for adoption and
maintains such residence until the
adoption decree is entered
EXCEPT when:
i. a former Filipino citizen
who seeks to adopt a
relative within the 4th
degree of consanguinity
or affinity; or
ii. one who seeks to adopt
the legitimate child of
his/her Filipino spouse; or
iii. one who is married to a
Filipino citizen and seeks
to adopt jointly with
his/her spouse a relative
Page 30 of 297

within the 4th degree of
consanguinity or affinity of
the Filipino spouse; or
3. GUARDIAN - with respect to the ward after
the termination of the guardianship and
clearance of his/her financial accountabilities
4. Illegitimate children of the adopter, 10

years old or over and living with him
5. Spouse of the adopted, if married
6. Spouse of the adopter, if married
7. Adopted children of the adopter, 10 years
old or over
PRE-ADOPTION SERVICES
The DSWD shall provide for the following services:
1. counseling services for the biological
parents,
prospective
parents,
and
prospective adoptee
2. exhaust all efforts to locate the biological
parents, if unknown
EFFECTIVITY OF DECREE OF ADOPTION

A decree of adoption effective as of the
date the original petition was filed. Also
apply in case the petitioner dies before the
issuance of the decree of adoption to
protect the interest of the adoptee
RULE ON ADOPTION BY SPOUSES

GENERAL RULE: Husband and wife shall jointly
adopt
EXCEPTION:
1. one spouse seeks to adopt the legitimate
son/daughter of the other; or
2. one spouse seeks to adopt his/her own
illegitimate son/daughter
3. the spouses are legally separated from each
other.
WHO MAY BE ADOPTED
1. Any person below 18 years of age who has
been administratively or judicially declared
available for adoption;
2. legitimate son/daughter of one spouse by the
other spouse;
3. illegitimate son/daughter by a qualified
adopter to improve his/her status to that of
legitimacy;
4. person of legal age if, prior to the adoption,
said
person
has
been
consistently
considered and treated by the adopter as
his/her own child since minority;
5. child whose adoption has been previously
rescinded; or
6. child whose biological or adoptive parents
have died provided that no proceedings shall
be initiated within 6 months from the time of
death of said parents.
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WRITTEN CONSENT
NECESSARY
FOR
ADOPTION: A-BLISS-A
1. Adoptee, if 10 years of age or over;
2. Biological parents of the child, if known, or
the legal guardian, or the proper government
instrumentality which has legal custody of the
child;
3. Legitimate children of the adopter, 10 years
old or over
Tamargo v Court of Appeals G.R. No. 85044,

June 3, 1992
Where the petition for adoption was granted after
the child had shot and killed a girl, the Supreme
Court did not consider that retroactive effect may
be given to the decree of adoption so as to impose
a liability upon the adopting parents accruing at a
time when adopting parents had no actual or
physically custody over the adopted child.
Retroactive affect may perhaps be given to the
granting of the petition for adoption where such is
essential to permit the accrual of some benefit or
advantage in favor of the adopted child. In the
instant case, however, to hold that parental
authority had been retroactively lodged in the
adopting parents so as to burden them with
liability for a tortious act that they could not have
foreseen and which they could not have prevented
would be unfair and unconscionable.
EFFECTS OF ADOPTION:
1. Severance of all legal ties between the
biological parents and the adoptee and
the same shall then be vested on the
adopters EXCEPT in cases where the
biological parent is the spouse of the
adopter
2. Deemed a legitimate child of the adopter
3. Acquired reciprocal rights and obligations
arising from parent-child relationship
4. Right to use surname of the adopter
5. In legal and intestate succession, the
adopters and the adoptee shall have
reciprocal rights of succession without
distinction
from
legitimate
filiation.
However, if the adoptee and his/her
biological parents had left a will, the law
on testamentary succession shall govern.
Page 31 of 297

LEGALLY-FREE CHILD is a child who has
been voluntarily or involuntarily committed to
the Department, in accordance with the Child
and Youth Welfare Code
GROUNDS FOR RECISSION OF ADOPTION:
MASA
1. repeated physical and verbal maltreatment
by the adopters despite having undergone
counseling
2. attempt on the life of the adoptee
3. sexual assault or violence
4. abandonment and failure to comply with
parental obligations.
Adoption, being in the best interest of the
child, shall not be subject to rescission by
the adopter
Only the adoptee is given the right to rescind
the decree of adoption
However, the adopters may disinherit the
adoptee for causes provided in Art. 919 of
the NCC
EFFECTS OF THE RESCISSION OF THE
ADOPTION:
1. The parental authority of the adoptee's
biological parents, if known, OR the legal
custody of the DSWD shall be restored if the
adoptee is still a minor or incapacitated.
2. The reciprocal rights and obligations of the
adopters and the adoptee to each other shall
be extinguished.
3. The court shall order the Civil Registrar to
cancel the amended certificate of birth of the
adoptee and restore his/her original birth
certificate.
4. Succession rights shall revert to its status
prior to adoption, but only as of the date of
judgment of judicial rescission. Vested rights
acquired prior to judicial rescission shall be
respected.
In the Matter of the Adoption of Stephanie Nathy
Astorga Garcia G.R. No. 148311 March 31, 2005
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An illegitimate child
adopted
by the natural father
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may use the surname of the natural mother.
R.A. 8043: INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION ACT OF
1995
INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION refers to the
socio-legal process of adopting a Filipino child
by a foreigner or a Filipino citizen permanently
residing abroad where the petition is filed, the
supervised trial custody is undertaken, and the
decree of adoption is issued outside the
Philippines
WHO MAY BE ADOPTED:

Only a legally free child may be the subject of
inter-country adoption
No child shall be matched to a foreign
adoptive family unless it is satisfactorily
shown that the child cannot be adopted
locally
WHO MAY ADOPT:
An alien or a Filipino citizen permanently residing
abroad may file an application for inter-country
adoption of a Filipino child if:
1. at least 27 years of age and at least 16
years older than the child to be adopted,
at the time of application unless the
adopter is the parent by nature of the child
to be adopted or the spouse of such
parent
2. if married, his/her spouse must jointly file
for the adoption
3. has the capacity to act and assume all
rights and responsibilities of parental
authority under his national laws, and has
undergone the appropriate counseling
from an accredited counselor in his/her
country
4. has not been convicted of a crime
involving moral turpitude
5. eligible to adopt under his/her national law
6. in a position to provide the proper care
and support and to give the necessary
moral values and example to all his
children, including the child to be adopted
7. agrees to uphold the basic rights of the
child as embodied under Philippine laws,
the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the
Child, and to abide by the rules and
regulations issued to implement the
provisions of this Act
8. comes from a country with whom the
Philippines has diplomatic relations and
whose government maintains a similarly
authorized and accredited agency and
that adoption is allowed under his/her
national laws
9. possesses all the qualifications and none
of the disqualifications provided herein
and in other applicable Philippine laws
INTER-COUNTRY ADOPTION BOARD
act as the central authority in matters relating
to inter-country adoption
ensure that all possibilities for adoption of the
child under the Family Code have been
Page 32 of 297

exhausted and that inter-country adoption is in
the best interest of the child.
TRIAL CUSTODY
The trial custody shall be for a period of 6 months
from the time of placement.
Starts upon actual physical transfer of the child to
the applicant who, as actual custodian, shall
exercise substitute parental authority over the
person of the child
The adopting parents shall submit to the
governmental agency or the authorized and
accredited agency, which shall in turn transmit a
copy to the Board, a progress report of the child's
adjustment. The progress report shall be taken
into consideration in deciding whether or not to
issue the decree of adoption.
CHAPTER 12: SUPPORT
SUPPORT:
Consists of everything indispensable for:
1. Sustenance
2. Dwelling
3. Clothing
4. Medical attendance
5. Education includes schooling or
training for some profession, trade or
vocation, even beyond the age of
majority
6. Transportation includes expenses
going to and from school, or to and
from place of work
1. If the one asking for support is below

majority age, he is entitled to support from
his illegitimate brother or sister to the full
extent, without any condition (e.g. even if
cause is imputable to him)
2. If the one asking for support is already of
majority age, he is entitled to support only
if his need for support is not due to a
cause imputable to his fault or negligence
PROPERTIES ARE LIABLE FOR THE
SUPPORT OF THE RELATIVES (SOURCES OF
MUTUAL SUPPORT)
Spouses
Common children
of the spouses
Children of a
spouse by
another marriage
RULES REGARDING SUPPORT TO

ILLEGITIMATE BROTHERS AND SISTERS
(WHETHER FULL OR HALF BLOOD):
absolute community or conjugal

property
Under the system of absolute
community, separate property of
the parent-spouse
Illegitimate
children of either
spouse
NOTE: Amount of support shall be in proportion to

the means of the giver and to the need of the
recipient
PERSONS OBLIGED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER
TO THE WHOLE EXTENT:
1. Spouses
2. Legitimate ascendants and descendants
3. Parents and their legitimate children and the
children of the latter (legitimate or
illegitimate)
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4. Parents andTIFFtheir
illegitimate
children and the
children of the latter (legitimate or
illegitimate)
5. Legitimate brothers and sisters whether full
or half-blood

property
property
Legitimate
ascendants, other
legitimate and
illegitimate
descendants, and
legitimate and
illegitimate
brothers and
sisters
if the same is insufficient or there

is no such property, the absolute
community is liable but the
support is considered as
advances on the share of the
parent to be paid by him to the
community at the time of
liquidation
Under the system of conjugal
partnership, separate property of
the parent-spouse
if the same is insufficient or there
is no such property, the conjugal
property is liable if financially
capable, but the support paid to
the child shall be deducted from
the share of the parent-spouse at
the time of liquidation of the
partnership
separate property of the obligorspouse
if the same is not sufficient or
there is none, the absolute
community or conjugal property
shall be liable if financially
capable, which support shall be
deducted from the share of the
spouse upon liquidation of the
ACP or CPG
ORDER OF LIABILITY IF 2 OR MORE ARE

OBLIGED TO SUPPORT:
1. Spouse
2. Descendants in nearest degree
Page 33 of 297

3. Ascendants in nearest degree
4. Brothers and sisters
When the obligation to give support falls
upon two or more persons, the payment of
the same shall be divided between them in
proportion to the resources of each.
However, in case of urgent need and by
special circumstances, the judge may order
only one of them to furnish the support
provisionally, without prejudice to his right to
claim from the other obligors the share due
from them.
When two or more recipients at the same
time claim support from one and the same
person legally obliged to give it, and the
obligor does not have sufficient means to
satisfy all claims:
- the order established in the preceding
article shall be followed:
a. Spouse
b. Descendants in nearest degree
c. Ascendants in nearest degree
d. Brothers and sisters
- if the concurrent obligees should be the
spouse and a child subject to parental
authority, the child shall be preferred
on Art 153
CHILDREN
From the
community
property
From the
community
property
OPTIONS OF THE PERSON GIVING SUPPORT:

1. To give a fixed monthly allowance; or
2. To receive and maintain the recipient in
the giver's home or family dwelling
EXCEPTION: when there is a
legal or moral obstacle thereto
LEGACY OF SUPPORT
Based on law
Exempt from execution

and attachment
SOURCES OF SUPPORT
DURING THE
MARRIAGE
From the
community
property
PENDING
LITIGATION
SPOUSES
From the
community
property assets
except if Art.
203 applies,
that if the
claimant
spouse is the
guilty spouse,
he/she will not
be entitled to
support.
AFTER
LITIGATION
No obligation to
support except
if there is legal
separation, in
if the spouses
which case the
are under
court may
conjugal
require the
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e
a
nd
a
partnership
of
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mpressorspouse to
are needed
gains,
support
give support
is considered
an advance of
such spouses'
share; the rule
does not apply
if the spouses
are under
absolute
community of
property, based
From the
separate
property of the
spouses
If contained in a will, apply

the rules of contractual
support because there is
no more obligation of
support to speak of since
the giver is already dead
CONTRACTUAL
SUPPORT
Based on contract, so it
can be between strangers
Not exempt from
attachment and execution
because it is not a legal
obligation
EXCEPTION: if the giver
contracts with a person
whom he is obliged by law
to support, in which case
only the excess of what is
obliged (based on need)
can be attached or
subject to execution
Follow rules of contracts
which says that obligation
must be fulfilled (support
must be given) no matter
what happens (even if you
lose your job). BUT if the
change in circumstances
are manifestly beyond
that contemplation of the
parties, support may be
adjusted accordingly
LAM vs. CHUA 426 SCRA 29 (2004)

Judgment of support is always provisional in
character. Res Judicata does not apply. The
lower court cannot grant a petition based on
grounds, such as bigamy, which was not alleged
in the petition. Such a decision based on grounds
not alleged in the petition is void on the ground of
no jurisdiction. However, if the lower courts void
decision is not assailed on appeal which dealt only
with the matter of support, the losing party is now
estopped from questioning the declaration of
nullity and the Supreme Court will not undo the
judgment of the RTC declaring the marriage null
and void for being bigamous. It is axiomatic that
while a jurisdictional question may be raised at
Page 34 of 297

any time, this however, admits of an exception where
estoppel has supervened.
surviving
parent
court appoints a guardian over the

child
parent designated by the court
CHAPTER 13: PARENTAL AUTHORITY

PARENTAL
AUTHORITY
(PATRIA
POTESTAS) is the mass of rights and
obligations which parents have in relation to
the person and property of their children until
their emancipation, and even after under
certain circumstances.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY:
1. It is a natural right and duty of the parents
(Art. 209)
2. It cannot be renounced, transferred or
waived, except in cases authorized by law
(Art 210)
3. It is jointly exercised by the father and the
mother (Art. 211)
4. It is purely personal and cannot be exercised
through agents
5. It is temporary
RULES AS TO THE EXERCISE OF PARENTAL
AUTHORITY:
1. The father and the mother shall jointly
exercise parental authority over the persons
of their common children. In case of
disagreement, the father's decision shall
prevail, unless there is a judicial order to the
contrary (Art.211)
2. If the child is illegitimate, parental authority is
with the mother.
BRIONES vs. MIGUEL 440 SCRA 455 (2004)
An illegitimate child shall be under the parental
authority of the mother regardless of whether the
father amidst paternity. The recognition of an
illegitimate child by the father could be a ground for
ordering the latter to give support to, but not custody
of, the child, The law explicitly confers to the mother
sole parental authority over an illegitimate child; it
follows that only if she defaults can the father
assume custody and authority
over the minor, Of
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course, the putative
father
may
adopt his own
illegitimate child; in such a case, the child shall be
considered legitimate child of the adoptive parent.
WHO EXERCISES PARENTAL AUTHORITY
absence of
either parent
death of either
parent
remarriage of
parent present
surviving parent
separation of
parents
(Art. 213)
The court shall take into account all

relevant considerations, especially
the choice of the child over 7 years
old, unless the parent is unfit
GENERAL RULE: A child under 7
years of age shall not be separated
from the mother UNLESS the court
finds compelling reasons to order
otherwise.
Paramount consideration in matters
of custody of a child is the welfare
and well-being of the child (Tonog
v. Court of Appeals G.R. No.

122906, Feb. 7, 2002)
In case of death, absence or unsuitability
of both parents, the surviving grandparent
shall exercise substitute parental authority
(Art. 214)
IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION FOR THE

ISSUANCE OF A WRIT OF HABES CORPUS ,
RICHARD BRIAN THORTNTON FOR AND
BEHALFO OF MINOR SEQUEIRA JENNIFER
DELLE FRANCISCO THORNTON 436 SCRA 550
(2004)
FACTS:
The Family Courts Act of 1997 gave family courts
exclusive original jurisdictions over petitions for
habeas corpus. It then impliedly repealed the act
which expands the jurisdiction of the CA and the
Judiciary Reorganization Act. The Family Code
Act also provides that family courts shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide
petitions for guardianship, custody of children,
habeas corpus in relation to the latter. Under this
Act, the avowed policy of the State is to protect
the rights and promote the welfare of children.
The creation of the FC is geared towards
addressing 3 major issues regarding childrens
welfare cases x x x. Since the primordial
consideration is the best interests of the child, the
CA and CA are not divested of their jurisdiction
over habeas corpus cases involving the custody of
minors.
HELD:
The Family Court Law ( RA 8369) when it referred
to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Family Court to
take cognizance of Habeas Corpus cases did not
repeal RA 7092 and BP 129
also giving
jurisdiction to the Court of Appeals and the
still the surviving parent, unless the

Page 35 of 297

Supreme Court to take cognizance of Habeas Corpus
cases.
The Family Courts have concurrent jurisdiction with
the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court in
petitions for habeas corpus where the custody of
minors is at issue.
To make the Family Court the only court that could
hear habeas corpus case involving minors will result
in an iniquitous situation, leaving individuals like
petitioner without legal recourse in obtaining custody
of their children. Individuals who do not know the
whereabouts of minors they hare looking for would be
helpless since they cannot seek redress from family
courts whose writs are enforceable only in their
respective territorial jurisdictions. Thus if a minor is
being transferred from one place to another, which
seems to be the case here, the petitioner in a habeas
corpus case will be left without legal remedy, This
lack of recourse could not have been the intention of
the lawmakers when they passed the Family Court
act of 1997.
ORDER OF SUBSTITUTE PARENTAL
AUTHORITY:
1. The surviving grandparent
2. The oldest brother or sister, over 23 years
old, unless unfit or disqualified
3. The child's actual custodian, over 21 years
old, unless unfit or disqualified
In case of foundlings, abandoned children,

neglected children, or abused children,
summary judicial proceedings shall be
instituted so that they may be entrusted to:
a. Heads of childrens homes
b. Orphanages, or
c. Similar institutions duly accredited by
the proper government agency (Art.
217)
PERSON EXERCISING SPECIAL PARENTAL

AUTHORITY:
1. school
2. administrators and teachers
3. individual, entity, or institution engaged in
child care
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LIABILITY OF THOSE EXERCISING SPECIAL

PARENTAL AUTHORITY OVER THE CHILD:
1. They are principally and solidarily liable for
damages caused by the acts or missions of
the child while under their supervision,
instruction or custody. HOWEVER, this
liability is subject to the defense that the
person
exercising
parental
authority
exercised proper diligence.
2. The parents and judicial guardians of the

minor or those exercising substitute
parental authority over the minor are
subsidiarily liable for said acts and
omissions of the minor.
DISTINCTION BETWEEN SUBSTITUTE AND
SPECIAL PARENTAL AUTHORITY
SUBSTITUTE
PARENTAL
AUTHORITY
SPECIAL PARENTAL
AUTHORITY
It is exercised in case of
death, absence, or if
unsuitability of parents.
Hence, it is not exercised
by the parents of parental
authority over the minor
children.
It is exercised
concurrently with the
parental authority of the
parents and rest on the
theory that while the child
is in the custody of the
person exercising special
parental authority, the
parents temporarily
relinquish parental
authority over the child to
the latter
LIABILITY OF PARENTS FOR TORTS

COMMITTED BY THEIR MINOR CHILDREN:
Parents and other persons exercising
parental authority shall be civilly liable for
the injuries and damages caused by the
acts or omissions of their minor
PROVIDED the children are living in their
company and under their parental
authority
This is subject to the appropriate defenses
provided by law
NOTES:
Parental authority and responsibility are
inalienable and may not be transferred
and renounced except in cases authorized
by law
Parents may exercise parental authority
over their childs property
EFFECT OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY UPON
THE PROPERTY OF THE CHILD:
1. The father and mother shall jointly
exercise legal guardianship over the
property of the minor child without court
appointment
2. In case of disagreement, the fathers
decision shall prevail, unless there is
judicial order to the contrary
3. If the market value of the property or the
annual income of the child exceeds
P50,000, the parent is required to furnish
Page 36 of 297

a bond of not less than 10% of the value of
the childs property or income
GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OF PARENTAL
AUTHORITY: CHOBA
1. Conviction of parent for crime without civil
interdiction
2. Treats child with excessive harassment and
cruelty
3. Gives corrupting orders, counsel or example
4. Compels child to beg
5. Subjects to or allows acts of lasciviousness
NOTE: The suspension or deprivation may be
revoked and the parental authority revived in a case
filed for the purpose or in the same proceeding if the
court finds that the cause therefore has ceased and
will not be repeated
GROUNDS FOR THE PERMANENT TERMINATION
OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY :
1. Death of parents
2. Death of child
3. Emancipation of child
4. Parents exercising parental authority has
subjected the child or allowed him to be
subjected to sexual abuse
Jocelyn Pablo Gualberto vs. Crisanto Rafaelito
Gualberto G.R. No. 154994 June 28, 2005
Lesbianism is not compelling reason to deprive the
mother of a child below seven years of age.
To deprive the wife custody, the husband must
clearly establish that her moral lapses have had an
adverse effect on the welfare of the child or have
distracted the offending spouse from exercising
proper parental care.
Writ of habeas corpus have no leg to stand on to
deprive the mother of a child below seven years of
age, unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
CASES WHERE PARENTAL AUTHORITY MAY BE
REVIVED: TEMPORARY
1. Adoption of child
2. Appointment of general guardian
3. Judicial declaration of abandonment
4. Final judgment divesting
authority
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and a
5. Judicial declaration
or incapacity
are needed toof
seeabsence
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or person exercising parental authority
CHAPTER 14: FUNERAL
c. Ascendants in nearest degree

d. Brothers and sisters
2. the funeral shall be in keeping with the
social position of the deceased
3. the funeral shall be in accordance with the
expressed wishes of the deceased
a. in the absence of expressed
wishes, his religious beliefs or
affiliation shall determine
b. in case of doubt, the persons in
Art. 199 of FC shall decide
4. any person who disrespects the dead or
allows the same shall be liable for
damages
CHAPTER 15: USE OF SURNAME
CHILD CONCERNED
Legitimate child
Legitimated child
Adopted child
SURNAME TO BE USED
Fathers surname
Fathers surname
Adopters surname
Mothers surname/
Fathers name if requisites
of R.A. 9255 are complied
with
Illegitimate child
Conceived prior to the
annulment of the marriage
Conceived after the
annulment of the marriage
WIFE
Fathers surname
Mothers surname
SURNAME TO BE USED
first name and maiden
name + her husbands
surname
e.g. Lena Hipolito
Santiago
b. first name + her
husbands surname
e.g. Lena Santiago
c. her husbands full name,
but prefixing a word
indicating that she is his
wife
e.g. Mrs. Benito
Santiago
d. retain the use of her
maiden name (use of
husbands surname is
not a duty but merely an
option of the wife)
e.g. Lena Hipolito
she shall resume using her
maiden name
a.
Valid marriage (before

the husband dies)
Art. 370
Marriage
is
wife is the
guilty party
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
1. duty and right to make arrangement in
funerals in accordance with Art. 199 of FC:
a. Spouse
b. Descendants in nearest degree
Page 37 of 297

needs court order
Change of first name
or nickname
she shall continue using the

name and surname she was
employing prior to the legal
separation (Laperal v.
Legally separated
(Art.372)
Republic 6 SCRA 357

[1962])
Divorce (at least if they
allow it later or for
those who got divorced
during the Japanese
occupation)
choices: same as widowed

spouse (may used deceased
husbands surname) Art.
373
IDENTITY OF NAMES AND SURNAMES

Younger person is obliged to
BETWEEN
use such additional name OR
PERSONS (Art.
surname as will avoid
374)
confusion
1. son may use the word
Junior
e.g. Benito Santiago, Jr.
2. grandsons and other male
descendants, shall either :
a. add a middle name
e.g. Benito Manuel
BETWEEN
Santiago
ASCENDANTS
b. add the mothers
AND
surname
DESCENDANTS
e.g. Benito Hipolito
(Art. 375)
Santiago
c. add the Roman
numerals II, III, and so
on
e.g. Benito
Santiago II
a
CIVIL REGISTER and QuickTime
COURTandPROCEEDING
CIVIL REGISTER
Clerical or
typographical error
- e.g. misspelled
name, misspelled
birth of place
- NOT nationality,
age, status, sex
COURT
PROCEEDING
Change of surname
EXCEPT when the
request for change is a
consequence of a
change of status, such
as when a natural child
is acknowledged or
legitimated
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME:
1. 3 years residency in the province where
change is sought prior to the filing
2. must not be filed within 30 days prior to
an election
3. the petition must be verified
PROPER AND REASONABLE CAUSES THAT
MAY WARRANT THE GRANT OF A PETITION
FOR CHANGE OF FIRST NAME/NICKNAME:
1. the petitioners true and official name is
ridiculous;
tainted with dishonor
extremely difficult to write or pronounce
4. new first name or nicknamed has been
habitually and continuously used by the
petitioner and he has been publicly known
by the first names and nicknames in the
community
5. when the change is necessary to avoid
confusion
6. when the request for change is a
consequence of a change of status, such
as when a natural child is acknowledged
or legitimated
ELEMENTS OF USURPATION OF NAME:
1. there is an actual use of another's name
by the defendant
2. the use is unauthorized
3. the use of another's name is to designate
personality or to identify a person
REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO THE PERSON
WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN USURPED:
1. civil (insofar as private persons are
concerned)
a. injunction
b. damages (actual and moral)
2. criminal (when public affairs are
prejudiced)
WHEN USE OF ANOTHER'S NAME IS NOT
ACTIONABLE:
Used as stage, screen, or pen name, provided:
1. use of name is in good faith; and
2. by using the name of another, no injury is
caused to that person's right (Dean)
Page 38 of 297

3. when use is motivated by modesty, a desire
to avoid unnecessary trouble, or other reason
not prohibited by law or morals
IN RE PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME,
PETITIONER JULIAN LIN ( Carulasan) WANG,
G.R. NO. 159966 March 30, 2005
2. if a person joined the armed forces who

has taken part in war, from the time he is
considered missing in action
3. danger
of
death
under
other
circumstances,
from
time
of
disappearance
SEE: Annex D
The law does not allow dropping of middle name

from registered name unless there are justifiable
reasons to do so.
Mere convenience is not
justifiable.
Middle names serve to identify the maternal lineage
or filiation of a person as well as further distinguish
him from others who may have the same given name
and surname as he has.
An illegitimate child whose filiation is not recognized
by the father bears only a given name and his
mothers name, and does not have a middle name,
unless legitimated or subsequently recognized by the
father.
A child can use the surname of the mother instead of
the father if there are clear justificable reasons to do
so such as to avoid confusion.
CHAPTER 16: ABSENCE
KINDS OF ABSENCE:
1. Physical absence
2. Legal absence
PROVISIONAL ABSENCE
1. A person disappears from his domicile;
2. His whereabouts are unknown; and
a. He did not leave any agent; or
b. He left an agent but agent's power
has expired
THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL CEASE IN ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING CASES:
1. when the absentee appears personally or by
means of an agent;
2. when the death ofQuickTime
the absentee
is provided
and a
and his estateareor
intestate
heirs appear;
needed
3. when a third person appears, showing by a
proper document that he has acquired the
absentee's property by purchase or other title
CHAPTER 17: CIVIL REGISTRY

MATTERS RECORDED IN THE CIVIL
REGISTER:
1. birth
2. marriage
3. death
4. legal separation
5. annulment of marriage
6. judgments declaring marriage void from
the beginning;
7. legitimation
8. adoption
9. acknowledgement of natural children
10. naturalization
11. loss of citizenship
12. recovery of citizenship
13. civil interdiction
14. judicial determination
15. voluntary emancipation of a minor
16. change of name
REQUIREMENTS OF AN ADVERSARIAL
PROCEEDING:
1. Presence of opposing parties
2. Notice to indispensable parties
3. Relevant facts have been fully and
properly developed
4. Opposing counsel was given an
opportunity to demolish the opposite
party's case (not ex parte)
5. Evidence has been thoroughly weighed
and considered
6. Compliance
with
the
publication
requirement
NOTE: The new law, RA 9048, applies only to
clerical and typographical errors in entries of name
and does not modify the rules mentioned above.
PERIOD OF ABSENCE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY

CIRCUMSTANCES:
1. if a person rode an airplane or sea vessel
lost in the course of voyage, from the time of
loss of the airplane or sea vessel
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ATENEO CENTRAL BAR OPERATIONS 2007

Civil Law Summer Reviewer

Custom, even if proven, cannot prevail over a

REQUISITES FOR MAKING CUSTOM AN

If the foreign law refers it to a third country, the

RULES ON PROHIBITIVE LAWS

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Under Arts. 19 & 21 the act must be done

ACCION IN REM VERSO (Art. 22)

4. Plaintiff has no other action based on

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THEORIES ON CAPACITY TO ACT

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employees of competing drug companies and

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CHAPTER 3: MARRIAGE EXEMPT FROM

any time within the 5 years and

AUTHORIZED VENUES FOR MARRIAGE

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the issuance of the marriage

MARRIAGES SOLEMNIZED ABROAD

The intent of Paragraph 2 of Article 26 is to

G.R. NO. 15277

For the second paragraph of Article 26 to apply,

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Art. 53 provides that a person whose

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A finding of psychological incapacity on the part

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marriage void because of absence of marriage

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TENEBRO v. COURT OF APPEALS 423

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apply to marriages which are annulled or declared

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CHAPTER 5: ANNULLABLE MARRIAGES

The STD must be

The STD does not

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regaining sanity, provided that the petitioner, after

A. Venue: Family Court of the province or city where

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even if such designation be stipulated as

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but the separation of property and any

General Rule: Either spouse may exercise any

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Spouses cannot donate to each

GROUNDS TO REVOKE DONATION PROPTER

committed against the donee himself,

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5 years from finality of

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When marriage takes