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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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COMMITTEES
MARRIAGE AND LEGAL SEPARATION

Topic Head

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Joseph Eliezer D. Herrero


Member

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS/


PROPERTY RELATIONS OF
HUSBAND AND WIFE

Veronica Louise D. Mandi


Topic Head

THE FAMILY/
PATERNITY AND FILIATION

Kara Denise V. Dupio


Topic Head

Fatima I. Bahjin
Meneth F. De Baguio
Rena Mae D. Melocoton

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Placido J. Concepcion

Members

ADOPTION

Althea Kristabele C. Lagura


Topic Head

Florian A. Piedad II
Khim Tonne B. Bation

Members

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SUPPORT, PARENTAL AUTHORITY,


AND EMANCIPATION OF MAJORITY

Topic Head

Noreen Rose A. Duran


Joselyn M. Mercado
April Anne C. Justalero

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Members

PERSONS, EFFECTS AND APPLICATIONS


OF LAWS AND HUMAN RELATIONS
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Topic Head

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Ebenezer Daryl P. Manzano


Gala Gay N. Bolen
Karen B. Cabual
Charisse T. Tubog

Jayson M. Capundag

Members

Ebenezer Daryl P. Manzano


Subject Head

Atty. Levy S. Estolloso


Professor

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Family'Code'

EFFECT!OF!ABSENCE!OF!REQUISITE!

The!Family!Code!took!effect!on!August!3,!1988.!!

MARRIAGE'
!

REQUISITES!
NATURE!OF!MARRIAGE,!ART.1!
Art.! 1,! FC.! Marriage! is! a! special! contract! of!
permanent! union! between! a! man! and! a! woman!
entered! into! in! accordance! with! law! for! the!
establishment!of!conjugal!and!family!life.!It!is!the!
foundation! of! the! family! and! an! inviolable! social!
institution! whose! nature,! consequences,! and!
incidents! are! governed! by! law! and! not! subject! to!
stipulation,!except!that!marriage!settlements!may!
fix! the! property! relations! during! the! marriage!
within!the!limits!provided!by!this!Code.!
KINDS!OF!REQUISITES!!
(1)!

Essential!Requisites!(Art.!2)!!
a.!
Legal! Capacity! of! the! contracting!
parties,!who!must!be!a!male!and!a!female!
b.!
Consent!(of!the!parties)!freely!given!in!
the!presence!of!a!solemnizing!officer.!
(2)!

Formal!Requisites!(Art.!3)!

a.!

!Authority!of!solemnizing!officer!

b.!

!A!valid!marriage!license!

c.!
!Except:!Marriages!in!articulo)mortis!or!
when! one! or! both! parties! are! at! the! point! of!
death!
d.!

!!

ESSENTIAL!REQUISITES!
Age''
Legal!Capacity![Art.!5]!!
Male!or!female!18!years!old!and!above,!not!under!
any!impediments!mentioned!in!Art.!37!(incestuous!
marriage)! &! Art.! 38! (marriage! against! public!
policy),!may!contract!marriage.!
Must'be'male'and'female'
Jones! v! Hallahan,! (1973):! Application! for! marriage!
license!was!denied!since!marriage!is!defined!by!law!
as! a! contract! entered! into! between! a! man! and! a!
woman.!
Goodridge!v.!Dept.!of!Public!Health,!(2003):!Samea
sex! couples! should! not! be! denied! the! same!
benefits! as! heterosexual! couples;! the! right! to!
marry!includes!the!right!to!choose!who!to!marry.!
Silverio! v! Republic,! (2007):! Changing! of! gender! in!
ones! birth! certificate! was! denied;! otherwise,! it!
would! result! in! confusion! and! would! allow!
marriage! between! persons! of! the! same! sex! which!
is! in! defiance! of! the! law,! as! marriage! is! a! union!
between!a!man!and!a!woman.!!
Note:)The)best)source)for)citing)the)requirement)(of)
male/female))is)still)statutory,)as)provided)explicitly)
in)the)Family)Code.)

!Marriage!Ceremony:!

Consent'freely'given'

i.

People!v.!Santiago,!(1927):!A!marriage!entered!into!
by! a! person! whose! real! intent! is! to! avoid!
prosecution! for! rape! is! void! for! total! lack! of!
consent.!The!accused!did!not!intend!to!be!married.!
He! merely! used! such! marriage! to! escape! criminal!
liability.!

Appearance!of!contracting!parties!in!
the!presence!of!a!solemnizing!officer!
ii. Personal!declaration!that!they!take!!
each!other!as!husband!and!wife!in!
!!!!!!the!presence!of!not!less!than!!
!!!!!!!2!witnesses!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Eigenmann! v.! Guerra! (1964):! There! was! no!


reasonable!and!wellagrounded!fear!of!an!imminent!
and!grave!evil!upon!him!or!his!property,!fatheraina
laws!words!were!merely!an!admonition!typical!of!
concerned!parents.!

(3)! Office! of! the! consulageneral,! consul! or! vicea


consul![Article!8]!

Ceremony''

!(1)! Marriages! performed! in! articulo) mortis! or! in!


remote!places.![Art.!29]!!!

Marriage)Ceremony))
No! prescribed! form! or! religious! rite! for! the!
solemnization!of!marriage!is!required.!(Art.!6)!!
The! couple's! written! agreement! where! they!
declare!themselves!as!husband!and!wife,!signed!by!
them! before! a! judge! and! two! capable! witnesses,!
even! though! it! was! independently! made! by! them,!
still! counts! as! a! valid! ceremony.! [Martinez! v! Tan,!
(1909)]!!
Minimum)requirements)prescribed)by)law:!!
(1)! Appearance! of! contracting! parties! personally!
before!the!solemnizing!officer![Art.!3]!
(2)! Personal! declaration! that! they! take! each! other!
as!husband!and!wife.![Art.!3]!
(3)!Presence!of!at!least!two!witnesses!of!legal!age.!
[Art.!3]!

!
Exceptions:!!

(2)! Where! both! parties! request! in! writing! that!


marriage! be! solemnized! at! a! place! designated! by!
them.!
Nonacompliance! with! this! requirement! does! not!
invalidate!the!marriage!!
Who'may'solemnize'marriages:''
(1)! Incumbent! member! of! the! Judiciary! within! his!
jurisdiction.![Art.!7]!!
(2)!Priest,!Rabbi,!Imam!or!Minister!of!any!Church!or!
Religious!Sect.!Must!be:!!
(a)! Duly! authorized! by! his! church! or!
religious!sect!!
(b)! Registered! with! the! civil! registrar!
general!!

(4)! The! declaration! shall! be! contained! in! the!


Marriage!certificate.![Art.!6]!

(c)! Acting! within! the! limits! of! the! written!


authority!granted!to!him!by!his!church!or!religious!
sect.!

(5)! Marriage! certificate! shall! be! Signed! by! the!


contracting! parties! and! their! witnesses! and!
attested!by!the!solemnizing!officer.![Art.!6]!

(d)! At! least! one! of! the! contracting! parties!


belongs! to! the! solemnizing! officers! church! or!
religious!sect.![Art.!7]!!

Note:)In)a)marriage)in)articulo)mortis,)when)one)or)
both) parties) are) unable) to) sign) the) marriage)
certificate,) it) shall) be) sufficient) for) one) of) the)
witnesses) to) write) the) name) of) said) party,) which)
shall)be)attested)by)the)solemnizing)officer.)(Art.)6,)
par.)2))

(3)!Ship!Captain!or!Airplane!Chief!may!solemnize!a!
marriage!in!articulo)mortis!between!passengers!or!
crew!members![Art.!7,!31]!!

Places! where! marriage! SHALL! be! publicly!


solemnized:!
(1)!Chambers!of!the!judge!or!in!open!court!
(2)!Church,!chapel,!or!temple!!

(4)!A!Military!commander!of!a!unit!may!solemnize!
marriages! in! articulo) mortis! between! persons!
within!the!zone!of!military!operation.!(Art.!7,!32)!!
(5)! Consulageneral,! consul! or! viceaconsul! may!
solemnize! marriages! between! Filipino! citizens!
abroad.!(Art.!7,!10)!!
(6)! Municipal! and! City! Mayors! (LGC! sec.! 444! and!
455)!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Exceptions!!Art.!35!!

without!the!necessity!of!a!marriage!license.!!!

(1)! Marriage! is! void! when! solemnized! by! any!


person!not!legally!authorized!to!perform!marriages!
unless!either!or!both!parties!believed!in!good!faith!
that! the! solemnizing! officer! had! legal! authority! to!
do!so.![Art.!35!(2)]!

(b)! It! remains! valid! even! if! ailing! party!


survives.!!

2)! Absence! &! Irregularity! of! Authority! of! a!


solemnizing!officer!!!

(3)!Persons!within!a!military!zone![Art.!32]!!

Lack!of!valid!notification!of!both!parties!desiring!a!
ceremony!in!a!remote!place!was!held!to!be!only!a!
mere! IRREGULARITY! [Navarro! vs.! Domagtoy!
(1996)]!!!
Respondent! judge! was! faulted! for! solemnizing! a!
marriage! outside! his! territorial! jurisdiction.! ! Also,!
presentation!of!the!marriage!license!subsequent!to!
the! solemnization! of! marriage! will! not! cure! the!
defect.![Araes!v.!Occiano!(2002)]!!!
License!required!General!Rule:!License!required!!!
Article! 9! a! Issued! by! local! registrar! of! city! or!
municipality! where! either! contracting! party!
habitually!resides!!!
Article! 11! a! Each! contracting! party! should! file!
separately.!!!
Article! 20! a! License! valid! in! any! part! of! the!
Philippines! for! 120! days! from! date! of! issue,!
automatically! cancelled! at! the! expiration! of! such!
period.!!!
Foreign! National! ! When! either! or! both! parties! are!
foreign! nationals:! Certificate! of! legal! capacity! to!
contract! marriage,! issued! by! a! diplomatic! or!
consular! official,! shall! be! submitted! before! a!
marriage!license!can!be!obtained![Art.!21]!!!
Stateless!persons!or!refugees!from!other!countries:!
affidavit!stating!circumstances!showing!capacity!to!
contract!marriage,!instead!of!cert.!of!legal!capacity!
[Art.!21]!!!

(2)!Between!passengers!or!crew!members!in!a!ship!
or!airplane![Art.!31]!!

(4)! Marriage! in! Remote! and! inaccessible! places!


[Art.!28]!!
(5)! Marriages! by! Muslims! and! Ethnic! cultural!
minorities! provided! they! are! solemnized! in!
accordance! with! their! customs,! rites! or! practices.!
[Art.!33]!
(6)!Marriage!by!parties!who!have!Cohabited!for!at!
least! 5! years! without! any! legal! impediment! to!
marry! each! other.! [Art.! 34,! Ninal! vs.! Badayog!
(2000)]!!!!
Requisites! for! the! 5ayear! cohabitation! to! be! valid!
for! the! exemption! from! acquiring! a! marriage!
license!!
(1)! The! man! and! woman! must! have! been!
living!together!as!husband!and!wife!for!at!least!five!
years!before!the!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];!and!!

Exceptions!!

(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.! [Borjaa
Manzano!vs.!Judge!Sanchez!(2001)]!!!

(1)!Marriage!in!articulo!mortis![Art.!27]!!

'

(a)! The! marriage! may! be! solemnized!

'

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Marriage'certificate'''
Absence! and! irregularity! of! marriage! license! and!
contract! Republic! v.! CA! and! Castro! (1994):!!
Issuance! of! the! Civil! Registrar! of! a! Certificate! of!
Due!Search!and!Inability!to!find!the!application!of!a!
marriage!license!certifies!the!licenses!inexistence,!
thus!rendering!the!marriage!VOID.!!!!
Moreno!v.!Bernabe!(1995):!!Before!a!marriage!can!
be! solemnized,! a! valid! marriage! license! must! be!
presented!first,!otherwise,!the!marriage!is!VOID.!!!
People! v.! Borromeo! (1984):! ! Nonaexistence! of! a!
marriage!contract!does!not!invalidate!the!marriage!
as! long! as! all! the! requisites! for! its! validity! are!
properly!complied!with.!!!
Things!to!do!at!the!local!civil!registrar:!!
(1)! File! an! application! of! marriage! license! at! the!
proper!local!civil!registrar.![Art.!11]!!
(2)! Present! birth! or! baptismal! certificate! for! proof!
of!age.![Art.!12]!!
(3)! If! aged! 18a21! years,! present! parental! consent.!
[Art.!14]!!
(4)!If!aged!21a25,!present!parental!advice.![Art.!15]!!
(5)! If! aged! 18a25,! present! certificate! of! marriage!
counseling!from!your!priest.![Art.!16]!!
(6)!(PD!965)!Attend!family!planning!seminar!or!get!
a!brochure!regarding!family!planning!!
(7)!Pay!the!required!fees.![Art!19]!
(8)!If!foreigner,!present!certificate!of!legal!capacity!
issued!by!diplomat!or!consular!officials.!(Art.!21)!!!
Marriage! Certificate! Where! parties! declare! that!
they!take!each!other!as!husband!and!wife;!contains!
the!following:!!
(1)!Full!name,!sex,!age!of!party!!
(2)!Citizenship,!religion,!habitual!residence!!
(3)! Date! and! precise! time! of! celebration! of!!!!
marriage!!

(4)! That! marriage! license! was! properly! issued!


(except!in!marriages!exempt!from!ML!reqt)!!
(5)! That! parental! consent! was! secured,! when!
required!
(6)! That! requirement! as! to! parental! advice! was!
complied!with,!when!required!!
(7)! That! parties! have! entered! into! marriage!
settlements,!if!any![Art.!22]!!!
Note:! Not) an) essential) or) formal) requisite) without)
which) the) marriage) will) be) void) [Madridejo) v.) de)
Leon)(1930)]))!
Best!evidence!that!a!marriage!does!exist.![Tenebro!
v.!CA!(2004)]!!!
EFFECT!OF!MARRIAGES!CELEBRATED!ABROAD!AND!
FOREIGN!DIVORCE!!!
MARRIAGES!CELEBRATED!ABROAD!!
General! Rule:! Marriages! solemnized! abroad! in!
accordance! with! the! laws! in! force! in! that! country!
shall!be!valid!in!the!Philippines.![Art!26]!!!
Exceptions:!!
(1)! Marriage! between! persons! below! 18! years! old!
[Art.!35(1)]!!
(2)!Bigamous!or!polygamous!marriage![Art.!35(4)]!!
(3)!Mistake!in!identity![Art.!35!(5)]!!
(4)!Marriages!void!under!Article!53![Art.!35!(6)]!!
(5)!Psychological!incapacity![Art.!36]!!
(6)!Incestuous!marriages![Art.!37]!(7)!Marriage!void!
for!reasons!of!public!policy![Art.!38]!!!!
Essential!requisites!!!!
Inherent!in!the!parties,!carried!everywhere!!
Lex! Nationalii! ! Laws! relating! to! family! rights! and!
duties,! or! to! the! status,! condition,! and! legal!
capacity! of! persons! are! binding! upon! Phil! citizens!
even!though!living!abroad!(Art!15,!CC).!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Foreign!marriages!may!be!void!under!Phil!law!due!
to!absence!of!a!formal!requisite!under!foreign!(Art.!
26,!CC)!
Formal!requisites!!
Requirements!independent!of!the!parties!!
Lex! loci! celebrationisa! if! valid! where! celebrated,!
then! valid! everywhere;! forms! of! contracting!
marriage!are!to!be!regulated!by!the!law!where!it!is!
celebrated.!!!
Foreign! marriages! void! under! Phil! law! due! to! lack!
of!an!essential!requisite,!even!if!valid!under!foreign!
laws,!will!not!be!recognized!laws.!!!
PROOF!OF!FOREIGN!MARRIAGE!in!order!that!it!may!
be!upheld:!
(1)!Provisions!of!the!foreign!law!
(2)!Celebration!of!the!marriage!in!accordance!with!
said!provisions!!!
FOREIGN!DIVORCES!!
(1)! Those! obtained! by! Filipino! citizens! are! void!
under!Philippine!law.!!
(2)! If! the! foreign! spouse! obtains! a! valid! foreign!
divorce,! the! Filipino! spouse! shall! have! capacity! to!
remarry!under!Philippine!law.!(Art.!26)!!!
Van!Dorn!v.!Romillo!(1985):!A!divorce!obtained!by!
the! foreign! spouse! in! accordance! with! the! said!
spouses! national! law! is! recognized! in! the!
Philippines!and!releases!Filipino!spouse!from!their!
marriage.!!!!!
Quita! v.! Dandan! (1998):! The! citizenship! of! the!
spouses!at!the!time!of!the!divorce!determines!their!
capacity! to! obtain! a! valid! divorce.! ! Since! the!
divorce! and! the! naturalization! of! W! occurred!
within! the! same! year,! the! case! was! remanded! to!
determine!which!occurred!first.!!!!!
Llorente! v.! CA! (2000):! Citizenship! at! the! time! the!
divorce!is!obtained!determines!its!validity.!!Since!H!
was! no! longer! a! Filipino! citizen! when! he! divorced!
W,! the! nationality! principle! did! not! apply! to! him!

anymore!and!the!divorce!is!valid.!!!
Garcia! v.! Recio! (2001):! A! divorce! decree! obtained!
by!the!foreign!spouse!is!recognized!under!Phil!law!
if!it!is!executed!in!accordance!with!the!foreigners!
national! law.! ! The! party! must! prove! divorce! as! a!
fact!and!that!said!divorce!is!obtained!in!conformity!
with! the! law! allowing! it,! before! the! Philippine!
courts!can!take!judicial!notice.!!!

VOID'AND'VOIDABLE'MARRIAGES''
PRESUMPTION)OF)MARRIAGE))
(1) Presumption! in! favor! of! a! valid! marriage! [Art!
220,!CC]!
(2) The! presumption! that! a! man! and! a! woman!
deporting!themselves!as!husband!and!wife!have!
entered! into! a! lawful! contract! of! marriage! is!
satisfactory!if!uncontradicted.![Sec.!3!(aa),!Rule!
131,!ROC]!!
(3) In! marriages! of! exceptional! character,! the!
existence!of!the!marriage!is!presumed,!even!in!
the!TOTAL!ABSENCE!of!a!marriage!license.![Vda.!
De!Jacob!v!CA!(1999)]!
(4) !If! a! marriage! certificate! is! missing,! and! all!
means!HAVE!NOT!YET!BEEN!EXHAUSTED!to!find!
it,! then! the! marriage! is! presumed! to! exist!
[Sevilla!v!Cardenas!(2006)]!!!

Absence!of!a!marriage!certificate!is!not!proof!of!
absence! of! marriage.! ! To! prove! the! fact! of!
marriage,! the! following! would! constitute!
competent!evidence:!!
(1)!the!testimony!of!witnesses!to!matrimony;!!
(2)!the!couples!public!cohabitation;!and!
(3)! birth! and! baptismal! certificates! of! children!
born!during!the!union.![Trinidad!v!CA!(1998)]!
Absence!of!Requisites!Art.!4(1):!!The!absence!of!
any! essential! or! formal! requisites! shall! render!
the!marriage!void!ab!initio,!except!as!stated!in!
Article!35!(a).!!!
Art.! 5:! Any! male! or! female! of! the! age! of!
eighteen!years!or!upwards!not!under!any!of!the!
impediments! mentioned! in! Articles! 37! and! 38,!
may!contract!marriage.!!!
Void!from!the!Beginning![Art.!35].!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(1)!Marriage!where!any!party!is!below!eighteen!
years! of! age! even! with! the! consent! of! parents!
or!guardians.!
(2)! Marriage! solemnized! by! any! person! not!
legally! authorized! to! perform! marriages! unless!
such!marriages!were!contracted!with!either!or!
both! parties! believing! in! good! faith! that! the!
solemnizing! officer! had! the! legal! authority! to!
do!so.!!!
Note:! Ones) belief) in) good) faith) that) the)
solemnizing)officer)has)the)required)authority)is)
a)mistake)of)fact,)and)not)of)law.))
(3)! Marriage! solemnized! without! a! valid!
marriage! license,! except! in! marriages! under!
exceptional!circumstances.!!
(4)! Bigamous! or! polygamous! marriages! not!
falling! under! Article! 41! (Art.! 41:! subsequent!
marriage! by! present! spouse! who! obtained! a!
declaration! of! presumptive! death! for! absent!
spouse!prior!to!the!subsequent!marriage).!!
(5)! There! is! a! mistake! as! to! the! identity! of! the!
other!contracting!party.!!
(6)! Subsequent! marriages! that! are! void! under!
Article!53!(Nonacompliance!with!Art.!52)!!!
Psychological! incapacity! ! Contracted! by! any!
party! who,! at! the! time! of! the! celebration,! was!
psychologically! incapacitated! to! comply! with!
the! essential! marital! obligations! of! marriage,!
even! if! such! incapacity! becomes! manifest! only!
after!its!solemnization![Art.!36]!!!
Republic! v.! Molina,! (1997):! (1)! The! burden! of!
proof! to! show! the! nullity! of! the! marriage!
belongs! to! the! 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! the!
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! also! 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!assume!the!
essential! obligations! of! marriage.! (6)! The!
essential! marital! obligations! must! be! those!
embraced!by!Articles!68!up!to!71!of!the!Family!
Code! as! regards! the! husband! and! wife! as! well!
as!Articles!220,!221,!and!225!of!the!same!Code!
in! regard! to! parents! and! their! children.! (7)!
Interpretations!given!by!the!National!Appellate!
Matrimonial!Tribunal!of!the!Catholic!Church!in!
the! Philippines,! while! not! controlling/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.! No! decision!
shall! be! handed! down! unless! the! Solicitor!
General!issues!a!certification.!!!
Santos! v.! BediaaSantos,! (1995):! Laid! down! 3!
characteristics! for! determining! psychological!
incapacity:!
gravity,!
antecedent,!
and!
incurability.!!!
Tsoi! v.! CA,! (1997):! Refusal! of! husband! to! have!
sex! was! interpreted! to! be! PI.! A! man! who! can!
but!wont!is!PI!
Marcos! vs.! Marcos! (2000):! Psychological!
incapacity!maybe!established!by!the!totality!of!
the! evidence! presented.! Personal! medical!
examination!could!be!dispensed!with.!!!
Republic! vs.! San! Jose! (2007):! There! is! no!
requirement! that! the! respondent! be! medically!
examined!first.!!!
Antonio! v.! Reyes,! (2006):! Pathological! liar!
considered! as! psychological! incapacity,! Molina!
guidelines!met.!!!
Incestuous! marriages! ! Article! 37! (Incestuous):!
(1)! Between! ascendants! and! descendants! of!
any! degree,! legitimate! or! illegitimate! (2)!
Between! brothers! and! sisters,! whether! of! the!
full!or!half!blood,!legitimate!or!illegitimate!!!
Against! Public! Policy! Article! 38! (Against! Public!
Policy):! (1)! Between! collateral! blood! relatives,!
legitimate!or!illegitimate,!up!to!the!fourth!civil!
degree.! (2)! Between! stepaparents! and! stepa
children.! ! Note:! Stepbrothers! and! stepsisters!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

can! marry! because! marriages! between! them!


are!not!among!those!enumerated!in!Article!38.!
(3)!Between!parentsainalaw!and!childrenainalaw.!
(4)! Between! adopting! parent! and! adopted!
child.! (5)! Between! the! surviving! spouse! of! the!
adopting! parent! and! the! adopted! child.! ! (6)!
Between! the! surviving! spouse! of! the! adopted!
child!and!the!adopter.!(7)!Between!an!adopted!
child! and! a! legitimate! child! of! the! adopter.! (8)!
Between! adopted! children! of! the! same!
adopter.! (9)! Between! parties! where! one,! with!
the! intention! to! marry! the! other,! killed! that!
other! person's! spouse,! or! his! or! her! own!
spouse.!!!
Relationships! outside! of! Art.! 37! and! 38! which!
are! not! impediments! to! marriage:! brotheraina
law! with! sistera! inalaw,! stepbrother! with!
stepsister,! guardian! with! ward,! adopted! with!
illegitimate! child! of! the! adopter,! adopted! son!
of! the! husband! with! adopted! daughter! of! the!
wife,! parties! who! have! been! convicted! of!
adultery!!!
Void! subsequent! marriages! Article! 40! (No!
Judicial!Declaration!of!Nullity)!A!person!entered!
into! a! subsequent! marriage! without! first!
getting! a! judicial! declaration! of! nullity! of! the!
first!void!marriage!!!!!
Article! 41! (Presumptive! Death)! Failure! of! the!
present! spouse! to! obtain! a! judicial! declaration!
of! presumptive! death! before! entering! a!
subsequent!marriage!!!
Article! 44! (Bad! Faith! of! both! spouses)! Both!
spouses! entering! a! subsequent! marriage! after!
presumptive!death,!who!acted!in!bad!faith!!!
Article! 53! (NonaRecording):! Subsequent!
marriage! of! spouses,! where! the! requirements!
of!recording!under!Art.!52!have!not!have!been!
complied!with,!shall!be!null!and!void.!!!
Art.! 52.! The! judgment! of! annulment! or! of!
absolute! nullity! of! the! marriage,! the! partition!
and! distribution! of! the! properties! of! the!
spouses! and! the! delivery! of! the! children's!
presumptive!legitimes!shall!be!recorded!in!the!
appropriate!civil!registry!and!registries!

of! property;! otherwise,! the! same! shall! not!


affect!third!persons.!!!
Previous! marriage! declared! void! ab! initio! or!
annulled! Art.! 40.! The! absolute! nullity! of! a!
previous!marriage!may!be!invoked!for!purposes!
of! remarriage! on! the! basis! solely! of! a! final!
judgment! declaring! such! previous! marriage!
void.!!!
In! order! to! have! a! subsequent! marriage:! ! (1)!
The! previous! marriage! should! be! judicially!
declared! void! or! annulled! (final! judgment)!
(Terre! v.! Terre! (1992),! Atienza! v.! Brillantes!
(1995))!(2)!Must!comply!with!the!requirements!
of!Art.!52!!!
Under!the!Civil!Code!(superseded!by!the!Family!
Code),! there! was! no! need! for! a! judicial!
declaration!of!nullity!of!a!previous!marriage!for!
a! subsequent! marriage! to! be! valid! [People! v.!
Mendoza!(1954)]!!!
Terre! v.! Terre,! (1998):! A! lawyer! was! disbarred!
for! grossly! immoral! conduct! by! convincing! the!
other!party!that!a!judicial!declaration!of!nullity!
was!not!required!and!subsequently!contracting!
another! marriage! while! his! first! marriage! was!
subsisting.!!!
If! there! is! no! Judicial! Declaration! of! Nullity,!
subsequent!marriage!void!for!being!bigamous.!!!
Atienza!v.!Brillantes,!(1995):!Even!if!the!judges!
first! marriage! contracted! in! 1965! was! void! for!
not!having!a!marriage!license,!the!requirement!
for!a!judicial!declaration!of!nullity!in!Art.!40!still!
applies!for!his!subsequent!marriage!contracted!
in!1991.!
ag! v.! Cantero,! (1997):! Where! both! marriages!
were! contracted! prior! to! the! effectivity! of! the!
FC,! the! requirement! of! Art.! 40! does! not! apply!
to!the!second!marriage!where!a!right!is!already!
vested! and! which! the! FC! cannot! have!
retroactive!effect.!!!
Domingo!v.!CA,!(1993):!The!judicial!declaration!
of! nullity! can! be! invoked! for! purposes! other!
than!remarriage.!!Article!40!was!interpreted!as!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

being! a! requirement! for! purposes! of!


remarriage! but! not! limited! for! that! purpose.!!
Separation! of! property! is! also! a! valid! purpose!
for!filing!for!a!judicial!declaration!of!nullity.!!!
The! word! solely! in! Art.! 40! referred! to!
validating! subsequent! marriages! but! NOT! to!
limiting! the! purposes! for! which! a! judicial!
declaration!of!nullity!can!be!invoked.!!!
BorjaaManzano! v.! Sanchez,! (2001):! Legal!
separation! does! not! severe! marital! bonds.!!
Cohabitation!under!Art.!34!merely!exempts!the!
spouses!from!obtaining!a!marriage!license,!and!
is!not!met!when!there!exists!legal!impediment!
to!marry!during!the!period!of!cohabitation.!!!
Subsequent! Marriage! when! one! spouse! is!
absent!Requirements!for!Subsequent!Marriage!
to! be! Valid! When! Prior! Spouse! is! Absent! [Art.!
41]:! (1)! Subsequent! marriage! due! to! ordinary!
absence! where:! (a)! Absent! spouse! had! been!
absent!for!4!consecutive!years;!(b)!The!spouse!
present! had! a! wellafounded! belief! that! absent!
spouse! is! dead;! and! (c)! Judicial! declaration! of!
presumptive! death! was! secured! (no! prejudice!
to!the!effect!of!the!reappearance!of!the!absent!
spouse).! (2)! Subsequent! marriage! due! to!
extraordinary! absence! where:! (a)! Absent!
spouse! had! been! missing! for! 2! consecutive!
years;! (b)! There! is! danger! of! death! under! the!
circumstances!set!forth!in!the!provisions!of!Art.!
391!CC!attendant!to!the!disappearance;!(c)!The!
spouse! present! had! a! wellafounded! belief! that!
the! missing! person! is! dead;! and! (d)! Judicial!
declaration! of! presumptive! death! was! secured!
(no!prejudice!to!the!effect!of!the!reappearance!
of!the!absent!spouse).!!!
Extraordinary! circumstances! [Art.! 391,! CC]:! (a)!
ON!BOARD!VESSEL!lost!at!sea!voyage,!airplane,!
(b)! ARMED! FORCES! in! war,! or! (c)! DANGER! OF!
DEATH! under! other! circumstances,! existence!
not!known!!
Notes:!(1)!Institution!of!a!summary!proceeding!
is!not!sufficient.!There!must!also!be!a!summary!
judgment.!
(Balane)!
(2)!
Only!
the!
deserted/present! spouse! can! file! or! institute! a!

summary! proceeding! for! the! declaration! of!


presumptive! death! of! the! absentee.!
(Bienvenido! case)! (3)! There! must! have! been!
diligent! efforts! on! the! part! of! the! deserted!
spouse! to! locate! the! absent! spouse.! These!
diligent! efforts! correspond! to! the! requirement!
of!the!law!for!a!wellafounded!belief.!!!
Effect! of! Reappearance! of! Absent! Spouse!
General! Rule:! The! subsequent! marriage!
remains!valid.!!!
Exception:!It!is!automatically!terminated!by!the!
recording! of! the! affidavit! of! reappearance! of!
the! absent! spouse! at! the! instance! of! any!
interested! person,! with! due! notice! to! the!
spouses!of!the!subsequent!marriage.![Art.!42]!!!
Note:! It! is! the! recording! of! the! affidavit! of!
reappearance! that! automatically! terminates!
the! subsequent! marriage.! Hence,! if! absentee!
spouse!reappears!without!recording!affidavit!of!
reappearance,! then! there! is! no! legal! effect.!
Meanwhile,! absentee! spouse! cannot! remarry.!
(Tolentino)!!!
Exception! to! the! exception:! If! there! is! a!
judgment! annulling! the! previous! marriage! or!
declaring!it!void!ab!initio.![Art.!42]!!!
Good! Faith:! PERIOD! of! absence! for!
PRESUMPTIVE! DEATH! is! MANDATORY! thus!
cannot! be! shortened! by! good! faith! and! if! be!
done!so!will!be!VOID.!!!
Burden! of! Proof:! Two! successive! marriages,!
presumption! of! validity! on! 2nd! marriage! and!
burden! on! party! ATTACKING! VALIDITY! OF! 2ND!
MARRIAGE.! ! PRESUMPTION! in! favor! of!
INNOCENCE! prevails! over! PRESUMPTION! of!
CONTINUANCE! OF! LIFE! OF! 1ST! SPOUSE! &!
MARITAL!RELATIONS.!
Difference'between'Absence'in'the'Civil'Code'
and'Family'Code''
As)to)period))

4! years! under! normal! circumstances! and! 2!


years! under! extraordinary! circumstances!
[Family!Code]!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Absent! for! at! least! 7! years! under! normal!


circumstances! and! 4! years! under! extraordinary!
circumstances![Civil!Code]!

As)to)remarriage))

In! order! to! remarry,! summary! proceeding! is!


necessary![Family!Code]!
Declaration! of! presumptive! death! is! not!
necessary![Civil!Code]!

As)to)who)can)institute)the)action))

Can! be! instituted! by! the! present! spouse,! any!


interested! party,! and! the! subsequent! spouse!
[Family!Code]!
The!spouses!themselves![Civil!Code]!

As)to)effect)on)subsequent)marriage)!

Subsequent! marriage! is! automatically!


terminated! by! the! recording! of! an! affidavit! of!
reappearance! of! the! absent! spouse! [Family!
Code]!!
Upon! reappearance,! judicial! proceeding! is!
necessary! to! declare! marriage! null! and! void!
[Civil!Code]!

As)to)ground))

Well! founded! belief! that! the! absent! spouse! is!


dead![Family!Code]!!
Generally!believed!to!be!dead![Civil!Code]!

Connected!Provisions!!
Art.!390,!Civil!Code:!After!an!absence!of!7!years,!it!
being! unknown! whether! or! not! the! absentee! still!
lives,! he! shall! be! presumed! dead! for! all! purposes,!
except!for!those!of!succession.!!!
The! absentee! shall! not! be! presumed! dead! for! the!
purpose! of! opening! his! succession! till! after! an!
absence! of! 10! years.! If! he! disappeared! after! the!
age! of! 75! years,! an! absence! of! 5! years! shall! be!
sufficient! in! order! that! his! succession! may! be!
opened.!!!
Art.!391,!Civil!Code.!!
The! following! shall! be! presumed! dead! for! all!
purposes,! including! the! division! of! the! estate!
among!the!heirs:!!
(1)! A! person! on! board! a! vessel! lost! during! a! sea!
voyage,!or!an!aeroplane!which!is!missing,!who!has!

not! been! heard! of! for! four! years! since! the! loss! of!
the!vessel!or!aeroplane;!!
(2)! A! person! in! the! armed! forces! who! has! taken!
part!in!war,!and!has!been!missing!for!four!years;!!
(3)! A! person! who! has! been! in! danger! of! death!
under! other! circumstances! and! his! existence! has!
not!been!known!for!four!years.!
Notes:! ! Although! 7! years! is! required! for! the!
presumption! of! death! of! an! absentee! in! the! Civil!
Code,!Art.!41!of!the!!
Family!Code!makes!an!exception!for!the!purpose!of!
remarriage!by!limiting!such!requirement!to!4!years.!!!
Article! 43! and! 44! (Effects! of! Termination! of!
Bigamous!Marriage!under!Art.!42)!!!
Art.!43:!!
(1)! Children! of! subsequent! marriage! !
conceived! prior! to! its! termination! considered!
legitimate;! custody! and! support! decided! by! court!
in!a!proper!proceeding!!
(2)! Property! Regime! ! dissolved! and!
liquidated! (party! in! bad! faith! shall! forfeit! his/her!
share! in! favor! of! the! common! children! or! if! there!
are! none,! children! of! the! guilty! spouse! by! a!
previous! marriage,! and! in! case! there! are! none,! to!
the!innocent!spouse)!!
(3)! Donation! propter! nuptias! ! remains!
valid,!(but!if!the!donee!contracted!marriage!in!bad!
faith,!donations!will!be!revoked)!!
(4)! Insurance! benefits! ! innocent! spouse!
may! revoke! designation! of! guilty! party! as!
beneficiary,! even! if! such! designation! is! stipulated!
as!irrevocable!!
(5)! Succession! Rights! ! Party! in! bad! faith!
disqualified! to! inherit! from! innocent! spouse,!
whether!testate!or!intestate!
Article!44:!!
Donations:) If) both) parties) of) subsequent) marriage)
acted)in)bad)faith,)any)donations)and)testamentary)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

dispositions) made) by) one) party) to) the) other) by)


reason)of)marriage)will)be)revoked))))
ACTION'OR'DEFENSE'OF'NULLITY''
Prescription!!
Art.!39.!The!action!or!defense!for!the!declaration!of!
absolute! nullity! of! a! marriage! shall! not! prescribe.!
(as!amended!by!RA!8533)!!!!
It! must! be! noted! that! under! the! new! Supreme!
Court! Rule! on! Declaration! of! Absolute! Nullity! of!
Void! Marriages! and! Annulment! of! Voidable!
Marriages! A.M.! No.! 02a11a10aSC,! effective! March!
15,! 2003,! nullity! of! the! marriage! can! still! be!
collaterally!attacked.!!!
Who! may! file! the! petition! for! nullity?! As! to! the!
parties!allowed!to!file!the!action:!Only!an!aggrieved!
or!injured!spouse!may!file!a!petition!for!annulment!
of! voidable! marriages! or! declaration! of! absolute!
nullity!of!void!marriages.!!Such!petition!cannot!be!
filed! by! compulsory! or! intestate! heirs! of! the!
spouses!or!by!the!State.!!The!Committee!is!of!the!
belief!that!they!do!not!have!a!legal!right!to!file!the!
petition.! ! Compulsory! or! intestate! heirs! have! only!
inchoate! rights! prior! to! the! death! of! their!
predecessor,! and,! hence,! can! only! question! the!
validity! of! the! marriage! of! the! spouses! upon! the!
death! of! a! spouse! in! a! proceeding! for! the!
settlement! of! the! estate! of! the! deceased! spouse!
filed! in! the! regular! courts.! (Enrico! v.! Heirs! of! Sps.!
Medinaceli! (2007)),! also! reiterated! in! (Carlos! vs.!
Sandoval!(2008))!!!
How!to!attack!a!void!marriage?!General!Rule:!Void!
Marriages!may!be!attacked!collaterally!or!directly.!!!
Exception:! A! person! in! a! void! marriage! must! first!
file! for! a! declaration! of! nullity! in! order! to!
subsequently!marry!!!
ANNULLABLE! MARRIAGE! (Note:! Although! the!
Supreme! Court! in! its! syllabus! seems! to! make! a!
distinction! between! annullable! and! voidable!
marriages!by!the!fact!that!they!made!two!separate!
categories! for! the! two,! Tolentino! makes! no!
mention!of!any!such!difference.)!!!

Art.! 14:! In! case! either! or! both! of! the! contracting!
parties,! not! having! been! emancipated! by! a!
previous! marriage,! are! between! the! ages! of!
eighteen! and! twentyaone,! In! addition! to! the!
requirements!of!the!preceding!articles:!!!
(a)! Exhibit! to! the! local! civil! registrar! the!
consent! to! their! marriage! of! their! father,! mother,!
surviving! parent! or! guardian,! or! persons! having!
legal!charge!of!them,!in!the!order!mentioned!!
(b)! Manifested! in! writing! by! the! interested!
party,! who! personally! appears! before! the! proper!
local!civil!registrar,!or!
(c)! In! the! form! of! an! affidavit! made! in! the!
presence!of!two!witnesses!and!attested!before!any!
official!authorized!by!law!to!administer!oaths!!
(d)! The! personal! manifestation! shall! be!
recorded!in!both!applications!for!marriage!license,!
and! the! affidavit,! if! one! is! executed! instead,! shall!
be!attached!to!said!applications.!!!
Grounds!for!Annulment!!Article!4!states!that!xxx!A!
defect!in!any!of!the!essential!requisites!shall!render!
the!marriage!voidable!as!provided!in!Article!45.!!!
Article! 45.! Marriage! may! be! annulled! on! the!
following!grounds!existing!at!time!of!marriage:!!
(1)!One!of!the!parties!is!18!or!above!but!below!21!
years!old,!and!there!is!no!parental!consent.!!
(2)!Either!party!was!of!unsound!mind!(insanity).!!
(3)! The! consent! of! either! party! was! obtained!
through!fraud!(different!from!mistake!in!identity):!!
(a)! Through! nonadisclosure! of! a! previous!
conviction!of!a!crime!involving!moral!turpitude;!!
(b)!Through!concealment!by!the!wife!of!the!
fact! that! at! the! time! of! the! marriage! she! was!
pregnant!by!another!man;!!
(c)! Through! concealment! of! a! sexuallya!
transmitted! disease,! regardless! of! its! nature,!
existing!at!the!time!of!marriage;!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(d)!Through!concealment!of!drug!addiction,!
habitual! alcoholism! or! homosexuality/lesbianism.!
(Art.46)!!

(d)! Intoxication,! somnambulism! where! one!


had! no! mental! capacity! to! give! consent! is!
equivalent!to!insanity!!

(4)! The! consent! of! either! party! was! obtained!


through!force,!intimidation,!or!undue!influence.!!

(e)! Must! EXIST! AT! THE! TIME! of! the!


celebration!of!the!marriage.!!

(5)! Either! party! is! physically! incapable! of!


consummating! the! marriage! (impotence;! this! is!
different! from! sterility,! which! is! the! inability! to!
produce!offspring).!!

(f)! Law! presumes! SANITY,! burden! of! proof!


on!party!alleging!insanity!

(6)! Either! party! has! a! serious! and! incurable!


sexuallya! transmissible! disease,! even! if! not!
concealed.!

(a)!Only!those!enumerated!in!Art.!46:!

Action) to) Annul:) Action) in) rem,)


concerns) status) of) parties;) res) is) relation)
between)parties)or)marriage)tie;)jurisdiction)
depends) on) nationality) or) domicile) not) the)
place)of)celebration.)
Grounds!for!Annulment!explained:!
(1)!Lack!of!parental!consent!!
(a)!18!!x!<!21!without!parental!consent!!
(b)!Ratified!by!party!18!or!above!but!below!
21!upon!free!cohabitation!upon!reaching!21.!!
(c)! TOLENTINO:! parents! whose! consents!
were! wanting! may! ratify! before! 21;! this! right! can!
be! waived;! however,! the! Code! Commission!
believes! that! no! such! ratification! can! be! made! by!
the!parent.!!!

(3)!Fraud!!

1)! Nonadisclosure! of! previous! CONVICTION!


by! final! judgment! of! a! crime! involving! MORAL!
TURPITUDE!!
(2)! Concealment! by! wife! at! the! time! of!
marriage,!that!she!was!pregnant!by!another!man!!
(3)! Concealment! of! STD! regardless! of!
nature!existing!at!time!of!marriage!!
(4)!Concealment!of!drug!addiction,!habitual!
alcoholism,! homosexuality,! lesbianism! existing! at!
time!of!marriage!!
(b)! NO! other! misrepresentation! or! deceit! of!
CHARACTER,! HEALTH,! RANK,! FORTUNE! OR!
CHASTITY!shall!constitute!FRAUD.!!
(c)!Conviction!of!Crime:!!requisites!are!
(1)!Moral!turpitude!!
(2)!Conviction!!

(2)!Insanity!

(d)!Concealment!of!Pregnancy!!

(a)!Mental!incapacity!or!insanity!is!a!vice!of!
consent;! insanity:! (1)! of! varying! degrees,! (2)!
curable! being! an! illness,! capable! of! ratification! or!
convalidation,! (3)! has! lucid! intervals,! (4)! ground!
only!for!annulment!in!many!countries!!

(1)!Fraud!against!very!essence!of!marriage;!
importance! of! procreation! of! children;! an! assault!
to! the! integrity! of! the! union! by! introducing! ALIEN!
BLOOD!!

(b)! Can! be! ratified! by! cohabitation! after!


insanity!is!cured!or!during!a!lucid!interval!!
(c)! Mere! mental! weakness! is! not! a! ground!
for! annulment,! but! if! found! grave! enough! may!
amount!to!psychological!incapacity.!!

(2)! If! husband! knew! of! pregnancy,! the!


marriage! cannot! be! annulled! on! the! ground! of!
concealment!!
(e)! Marriage! cannot! be! annulled! on! the! ground!
that! wife! concealed! the! fact! that! she! had! been!
lewd! &! corrupt! and! had! illegitimate! child.! (Shrady!
v.!Logan!(1896)!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(f)! Maybe! ratified! upon! free! cohabitation! after!


knowledge!of!fraud.!

does! not! suffice! to! comply! with! the! mandatory!


requirement.!

Art.'45'distinguished'from'Art.'46'

(4)!Force,!intimidation,!undue!influence!!

Art.%45%for%STD:!it!is!a!ground!for!annulment;!does!
not! have! to! be! concealed;! must! be! serious! and!
incurable;! and! the! STD! itself! is! the! ground! for!
annulment!

(a)!FORCE!must!be!one!as!to!prevent!party!
from! acting! as! a! free! agent;! will! destroyed! by!
fear/compulsion!!

Art.%46%for%STD:!The!STD!is!a!type!of!fraud!which!is!
a! ground! for! annulment;! it! must! be! concealed;!
need! not! be! serious! or! incurable;! and! it! is! the!
concealment!that!gives!rise!to!the!annulment!
Effect!of!Cure!to!Fraud!in!Art.!46:!!
Recovery! or! rehabilitation! from! STD,! drug!
addiction,! and! habitual! alcoholism! will! NOT! BAR!
ACTION! for! annulment;! The! defect! is! not! the!
disease,!but!the!FRAUD!which!VITIATED!CONSENT.!
Buccat! v.! Mangonon! de! Buccat,! (1941):! Wife! gave!
birth! 3! months! after! marriage! celebration.!
Husband! filed! for! annulment.! Denied.! Ground:!
Concealment! of! nonavirginity.! Court! held! that! it!
was! unbelievable! that! husband! could! not! have!
noticed! when! wife! had! been! at! least! 6! months!
pregnant!prior!to!marriage.!!!
Aquino! v.! Delizo,! (1960):! The! Supreme! Court!
granted!annulment!because!the!wife!concealed!the!
fact! that! she! was! 4! months! pregnant! during! the!
time! of! the! marriage.! It! argued! that! since! Delizo!
was! naturally! plump,! Aquino! could! hardly! be!
expected!to!know,!by!mere!looking,!whether!or!not!
she!was!pregnant!at!the!time!of!the!marriage.!!!
Almelor! v.! RTC,! (2008):! It! is! the! concealment! of!
homosexuality,!and!not!homosexuality!per!se,!that!
vitiates! the! consent! of! the! innocent! party.! ! Such!
concealment! presupposes! bad! faith! and! intent! to!
defraud! the! other! party! in! giving! consent! to! the!
marriage.!!!
Corpuz!v.!Ochoterena,!(2004):!In!a!legal!separation!
or!annulment!case,!the!prosecuting!attorney!must!
first!rule!out!collusion!as!a!condition!sine!qua!non!
for! further! proceedings.! ! A! certification! by! the!
prosecutor!that!he!was!present!during!the!hearing!
and! even! crossaexamined! the! plaintiff!

(b)! INTIMIDATION! must! be! one! as! to!


compel! the! party! by! reasonable/wellagrounded!
fear/evil!imminent!upon!person/properties!!
(c)! DEGREE! OF! INTIMIDATION:! age,! sex,!
condition!of!person!borne!in!mind!!
(d)! Threat! or! intimidation! as! not! to! act! as!
FREE!AGENT;!threatened!of!armed!demonstrations!
by!brother!is!ANNULLABLE!(Tiongco!v!Matiga!a)!!
(e)!Man!rapes!a!girl,!marries!her!to!conceal!
the! rape! &! has! no! intention! to! live! with! the! girl;!
marriage!is!annullable!(People!v!Santiago!(1927))!!
(f)! Committee! added! undue! influence,!
maybe! compelled! to! enter! out! of! REVERENTIAL!
FEAR! e.g.,! fear! of! causing! distress! to! parents,!
grandparents,!etc.!!
(g)!May!be!ratified!upon!cohabitation!after!
force,!intimidation,!or!undue!influence!has!ceased!
or!disappeared.!!!
(5)!Impotency!!
(a)! Must! exist! at! time! of! marriage,! must! be!
continuous,! must! be! incurable;! thus! if! incapacity!
can!be!remedied!or!is!removable!byoperation,!NOT!
ANNULLABLE!(Sarao!v!Guevarra(1940))!!
(b)!Should!be!unknown!to!the!other!party!!
(c)! Physical! condition:! sexual! intercourse! with! a!
person!of!the!opposite!sex!is!impossible,!not!mere!
sterility!!
(d)! When! both! spouses! are! impotent,! marriage!
cannot! be! annulled! because! neither! spouse! is!
aggrieved!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(e)! POTENCY! PRESUMED;! party! who! alleges!


impotency! has! burden! of! proof! (Jimenez! v!
Canizares!(1960))!!
(f)! Although! potency! is! presumed,! there! is! a!
doctrine! in! England! called! TRIENNIAL!
COHABITATION! that! if! wife! remains! virgin! after! 3!
yrs,!husband!presumed!impotent!&!has!burden!to!
prove!otherwise!(Tompkins!v!Tompkins)!!

or!convalidated!by!prescription!or!cohabitation:!!
(a)! Prior! subsisting! marriage;! would! result!
in!anomalous!relationship!!
(b)! Vitiated! by! impotency! remains! as! long!
as!afflicted!!
(c)! Vitiated! by! affliction! of! STD! remains! as!
long!as!afflicted!!

(g)! REFUSAL! of! wife! to! be! examined! DOES! NOT!


PRESUME! impotency! because! Filipino! women! are!
inherently! shy! &! bashful;! TC! must! order! physical!
examination!because!w/o!proof!of!impotency,!she!
is! presumed! potent;! to! order! her! to! undergo!
physical! exam! does! not! infringe! constitutional!
rights! against! selfa! incrimination! (Jimenez! v!
Canizares)!!

(d)!Affliction!of!STD!is!unknown!to!the!other!
spouse!(Balane)!!

(h)! Villanueva! vs.! CA! (2006):! Absence! of!


cohabitation!is!not!a!ground!for!annulment.!!

Ground!
(Art.!45)!

(i)! NOTE:! if! wife! continues! to! refuse! to! undergo!


physical! exam,! she! can! be! held! for! CONTEMPT! &!
ordered!to!be!confined!in!jail!until!she!does!so!
(j)! RELATIVE! IMPOTENCY:! may! now! be! invoked!
because! there! are! cases! where! one! is! impotent!
with!respect!to!his!spouse!but!not!with!other!men!
or!women.!

(e)!The!other!spouse!must!also!be!free!from!
a!similar!STD.!(Balane)!!
47(5)!

(h)!2!&!3!above!prescribe!w/in!5!yrs!by!Art.!

Who!
can!
file?! (Art.!
47)!
Lack! of! Under! aged!
parental! party! (18! or!
consent!
under!21)!or!
parent! or!
guardian!
without!
consent!
Insanity!

Sane!spouse!
with!
no!
knowledge!
of!
the!
others!
insanity! or!
legal!
guardian! of!
insane! part!
or!
the!
Insane!party!

Fraud!

Injured!
party!

(k)! EXAMPLE:! penile! erection! to! other! women!


possible;! unusually! large! penis! cannot! fit! with!
abnormally!small!vagina!!!
(6)! Sexuallyatransmissible! disease! serious! and!
incurable!!
(a)!Should!exist!at!the!time!of!the!marriage!
!(b)!Should!be!found!serious!!
(c)!Should!appear!to!be!incurable!!
(d)!Should!be!unknown!to!other!party!!
(e)! Reason:! danger! to! the! health! of! spouse! &!
offspring/s!!

Prescription!
(Art.!47)!

Ratification!
(Art.!45)!

Within!
5!
years! after!
attaining! 21!
or! before!
the!
arty!
under!
21!
reaches! the!
age!of!21!
Any!
time!
before! the!
death!
of!
either! party!
or! during!
lucid!
interval! or!
after!
regaining!
sanity,! and!
before!
death!
Within!
5!
years! after!
the!
discovery! of!
fraud!

Free!
cohabitation!
after!
attaining! age!
of!21!

Free!
cohabitation!
of!
insane!
party! after!
insane! party!
comes!
to!
reason.!

Free!
cohabitation!
after! having!
full!
knowledge!of!
fraud!

(f)!Same!as!incurable!impotency!
(g)!Not!subject!to!ratification!!cannot!be!ratified!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Force,!
intimidati
on,!
undue!
influence!

Injured!
party!

Within!
5!
years! after!
disappearan
ce! of! force,!
undue!
influence,!or!
intimidation!

Impotenc
e!!

Potent!
spouse!

Within!
5!
year! after!
marriage!

STD!

Healthy!
party!

Within!
5!
years! after!
marriage!!

Free!
cohabitation!
after!
the!
force!
or!
intimidation!
or!
undue!
influence! has!
ceased!
or!
disappeared!
Cannot! be!
ratified! but!
action!
prescribes.!
Cannot! be!
ratified! but!
action!
prescribes!

!
Marriages! Not! Subject! to!
Convalidation!by!cohabitation!!

Ratification/!

(1)! One! spouse! is! incurably! impotent! (Art.! 47! !


prescription:!5!years)!!
(2)! One! spouse! has! an! incurable! STD! (Art.! 47! !
prescription:!5!years)!!
(3)! Sane! spouse! marries! an! insane! spouse! w/o!
knowledge!of!insanity!!!
Presence!of!Prosecutor!!
Art.! 48:! To! prevent! collusion! between! the! parties,!
fabrication! or! suppression! of! evidence,! the!
prosecuting! attorney! or! fiscal! shall! appear! on!
behalf!of!the!State.!!!
EFFECT!OF!PENDING!ACTIONS/DECREE!!
Art.! 49:! During! the! pendency! of! the! action! and! in!
the! absence! of! adequate! provisions! in! a! written!
agreement! between! the! spouses,! the! Court! shall!
provide! for! the! support! of! the! spouses! and! the!
custody!and!support!of!their!common!children.!The!
Court! shall! give! paramount! consideration! to! the!
moral! and! material! welfare! of! said! children! and!
their!choice!of!the!parent!with!whom!they!wish!to!
remain! as! provided! for! in! Title! IX.! It! shall! also!
provide! for! appropriate! visitation! rights! of! the!
other!parent.!!!

(1)! The! court! shall! provide! for! the! support! of! the!
spouses,!!
(2)! The! custody! and! support! of! the! common!
children,! giving! paramount! consideration! to! their!
moral!and!material!welfare,!their!choice!of!parent!
with!whom!they!wish!to!remain.!!
(3)!The!court!shall!also!provide!for!visitation!rights!
of!other!parent.!!!
Decisions!on!the!nullification!of!the!marriage!!
Art.!48!(2):!In!the!cases!referred!to!in!the!preceding!
paragraph,! no! judgment! shall! be! based! upon! a!
stipulation!of!facts!or!confession!of!judgment.!!!
Stipulation! of! Facts:! An! admission! by! both! parties!
after! agreeing! to! the! existence! of! any! of! the!
grounds! or! facts! that! would! constitute! a!
void/voidable!marriage!!!
Confession! of! judgment:! The! admission! by! one!
party!admitting!his/her!fault!to!cause!the!invalidity!
of!the!marriage.!!!
EFFECTS!OF!NULLITY!!
The!effects!provided!for!by!paragraphs!(2),!(3),!(4)!
and! (5)! of! Article! 43! and! by! Article! 44! shall! also!
apply! in! the! proper! cases! to! marriages! which! are!
declared! ab! initio! or! annulled! by! final! judgment!
under!Articles!40!and!45!(Art.!50(1)).!!!
Final! judgment! in! such! cases! shall! provide! for! the!
liquidation,!partition,!and!distribution!of!the:!!
(1)!Properties!of!the!spouses!!
(2)!Custody!and!support!of!the!common!children!!
(3)!Delivery!of!their!presumptive!legitimes!!
(a)! Unless! such! matters! had! been!
adjudicated! in! previous! judicial! proceedings! (Art.!
50(2))!!
(b)! All! creditors! (of! the! spouses/property!
regime)! shall! be! notified! of! the! proceedings! for!
liquidation!(Art.!50(2!and!3))!!!
In!the!partition,!the!conjugal!dwelling!and!lot!shall!
be!adjudicated!to!the!spouse!with!whom!majority!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

of!the!common!children!remain!(Art.!102!and!129)!
(Art.!50(4)!!!!

petitioner,!to!engage!in!prostitution,!or!connivance!
in!such!corruption!or!inducement;!!!!

Presumptive!legitimes,!computed!as!of!the!date!of!
the! final! judgment,! shall! be! delivered! in! cash,!
property!or!sound!securities:!!

(4)! Final! judgment! sentencing! the! respondent! to!


imprisonment! of! more! than! six! years,! even! if!
pardoned;!!!!

(1)! Unless! the! parties,! by! mutual! agreement!


judicially! approved,! had! already! provided! for! such!
(Art.!51(1))!!

(5)! Drug! addiction! or! habitual! alcoholism! of! the!


respondent;!!!!

(2)!The!children/guardian/trustee!of!property!may!
ask! for! the! enforcement! of! the! judgment! (Art.!
51(2))!
(3)!The!delivery!of!the!presumptive!legitimes!shall!
not! prejudice! the! ultimate! successional! rights,! but!
the! value! of! the! properties! already! received! shall!
be! considered! as! advances! on! their! legitime! (Art.!
51(3))!!!

(6)! Lesbianism!
respondent;!!

or!

Homosexuality!

of!

the!

!(7)!Contracting!by!the!respondent!of!a!subsequent!
Bigamous! marriage,! whether! in! the! Philippines! or!
abroad;!!!!
(8)!Sexual!infidelity!or!perversion;!!!
(9)! Attempt! by! the! respondent! Against! the! life! of!
the!petitioner;!or!!!!

Generally,! children! born! or! conceived! within! void!


marriages!are!illegitimate.!!!

(10)! Abandonment! of! petitioner! by! respondent!


without!justifiable!cause!for!more!than!one!year.!!!

Exceptions:!!

People! v.! Zapata! and! Bondoc! (1951):! Adultery! is!


not! a! continuing! crime,! but! is! consummated! and!
exhausted! at! the! moment! of! carnal! union.! Each!
sexual!act!constitutes!one!act!of!adultery.!As!such,!
every!sexual!act!is!a!ground!for!legal!separation.!!!

(a)! Children! conceived! or! born! before! the!


judgment! under! Article! 36! has! become! final! and!
executor!(Art.!54)!!
(b)! Children! conceived! or! born! of! subsequent!
marriages!under!Article!53!(Art.!54)!!!
Legal!Separation!!!
GROUNDS! FOR! LEGAL! SEPARATION! Note:! The!
grounds! for! legal! separation! are! exclusive.! (Article!
55)!
These!must!be!filed!within!5!years!after!occurrence!
of!cause!(Article!57)!!
(1)! Repeated! physical! violence! or! grossly! abusive!
conduct!directed!against!the!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;!!!!
(3)!Attempt!of!respondent!to!Corrupt!or!induce!the!
petitioner,! a! common! child,! or! a! child! of! the!

Gandioco! v.! Pearanda! (1989):! In! sexual! infidelity!


as! a! ground! for! legal! separation,! there! is! no! need!
for!prior!conviction!for!concubinage,!because!legal!
separation! only! requires! a! preponderance! of!
evidence,! as! opposed! to! proof! beyond! reasonable!
doubt!required!in!concubinage.!!!
Lapuz!Sy!v.!Eufemio!(1972):!The!death!of!one!party!
in!a!legal!separation!case!abates!the!action.!This!is!
because! the! death! of! either! spouse! automatically!
dissolves! the! marriage.! ! An! action! for! legal!
separation! is! also! purely! personal! between! the!
spouses.!!!
Dela!Cruz.!v.!Dela!Cruz!(1968):!Abandonment!is!not!
mere!physical!estrangement!but!also!financial!and!
moral! desertion.! ! There! must! be! an! absolute!
cessation! of! marital! relations,! duties,! and! rights!
with!the!intention!of!perpetual!separation.!!!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

ACTS!OF!VIOLENCE!ACCORDING!TO!RA!9262!!
(1)! Causing! physical! harm! to! the! woman! or! her!
child;!!
(2)! Threatening! to! cause! the! woman! or! her! child!
physical!harm;!!
(3)! Attempting! to! cause! the! woman! or! her! child!
physical!harm;!!
(4)! Placing! the! woman! or! her! child! in! fear! of!
imminent!physical!harm;!!
(5)!Attempting!to!compel!or!compelling!the!woman!
or!her!child!to!engage!in!conduct!which!the!woman!
or! her! child! has! the! right! to! desist! from! or! desist!
from! conduct! which! the! woman! or! her! child! has!
the!right!to!engage!in,!or!attempting!to!restrict!or!
restricting! the! woman's! or! her! child's! freedom! of!
movement! or! conduct! by! force! or! threat! of! force,!
physical! or! other! harm! or! threat! of! physical! or!
other! harm,! or! intimidation! directed! against! the!
woman!or!child.!This!shall!include,!but!not!limited!
to,!the!following!acts!committed!with!the!purpose!
or! effect! of! controlling! or! restricting! the! woman's!
or!her!child's!movement!or!conduct:!!
(a)! Threatening! to! deprive! or! actually!
depriving! the! woman! or! her! child! of! custody! to!
her/his!family;!

her! child! to! engage! in! any! sexual! activity! which!


does! not! constitute! rape,! by! force! or! threat! of!
force,! physical! harm,! or! through! intimidation!
directed!against!the!woman!or!her!child!or!her/his!
immediate!family;!!
(8)! Engaging! in! purposeful,! knowing,! or! reckless!
conduct,! personally! or! through! another,! that!
alarms! or! causes! substantial! emotional! or!
psychological! distress! to! the! woman! or! her! child.!
This! shall! include,! but! not! be! limited! to,! the!
following!acts:!!
(a)! Stalking! or! following! the! woman! or! her!
child!in!public!or!private!places;!!
(b)! Peering! in! the! window! or! lingering!
outside!the!residence!of!the!woman!or!her!child;!!
(c)!Entering!or!remaining!in!the!dwelling!or!
on!the!property!of!the!woman!or!her!child!against!
her/his!will;!!
d)! Destroying! the! property! and! personal!
belongings!or!inflicting!harm!to!animals!or!pets!of!
the!woman!or!her!child;!and!!
(e)! Engaging! in! any! form! of! harassment! or!
violence;!!

(b)! Depriving! or! threatening! to! deprive! the!


woman! or! her! children! of! financial! support! legally!
due!her!or!her!family,!or!deliberately!providing!the!
woman's!children!insufficient!financial!support;!!

(9)! Causing! mental! or! emotional! anguish,! public!


ridicule! or! humiliation! to! the! woman! or! her! child,!
including,! but! not! limited! to,! repeated! verbal! and!
emotional!abuse,!and!denial!of!financial!support!or!
custody!of!minor!children!of!access!to!the!woman's!
child/children.!!!

(c)! Depriving! or! threatening! to! deprive! the!


woman!or!her!child!of!a!legal!right;!!

DEFENSES! GROUNDS! FOR! DENYING! LEGAL!


SEPARATION!(ARTICLE!56):!!

(d)! Preventing! the! woman! in! engaging! in!


any! legitimate! profession,! occupation,! business! or!
activity! or! controlling! the! victim's! own! money! or!
properties,! or! solely! controlling! the! conjugal! or!
common!money,!or!properties;!!

(1)!Condonation!by!aggrieved!party!!

(6)!Inflicting!or!threatening!to!inflict!physical!harm!
on! oneself! for! the! purpose! of! controlling! her!
actions!or!decisions;!!
(7)! Causing! or! attempting! to! cause! the! woman! or!

(2)! Consent! by! aggrieved! party! to! the! commission!


of!the!offense!!
(3)!Connivance!between!parties!in!the!commission!
of!the!offense!!
(4)!Mutual!guilt!or!Recrimination!between!spouses!
in! the! commission! of! any! ground! for! legal!
separation!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(5)! Collusion! between! parties! to! obtain! decree! of!


legal!separation!

if) other) grounds) were) used,) Art.) 60) par.) 1) is) not)
applicable.)(Balane)))))

(6)! Prescription! of! action! for! legal! separation! (Art.!


57:!5!years!from!occurrence!of!the!cause!of!action)!!

Ocampo! v! Florenciano! (1960):! The! prohibition! on!


confession! of! judgment! does! not! mean! that! the!
Court!will!not!grant!petition!if!one!party!admits!to!
being!guilty!of!the!charges!of!adultery.!The!point!of!
this! provision! is! that! the! Court! should! still! admit!
evidence,!not!decide!just!based!on!an!admission!of!
guilt.!Because!what!is!prohibited!is!handing!down!a!
decree! of! legal! separation! based! solely! on! a!
confession!of!judgment.!!!

(7)! Reconciliation! of! parties! during! pendency! of!


action!(Art.!66!par.1)!!
(8)!Death!of!either!party!during!pendency!of!action!
(LapuzaSy!vs.!Eufemio)!!!
COOLINGaOFF! PERIOD! AND! RECONCILIATION!
EFFORTS!!
Action! cannot! be! tried! before! six! months! have!
elapsed!from!the!filing!of!the!petition!(Art.!58).!!!
Action! cannot! be! tried! unless! the! court! has!
attempted! to! reconcile! the! spouses,! and!
determined!that!despite!such!efforts,!reconciliation!
is!highly!improbable!(Art.!59)!!!
Note:! This) is) without) prejudice) to) judicial)
determination)of)custody)of)children,)alimony,)and)
support)pendente)lite.!!!
Araneta! vs.! Concepcion,! (1956):! ! Courts! can! still!
resolve!other!issues,!pending!the!waiting!period!or!
cooling! off! period.! In! resolving! issues,! try! not! to!
touch,!as!much!as!possible,!on!the!main!issue!(i.e.!
adultery! if! that! is! the! ground! used).! However,!
Court! must! still! receive! evidence! if! just! to! settle!
incidental!issues!of!support!and!custody.!!!!
Note:! This! provision! of! the! Family! Code!
dictating! a! mandatory! 6amonth! coolingaoff! period!
does!not!apply!in!cases!where!violence,!as!used!in!
RA! 9262! (AntiaViolence! Against! Women! and! their!
Children),! is! alleged.! The! case! should! be! heard! as!
soon!as!possible!by!the!court.!!!!
CONFESSION!OF!JUDGMENT!!
No!decree!of!legal!separation!shall!be!based!upon!
a! stipulation! of! facts! or! a! confession! of! judgment!
(Art.!60,!par.!1.!FC).!!!
Note:! Art.) 60) par.) 1) applies) only) if) the)
judgment) was) based) solely) on) the) stipulation) of)
facts)or)solely)on)the)confession)of)judgment.)Thus,)

EFFECTS!OF!FILING!PETITION!!!
(1)!The!spouses!are!entitled!to!Live!separately,!but!
the!marital!bond!is!not!severed.!(Art.!61!(1)!!
(2)! Administration! of! Community! or! Conjugal!
Property! ! If! there! is! no! written! agreement!
between!the!parties,!the!court!shall!designate!one!
of!them!or!a!third!person!to!administer!the!ACP!or!
CPG.!(Art.!61,!par.!2)!!!
EFFECTS!OF!PENDENCY!!!
The!Court!shall!provide!for:!(Art.!62,!cf.!Art.!49.!FC)!!
(a)!Support!of!spouses!!
(b)!Custody!of!children!!
The! court! shall! give! custody! of! children! to!
one! of! them,! if! there! is! no! written! agreement!
between! the! spouses.! It! shall! also! provide! for!
visitation!rights!of!the!other!spouse.!!
(c)!Visitation!rights!of!the!other!spouse!!!
EFFECTS!OF!LEGAL!SEPARATION!!
(1)!The!spouses!can!live!separately!(Art.!63)!but!the!
marriage!bonds!are!not!severed.!
(2)! The! ACP! or! CPG! shall! be! dissolved! and!
liquidated,!and!the!share!of!the!guilty!spouse!shall!
be! forfeited! in! favor! the! common! children,!
previous!children,!or!innocent!spouse,!in!that!order!
(Art.!63.!cf.!Art.!43,!par.!2).!!
(3)!Custody!of!the!minor!children!shall!be!awarded!
to!the!innocent!spouse!(Art.!63,!cf.!Art!213)!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(4)! Guilty! spouse! shall! be! disqualified! from!


Inheriting! from! innocent! spouse! by! intestate!
succession.! The! provisions! in! favor! of! the! guilty!
party! in! the! will! of! the! innocent! spouse! shall! also!
be!revoked!by!operation!of!law.!(Art.!63)!!
(5)!Donations!in!favor!of!the!guilty!spouse!may!be!
revoked!(Art.!64)!but!this!action!prescribes!after!5!
years!from!the!decree!of!legal!separation.!
(6)!Innocent!spouse!may!also!revoke!designation!of!
guilty!spouse!as!beneficiary!in!an!Insurance!policy,!
even! if! such! stipulations! are! irrevocable.! (Art.! 64.!
FC,!cf.!PD!612,!sec.!11)!!
(7)! Obligation! for! Mutual! support! ceases,! but! the!
court! may! order! the! guilty! spouse! to! support! the!
innocent!spouse.!(Art.!198)!
(8)! The! wife! shall! continue! to! use! the! Surname! of!
the! husband! even! after! the! decree! for! legal!
separation.!(Art.!372,!CC)!
RECONCILIATION!HOW!DONE!!
Should! the! spouses! reconcile,! they! should! file! a!
corresponding! joint! manifestation! under! oath! of!
such!reconciliation.!(Art.!65)!!!
EFFECTS!OF!RECONCILIATION!!
(1)! Proceedings! for! legal! separation! shall! be!
terminated!at!whatever!stage.!(Art.!66)!
(2)! If! there! is! a! final! decree! of! legal! separation,! it!
shall!be!set!aside.!(Art.!66)!
(3)! The! separation! of! property! and! forfeiture! of!
share! of! guilty! spouse! shall! subsist,! unless! the!
spouses! agree! to! revive! their! former! property!
regime! or! to! institute! another! property! regime.!
(Art.!66!cf.!Art.!67)!(!
4)!Joint!custody!of!children!is!restored.!!
(5)! The! right! to! intestate! succession! by! guilty!
spouse!from!innocent!spouse!is!restored.!!!
The! right! to! testamentary! succession! depends! on!
the!will!of!the!innocent!spouse.!
Void!and!Voidable!Marriages!and!Legal!Separation!

Void'
Voidable'
Marriages'
Marriages'
One! is! a! Lack!
of!
minor!!
parental!
consent!
No! authority! insanity!
to!marry!

Legal'Separation'
'
Repeated!
physical!
violence!

Pressure! to! compel! to!


change!
religious/political!
affiliations!
No!
valid! Fraud!!
Corruption/Inducement!
marriage!
to!
engage!
in!
license!
proposition!
Bigamous!
Force,!
Final! judgment! with!
and!
intimidation,! sentence! of! more! than!
polygamous!
or!
undue! 6! years! even! if!
marriages!
influence!
pardoned!
Mistake! of! impotence!
Drug!
identity!
Addiction/Habitual!
alcoholism!
Void!
Serious! and! Homosexuality!
/!
subsequent!
incurable!
Lesbianism!
marriage!
STD!
Psychological! !
Bigamous!
marriage!!
incapacity!
(engaging!in)!
Incestuous!
!
Sexual!infidelity!
Marriage!
Marriages!
!
Attempts! against! the!
against!public!
life!!
policy!
!
!
Abandonment! without!
just! cause! for! more!
than!1!year!

!
Effects!of!Filing!/!Pending!Decree!
Void/Voidable'Marriages'
Support!for!the!Spouses!
Custody! and! support! for!
the!children!
Visitation! rights! to! the!
other!spouse!
No!right!to!live!separately!
Properties!
are!
still!
managed!by!both!parties!

Legal'Separation'
Support!for!the!Spouses!
Custody! and! support! for!
the!children!
Visitation! rights! to! the!
other!spouse!
Spouses!to!live!separately!
Designation!
of!
an!
administrator! of! the!
properties!

!
!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Effects! of! Affidavit! of! Reappearance,! Judicial!


Declaration!and!annulment!and!legal!separation!
!
Void'
Marriages'

Terminated' Voidable'
Marriages'
Marriages'
(Art.'41)'

Legal'
Separation'

Status'of'Marital'Ties'
severed!

severed!

Severed!

Not!severed!

Status'Marriage'
Void!ab!
initio!

Subsequent! Void!
marriage!is!
terminated!!

valid!

Status'of'Children'born'and'conceived'before'
termination'
Illegitimate!! legitimate!
Except:!Art.!
36!and!35!
conceived!
and!born!
before!
judgment!
(legitimate)!

legitimate!

legitimate!

Custody'of'Children'
Court!
proceeding!

Court!
Court!
proceeding!! proceeding!

Innocent!
spouse!

Property'Relations'
1. Dissolution!and!liquidation!of!properties!
a. Guilty/Bad!Faith!spouse!will!forfeit!his/her!
share!from!the!Net!Profits!to!the!(in!order)!
i.
Common!children!
ii.
Children!of!the!guilty!spouse!
iii.
Children!of!the!innocent!spouse!
2. Notification!of!creditors!with!the!proceedings!
for!liquidation!
3. Conjugal!dwelling!to!be!adjudicated!to!the!
spouse!who!has!majority!custody!of!common!
children!
4. Insurance!policy!may!be!invoked!only!by!the!
innocent!spouse!(Legal!Separation:!only!within!
5!years)!
5. Spouse!I!bad!faith/guilty!shall!be!disqualified!to!
inherent!(testate!and!intestate)'

'
'

Donation'Propter'Nuptias'
Valid,!nut!if!done!
contacted!marriage!in!bad!
faith,!revoked!by!
operation!of!law!

May!be!revoked!within!5!
years!(Legal!Separation)!

'

RIGHTS' AND' OBLIGATIONS'


BETWEEN' HUSBAND' AND'
WIFE'
1) Live!together!(Art.!68)!
Exception:! If! one! of! the! spouses! should! live!
abroad!or!there!are!other!valid!and!compelling!
reasons!
*shall! not! apply! if! the! same! is! not! compatible!
with!the!solidarity!of!the!family!
2) Observe!mutual!love,!respect!and!fidelity!
3) Render!mutual!help!and!support!
4) Fix!the!family!domicile!(Art.!69)!
Exception:! In! case! of! disagreement! between!
husband!and!wife,!court!shall!decide!
5) Management!of!household!(Art.!71)!
*expenses!shall!be!paid!in!accordance!with!the!
provisions!of!Art.!70!!
6) Joint!responsibility!for!the!support!of!the!family!
(Art.!70)!
*Expenses!for!such!support!and!other!conjugal!
obligations! shall! be! paid! from! the! community!
property!and,!in!the!absence!thereof,!from!the!
income!or!fruits!of!their!separate!properties!
*In! case! of! insuffiency! or! absence! of! said!
income! or! fruits,! such! obligations! shall! be!
satisfied!from!their!separate!properties!

NB:!Except!for!support,!a!court!cannot!validly!issue!
a!decision!compelling!the!spouses!to!live!together,!
observe! mutual! love,! respect! and! fidelity.!
Nevertheless,!other!remedies!can!be!availed!of!if!a!
spouse! IN! BAD! FAITH! refuses! to! comply! with! the!
above!obligations.!
EFFECT!OF!NEGLECT!OF!DUTY!
In!case!the!other!spouse!neglects!his!or!her!duties!
or! commits! acts! which! tend! to! bring! danger,!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

dishonor! or! injury! to! the! family,! the! aggrieved!


party!may!apply!to!the!court!for!relief.!(Art.!72)!
Injury! contemplated! is! physical,! moral,! emotional!
or!psychological,!not!financial.!
!
Ty! vs! CA:! There! can! be! no! action! for! damages!
merely!because!of!a!breach!of!marital!obligations!
Ilusorio!v.!Bildner!(2000):!
A!person!has!a!purely!personal!right!to!consortium!
(Constitutional!right!to!liberty).!Court!cannot!order!
a!man!to!go!back!to!the!conjugal!dwelling.!!
!
Goitia!v.!Campos!Rueda!(1916):!
The! husband! demanded! the! wife! perform!
unchaste!and!lewd!sexual!acts.!!
The! wife! refused! but! the! husband! kept! insisting.!
The!wife!left!the!family!home.!Wife!petitioned!for!
support/!separate!maintenance.!
SC:!Court!cannot!compel!the!woman!to!go!back!to!
the! husband.! The! duty! of! the! husband! to! support!
the!wife!is!also!not!terminated!because!she!left!the!
house,!when!it!is!the!husbands!fault!she!left!in!the!
first! place.! Husband! is! compelled,! in! this! case,! to!
give! support! for! separate! maintenance! (outside!
family!home).!
!
Arroyo!v.!Vasquez!de!Arroyo!(1921):!
A! court! cannot! compel! a! married! woman! to! go!
back!to!her!husband!
!
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!!
!
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:'
'
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!
!
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:!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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)!!
!
Solis! v.! Barroso! (1928):! In! donations! propter!
nuptias,!the!marriage!is!really!a!consideration,!but!
not! in! the! sense! of! giving! birth! to! the! obligation.!
There!can!be!a!valid!donation!even!if!the!marriage!
never!took!place,!but!the!absence!of!marriage!is!a!
ground!for!the!revocation!of!the!donation.!
Mateo!v.!Lagua!(1969):!Donations!!
propter!nuptias!are!without!onerous!consideration,!
marriage! being! merely! the! occasion! or! motive! for!
the!donation,!not!its!cause.!Being!liberalities,!they!
remain! subject! to! reduction! for! inofficiousness!
upon!the!donors!death,!if!they!should!infringe!the!
legitime!of!aforced!heir.!
!
GROUNDS!TO!REVOKE!DONATION!!
PROPTER!NUPTIAS:!
!
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! donee! is! the! guilty!
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! committed! against! the! donee!
himself,!his!wife,!or!his!children!under!his!authority!!
c.!If!the!donee!unduly!refuses!to!support!the!donor!
when! he! is! legally! or! morally! bound! to! give! such!
support!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

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Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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Absolute'Community'of'Property'
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.
2.
3.
4.

Property! acquired! before! the! marriage! by! either!


spouse!who!has!legitimate!
descendants!by!a!former!marriage!and!its!fruits!and!
income!!
!Property! for! personal! and! exclusive! use! except!
jewelry!!
!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!in!a!public!instrument.!!
!
HSLB! v.! Miguela! Dailo! (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:!
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.!!
!
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:!
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!administratoraspouse,!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.! Anteanuptial! 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!anteanuptial!debts,!support!of!illegitimate!
child,! and! liabilities! for! crime! or! quasiadelicts! in!
absence!of!separate!property!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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!!
!
TERMINATION!OF!ACP/CPG:!
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!!
!

!
!
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:!
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:!!
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! administratora! spouse,! 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.!Anteanuptial!debts!to!extent!family!benefited!!
7.! Taxes! and! expenses! for! mere! preservation! of!
separate!property!!
8.! Expenses! for! professional,! vocational! or! selfa
improvement!courses!of!either!spouse!!
9.! Value! of! what! is! donated! or! promised! to!
common!legit!children!for!professional,!vocation!or!
self!improvement!courses!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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!buyeraspouse!!
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!anteanuptial!debts,!
support! of! illegitimate! children,! and! liabilities!
incurred! by! either! spouse! by! reason! of! a! crime! or!
quasiadelict! in! case! of! insolvency! of! the! exclusive!
property!of!the!debtoraspouse.!Payment!advanced!
by!the!ACP,!subject!to!deduction!from!the!share!of!
the!debtoraspouse!!
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!
(1998)!
Indirect!benefits!that!might!accrue!to!a!husband!in!
his!signing!as!a!surety!or!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!(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! oneahalf! 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.!!
!
Plata!v.!Yatco:!!
Plata! purchased! property! when! she! was! single.!
When! married,! she! and! her! husband! Bergosa! coa
signed! a! mortgage! on! the! property.! Upon!
foreclosure,! Bergosa! was! sued! for! illegal! detainer.!
A!writ!of!execution!on!the!property!was!carried!out!
but! Plata! refused! to! leave! the! premises.! SC! ruled!
that!Plata!cannot!be!held!in!contempt.!Property!is!
not!conjugal.!Her!husband!signing!as!coamortgagor!
does! not! convert! it! to! CPG.! She! could! ignore!
execution! because! the! decision! was! for! her!
husband!alone.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Acabal! v.! Acabal! (2005):! All! property! acquired!


during!the!marriage,!whether!made,!contracted,!or!
registered! in! the! name! of! one! spouse,! are!
presumed!conjugal!unless!the!contrary!is!prove.!As!
a! condition! sine! qua! non! in! favor! of! the! conjugal!
partnership,! the! party! who! invokes! the!
presumption! must! first! prove! that! the! property!
was!acquired!during!the!marriage!!
Ayala! Investment! v.! Ching! (1998):The! Supreme!
Court!ruled!that!indirect!benefits!that!might!accrue!
to! a! husband! in! signing! as! a! surety! or! guarantee!
agreement!not!in!favor!of!the!family!but!in!favor!of!
his!employer!corporation!are!not!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! by! allowing! it! to! be!
given! gratuitously! as! in! cases! of! donation! of!
conjugal!partnership!property,!which!is!prohibited.!
!
Uy!v.!CA!(2000):!
FC124!contemplates!a!situation!where!one!spouse!
is! absent,! or! separated! in! fact! or! has! abandoned!
the! other! or! consent! is! withheld! or! cannot! be!
obtained.! Suchrules! do! not! apply! to! cases! where!
the! nonaconsenting! spouse! is! incapacitated! or!
incompetent! to! give! consent! ie,! in! coma.! The!
proper!remedy!is!to!file!for!guardianship!under!the!
ROC.! Even! assuming! that! the! rules! on! summary!
proceedings!apply,!the!power!of!the!administrator!
is!the!same!as!a!guardian.!So!a!spouse!who!desires!
to!sell!conjugal!property!as!administrator!must!still!
observe! the! procedure! for! the! sale! of! the! wards!
estate!required!of!judicial!guardians!under!ROC!not!
the!summary!judicial!proceedings!under!FC.!
!
Homeowners!Savings!&!Loan!Bank!v.!Dallo!(2005):!
In! the! absence! of! (court)! authority! or! written!
consent! of! the! other! spouse,! any! disposition! or!
encumbrance!of!the!!
conjugal!property!shall!be!void!
!
Cheeseman!v.!IAC!(1991):!
If! however,! one! of! the! spouses! is! an! alien,! the!
Filipino! spouse! may! encumber! or! dispose! of! the!

property! w/o! the! consent! of! the! former.! The!


property! is! presumed! to! be! owned! exclusively! by!
the!Filipino!spouse.!
!
PartosaaJo!v.!CA!(1992):!
Physical! separation! of! the! spouses,! coupled! with!
the! husbands! refusal! to! give! support! to! the! wife,!
sufficed! to! constitute! abandonment! as! a! ground!
for! an! action! for! the! judicial! separation! of! their!
conjugal!property.!
!

!
!
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:!
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!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

GROUNDS! FOR! REVIVAL! OF! FORMER! PROPERTY!


REGIME:!
1.! When! civil! interdiction! of! the! prisoneraspouse!
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! fact!
for! at! least! one! year,! reconcile! and! resume!
common!life!!
7.!When!after!voluntary!dissolution!of!ACP!or!CPG,!
spouses! agree! to! revive! their! former! property!
regime!!
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GROUNDS!FOR!TRANSFER!OF!!
ADMINISTRATION!OF!EXCLUSIVE!PROPERTY!OF!!
EITHER!SPOUSE:!!
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!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

'
PROPERTY'REGIME'OF'UNIONS'WITHOUT'MARRIAGE'
!
!
Applicability!

Salaries!and!Wages!

Art!147!
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! (incestuous! void!
marriage)!!
not!Art.!38!(void!marriage!by!reason!
of!public!policy)!!
notbigamous!!
4.!other!void!marriages!/!liveain!!
!
Owned!in!equal!shares!!
!

Art!148!
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/polygamous!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!!
!
Properties! acquired! Remains! exclusive! provided! there! is! Remains!exclusive!
through! exclusive! proof!!
funds!!
!
!
Properties! acquired! Governed!by!rules!on!coaownership!!
Owned!in!common!in!proportion!to!respective!
by! both! through! !
contribution!!
work!or!industry!!
!
!
Properties! acquired! Owned! in! equal! shares! since! it! is! Presumed! to! be! equal;! however,! proofs! may!
while!living!together!! presumed! to! have! been! acquired! be!shown!to!show!that!their!contribution!and!
!
through!joint!efforts!!
respective!shares!are!not!equal!!
if! one! party! did! not! participate! in! !
acquisition,! presumed! to! have!
contributed! through! care! and!
maintenance!of!family!and!household!!
!
Forfeiture! in! case! When! only! one! of! the! parties! is! in! If!one!party!is!validly!married!to!another:!!
one! party! is! in! bad! good! faith,! the! share! of! the! party! in! a!his/her!share!in!the!coaowned!properties!will!
faith!!
bad!faith!shall!be!forfeited:!!
accrue!to!the!ACP/CPG!of!his/her!existing!valid!
!
1.!In!favor!of!their!common!children!!
marriage!!
2.! In! case! of! default! of! or! waiver! by! If! the! party! who! acted! in! bad! faith! is! not!
any! or! all! of! the! common! children! or! validly!married!to!another,!his/her!share!shall!
their! descendants,! each! vacant! share! be! forfeited! in! the! same! manner! as! that!
shall! belong! to! the! respective! provided!in!Art!147!!
surviving!descendants!!
The!same!rules!on!forfeiture!shall!apply!if!both!
3.!In!the!absence!of!such!descendants,! parties!are!in!bad!faith!!
such! share! belongs! to! the! innocent! !
party!!
!

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!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
JOAQUINO!v.!REYES!(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! property! in! the! name! of! 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.!CA!(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! coaownership! 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!liveain!partners!before!the!
property!becomes!coaowned!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! coa
ownership!and!no!presumption!of!equal!sharing.!
!
CHING!vs.!COURT!APPEALS!(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!byaproduct!or!a!spinaoff!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!(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! acquired! the!
several!properties!contested!in!this!case.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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!halfabrothers,!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! coaownership! 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!portion!of!it.!Presumptions!of!coa
ownership! and! equal! contribution! do! not! apply.!
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! coaownership!
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! coaownership! 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! coaownership! pursuant! to! Art.! 144! of! the! Civil!
Code.!
!
FRANCISCO!VS.!MASTER!IRON!!
(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!
coaownership!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.! Coaownership! may! ensue! in!
case! of! cohabitation! where! one! party! has! prea
existing! 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!coaowner.!
!
HOMEOWNER!SAVING!&!LOAN!BANK!VS.!MIGUELA!
DAILO!!(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.!!
!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
DISTINCTION'BETWEEN'THE'THREE'PROPERTY'REGIMES'
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

PATERNITY,' FILIATION,' AND'


LEGITIMATE'CHILDREN'
Note:' ' Articles' 163' up' to' 174' of' the' Family'
Code'deal' with' the' issues' of' paternity,' filiation,'
and'legitimate'children.'
'
What'are'the'kinds'of'filiation'of'children?'
The!filiation!of!children!may!be!by:!
anature!
aor!by!adoption.!!
aNatural!filiation!may!be:!
a!legitimate!!
aor!illegitimate!
!
What'is'the'status'of'a'child'born'during'the'
marriage'of'its'parents?!
Children!conceived!or!born!during!the!marriage!of!
the!parents!are!legitimate.!
!
What' about' children' conceived' by' artificial'
insemination?!
Children! conceived! as! a! result! of! artificial!
insemination! of! the! wife! with! the! sperm! of! the!
husband! or! that! of! a! donor! or! both! are! likewise!
legitimate! children! of! the! husband! and! his! wife,!
provided,!that!both!of!them!authorized!or!ratified!
such! insemination! in! a! written! instrument!
executed! and! signed! by! them! before! the! birth! of!
the! child.! The! instrument! shall! be! recorded! in! the!
civil! registry! together! with! the! birth! certificate! of!
the!child.!
What'if'the'mother'states'that'her'child'is'in'fact'
illegitimate?' What' if' the' mother' was' sentenced'
by'a'court'as'being'an'adulteress?'
The! child! is! considered! legitimate! although! the!
mother!may!have!declared!against!its!legitimacy!or!
may! have! been! sentenced! as! an! adulteress.!

'
How'can'the'legitimacy'of'a'child'be'impugned'or'
questioned?!
Legitimacy!of!a!child!may!be!impugned!only!on!the!
following!grounds:!
[1]!That! 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]!the!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! sexual! intercourse;!
[2]!That! it! is! proved! that! for! biological! or! other!
scientific! reasons,! the! child! could! not! have! been!
that! of! the! husband,! except! in! the! instance!
provided!in!the!second!paragraph!of!Article!164;!or!
[3]!That! in! case! of! children! conceived! through!
artificial!insemination,!the!written!authorization!or!
ratification! of! either! parent! was! obtained! through!
mistake,! fraud,! violence,! intimidation,! or! undue!
influence.!
When' should' the' action' to' impugn' or' question'
the' legitimacy' of' a' child' be' filed' in' court?!
[1]!The!action!to!impugn!the!legitimacy!of!the!child!
must! be! brought! within! one! year! from! the!
knowledge! of! the! birth! or! its! recording! in! the! civil!
register,!if!the!husband!or,!in!a!proper!case,!any!of!
his! heirs,! should! reside! in! the! city! or! municipality!
where! the! birth! took! place! or! was! recorded.!
[2]!If!the!husband!or,!in!his!default,!all!of!his!heirs!
do!not!reside!at!the!place!of!birth!as!defined!in!the!
paragraph! above! or! where! it! was! recorded,! the!
period! shall! be! two! years! if! they! should! reside! in!
the! Philippines;! and! three! years! if! abroad.! If! the!
birth!of!the!child!has!been!concealed!from!or!was!
unknown! to! the! husband! or! his! heirs,! the! period!
must!be!counted!from!the!discovery!or!knowledge!
of!the!birth!of!the!child!or!of!the!fact!of!registration!
of! said! birth,! whichever! is! earlier.!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

When'can'the'paternity'of'the'husband'be'
rejected?!
The! law! establishes! the! legitimacy! of! children!
conceived! or! born! during! the! marriage! of! the!
parents.! ! The! presumption! of! legitimacy! fixes! a!
status! for! the! child! born! in! wedlock,! and! only! the!
father,! or! in! exceptional! cases,! the! latters! heirs,!
can!contest!in!an!appropriate!action!the!legitimacy!
of!a!child!born!to!his!wife.!!Thus!it!is!only!when!the!
legitimacy! of! a! child! has! been! successfully!
impugned!that!the!paternity!of!the!husband!can!be!
rejected.!
What'rules'govern'when'the'marriage'is'
terminated'and'the'mother'marries'within'3oo'
days'after'the'former'marriage'is'terminated?!
If!the!marriage!is!terminated!and!the!mother!
contracted!another!marriage!within!three!hundred!
days!after!such!termination!of!the!former!
marriage,!these!rules!govern!in!the!absence!of!
proof!to!the!contrary:!
[1]!A!child!born!before!one!hundred!eighty!days!
after!the!solemnization!of!the!subsequent!
marriage!is!considered!to!have!been!conceived!
during!the!former!marriage,!provided!it!be!born!
within!three!hundred!days!after!the!termination!of!
the!former!marriage;!
[2]!A!child!born!after!one!hundred!eighty!days!
following!the!celebration!of!the!subsequent!
marriage!is!considered!to!have!been!conceived!
during!such!marriage,!even!though!it!be!born!
within!the!three!hundred!days!after!the!
termination!of!the!former!marriage.!
!
Who' has' the' burden' of' proof' in' proving' or'
disproving' the' filiation' of' a' child' born' after' 300'
days' following' the' termination' of' the' former'
marriage?!
The! legitimacy! or! illegitimacy! of! a! child! born! after!
three! hundred! days! following! the! termination! of!
the! marriage! must! be! proved! by! whoever! alleges!
such!legitimacy!or!illegitimacy.!
In' what' instances' can' the' heirs' of' a' husband'
impugn' or' question' the' filiation' of' an' alleged'
child?!
The!heirs!of!the!husband!may!impugn!the!filiation!

of! the! child! within! the! period! prescribed! in! the!


preceding! article! only! in! the! following! cases:!
[1]!If!the!husband!should!die!before!the!expiration!
of! the! period! fixed! for! bringing! his! action;!
[2]!If!he!should!die!after!the!filing!of!the!complaint!
without! having! desisted! therefrom;! or!
[3]!If! the! child! was! born! after! the! death! of! the!
husband.!
How'can'the'filiation'of'legitimate'children'be'
proved?!
The!filiation!of!legitimate!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!filiation!in!a!public!
document!or!a!private!handwritten!instrument!and!
signed!by!the!parent!concerned.!
In'the'absence'of'the'foregoing'evidence,'the'
legitimate'filiation'must'be'proved'by:!
[1]!The!open!and!continuous!possession!of!the!
status!of!a!legitimate!child;!or!
[2]!Any!other!means!allowed!by!the!Rules!of!Court!
and!special!laws.!
Within'what'periods'should'the'claim'for'
legitimacy'be'pursued?!
The!action!to!claim!legitimacy!may!be!brought!by!
the!child!during!his!or!her!lifetime!and!will!be!
transmitted!to!the!heirs!should!the!child!die!during!
minority!or!in!a!state!of!insanity.!In!these!cases,!the!
heirs!have!a!period!of!five!years!within!which!to!
institute!the!action.!
!
What'are'the'rights'of'legitimate'children?!
Legitimate!children!have!the!right:!
[1]!To!bear!the!surnames!of!the!father!and!the!
mother,!in!conformity!with!the!provisions!of!the!
Civil!Code!on!Surnames;!
[2]!To!receive!support!from!their!parents,!their!
ascendants,!and!in!proper!cases,!their!brothers!and!
sisters,!in!conformity!with!the!provisions!of!this!
Code!on!Support;!and!
[3]!To!be!entitled!to!the!legitime!and!other!
successional!rights!granted!to!them!by!the!Civil!
Code.!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

CASE:'Concepcion'vs.'CA'
a!A!(husband)!and!B!(wife)!were!married!in!1989.!A!
year!later!(1990),!B!gave!birth!to!C.!In!1991,!A!filed!
a!petition!to!have!their!marriage!annulled!on!the!
ground!of!bigamy,!alleging!that!Bs!marriage!with!D!
(Bs!previous!husband)!was!never!annulled.!The!
Court!ruled!that!A!and!Bs!marriage!was!void!ab!
initio!because!B!and!Ds!marriage!was!still!
subsisting.!!
!
a'Is'C'the'illegitimate'child'of'A'and'B,'or'the'
legitimate'child'of'B'and'D?'
a!C!is!the!legitimate!child!of!B!and!D.!!
a!Since!the!marriage!of!A!and!B!was!void!from!the!
very!beginning,!he!never!became!her!husband!and!
thus!never!acquired!any!right!to!impugn!the!
legitimacy!of!her!child.!The!minor!cannot!be!
deprived!of!his/her!legitimate!status!on!the!bare!
declaration!of!the!mother!and/or!even!much!less,!
the!supposed!father.!
!
Case:''Macadangdang'vs.'CA'
a!A!(husband)!was!married!to!B!(wife).!In!1967,!B!
allegedly!had!sex!with!C.!Because!of!this,!A!and!B!
separated!that!same!year.!210!days!(7!months)!
after,!B!gave!birth!to!D.!B!filed!for!recognition!and!
support!of!D!by!C.!Court!ruled!that!D!is!an!
illegitimate!son!of!C.!!
a!Is'D'conclusively'presumed'the'legitimate'child'
of'A'and'B?!
a!YES.!!
a!Art.!255!of!the!NCC!provides:!Children!born!after!
180!days!following!the!celebration!of!the!marriage,!
and!before!300!days!following!its!dissolution!or!the!
separation!of!the!spouses!shall!be!presumed!to!be!
legitimate.!Against!this!presumption!no!evidence!
shall!be!admitted!other!than!that!of!the!physical!
impossibility!of!the!husbands!having!access!to!his!
wife!within!the!first!120!days!of!300!which!
preceded!the!birth!of!the!child.!During!the!initial!

120!days!of!the!300!which!preceded!the!birth!of!
the!child,!there!was!no!concrete!or!substantial!
proof!that!was!presented!to!establish!physical!
impossibility!of!access!between!A!and!B.!
Case:''Andal'vs.'Macaraig'
a!A!(husband)!and!C!(wife)!were!married.!A!was!
suffering!from!tuberculosis.!His!brother,!B,!then!
lived!with!them!to!work!his!house!and!farm.!A!
became!so!weak!that!he!could!hardly!move!and!get!
up!from!his!bed.!Sometime!later,!As!wife!C!eloped!
with!B.!A!died.!Later!on,!C!gave!birth!to!a!boy!D.!
Much!later!on,!D,!assisted!by!his!mother!C,!filed!a!
complaint!for!the!recovery!of!the!ownership!and!
possession!of!a!parcel!of!land!owned!by!A!and!C.!
Said!land!was!donated!by!E!by!virtue!of!donation!
propter!nuptias!in!favour!of!C.!!
a!Is'D'a'legitimate'child'of'A?!
a!YES.!D!was!born!within!300!days!following!the!
dissolution!of!the!marriage!(when!A!died).!The!fact!
that!the!husband!was!seriously!sick!is!not!sufficient!
to!overcome!the!presumption!of!legitimacy.!(Like!
Sir!Esto!said,!there!are!alternative!love!positions!
for!sick!persons.)!This!presumption!can!only!be!
rebutted!by!proof!that!it!was!physically!impossible!
for!the!husband!to!have!had!access!to!his!wife!
during!the!first!120!days!of!the!300!days!next!
preceding!the!birth!of!the!child.!Cs!illicit!
intercourse!with!a!man!other!than!the!husband!
during!the!initial!period!does!not!preclude!
cohabitation!between!husband!and!wife.!!
a!Therefore,!D,!being!a!legitimate!son!of!the!
deceased,!becomes!an!owner!of!the!parcel!of!land.!
'
Case:''De'Jesus'vs.'Estate'of'Dizon!
a!C!and!D!are!the!legitimate!children!of!spouses!A!
and!B.!However,!they!were!acknowledged!as!
illegitimate!children!by!E!(the!person!whose!estate!
is!herein!discussed!and!their!alleged!illegitimate!
father)!in!a!notarized!document.!E!died.!!
a! Are' C' and' D' illegitimate' children' of' E' for' the'
purpose'of'inheriting'from'him?!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

a!No,!they!are!not.!The!issue!whether!C!and!D!are!
indeed!the!acknowledged!illegitimate!children!of!E!
cannot! be! adjudicated! without! an! action! having!
been! first! instituted! to! impugn! their! legitimacy! as!
being!the!children!of!A!and!C!in!a!valid!marriage.!
Case:''Liyao'vs.'Liyao'
A,!the!alleged!illegitimate!son!of!the!deceased!B,!
filed!a!petition!to!be!recognized!and!acknowledged!
as!a!compulsory!heir!of!B!and!to!be!entitled!to!all!
successional!rights.!A!was!in!continuous!possession!
and!enjoyment!of!the!status!as!the!child!of!B,!
having!been!recognized!and!acknowledged!as!such!
by!the!decedent!B!during!his!lifetime.!!
As!mother!C!also!maintained!that!she!and!the!
deceased!B!were!legally!married!but!lived!
separately!for!more!than!10!years!and!that!they!
cohabited!again!until!the!death!of!B.!On!the!other!
hand,!D,!one!of!the!children!of!B!from!another!
woman,!stated!that!HER!mom!and!B!were!legally!
married!and!that!her!parents!were!not!separately!
legally!or!in!fact.!!!
Can'A'impugn'his'own'legitimacy'to'be'able'to'
claim'from'the'estate'of'the'deceased?'
NO.!!
Impugning!the!legitimacy!of!the!child!is!a!strictly!
personal!right!of!the!husband,!or!in!exceptional!
cases,!his!heirs,!for!the!reason!that!he!was!the!one!
directly!confronted!with!the!scandal!and!ridicule!
which!the!infidelity!of!his!wife!produced!and!he!
should!be!the!one!to!decide!whether!to!conceal!
that!infidelity!or!expose!it!in!view!of!the!moral!and!
economic!interest!involved.!!Hence,!it!was!then!
settled!that!the!legitimacy!of!the!child!can!only!be!
impugned!in!a!direct!action!brought!for!that!
purpose,!by!the!proper!parties!and!within!the!
period!limited!by!law.!!
Furthermore,!the!court!held!that!there!was!no!
clear,!competent!and!positive!evidence!presented!
by!A!that!his!alleged'father!B!had!admitted!or!
recognized!his!paternity.!
'

ON'BIRTH'CERTIFICATES'AS'PRIMA'FACIE'
EVIDENCE'OF'LEGITIMACY:'
A!birth!certificate!is!a!formidable!piece!of!evidence!
prescribed!by!both!the!Civil!Code!and!Article!172!of!
the! Family! Code! for! purposes! of! recognition! and!
filiation.! However,! birth! certificate! offers! only!
prima! facie! evidence! of! filiation! and! may! be!
refuted!by!contrary!evidence.!Its!evidentiary!worth!
cannot! be! sustained! where! there! exists! strong,!
complete! and! conclusive! proof! of! its! falsity! or!
nullity.!!
CASE:'Perla'vs'Baring'
Facts:''Mirasol!Baring!and!Randy!Perla!(child)!filed!
before!the!RTC!a!Complaint!for!support!against!
Antonio.!According!to!Baring,!she!and!Antonio!had!
a!common!law!relationship!for!2!years,!and!that!
Randy!was!the!result!of!their!affair.!!Randy!was!
made!to!testify!in!Court,!he!said!that!he!has!
been!in!the!house!of!his!Aunt!Lelita!(sister!of!
Antonio),!and!that!the!Perla!family!treated!him!as!a!
member!of!their!family.!Antonio!denied!Barings!
allegations,!saying!that!Randy!isnt!his!!and!claimed!
that!he!had!sexual!intercourse!with!Baring!only!
once!which!happened!in!the!month!of!September!
or!October!of!1981.!He!also!said!that!!Randys!birth!
certificate!has!a!lot!of!inaccuracies.!
Held:Respondents!presented!the!Certificate!of!Live!
Birth!of!Randy!identifying!Antonio!as!the!father.!
However,!said!certificate!has!no!probative!value!to!
establish!Randys!filiation!to!Antonio!since!the!
latter!had!not!signed!the!same.!It!is!settled!
that![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.!We!also!cannot!
lend!credence!to!Barings!claim!that!Antonio!
supplied!certain!information!through!Erlinda!(the!
hilot!who!assisted!in!Barings!delivery!of!Randy).!
Aside!from!Antonios!denial!in!having!any!
participation!in!the!preparation!of!the!document!as!
well!as!the!absence!of!his!signature!thereon,!
respondents!did!not!present!Erlinda!to!confirm!
that!Antonio!indeed!supplied!certain!entries!in!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Randys!birth!certificate.!Besides,!the!several!
unexplained!discrepancies!in!Antonios!
personal!circumstances!as!reflected!in!the!subject!
birth!certificate!are!manifestations!of!Antonios!
nonaparticipation!in!its!preparation.!Most!
important,!it!was!Baring!who!signed!as!informant!
thereon!which!she!confirmed!on!the!witness!stand.!

ILLEGITIMATE'CHILDREN'
NOTE:''Articles'175'and'176'of'the'Family'Code'
provide'for'the'ways'by'which'illegitimate'
children'can'establish'their'filiation,'and'their'
rights'as'to'their'surname'and'inheritance.''
'
Who'are'illegitimate'children?!
Children!conceived!and!born!outside!a!valid!
marriage!are!illegitimate,!unless!otherwise!
provided!in!the!Family!Code.!

CASE:!Mendoza'vs'CA'!!
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!x!x!
x.!There!must!be!a!showing!of!the!permanent!
intention!of!the!supposed!father!to!consider!the!
child!as!his!own,!by!continuous!and!clear!
manifestation!of!paternal!affection!and!care.!
2.!!or!any!other!means!allowed!by!the!Rules!of!
Court!and!special!laws.!
No'further'action'is'required'when'proof'of'a'
consummated'act'of'acknowledgment'of'an'''
Illegitimate'child'is'present,'such'as:'
1.!!in!a!record!of!birth!
2.!!a!will!

3.!!a!statement!before!a!court!of!record!

How'can'illegitimate'children'establish'their'
filiation?!
Illegitimate!children!may!establish!their!filiation!(or!
relationship!with!their!biological!parent)!in!the!
same!way!and!on!the!same!evidence!as!legitimate!
children.!

4.!!in!any!authentic!writing!

CASE:!!Verceles'vs'Posada'

!
The'filiation'of'illegitimate'children'is'established'
by:!
1.
2.

'

aTreated!not!just!as!a!ground!for!compulsory!
recognition!but!also!a!voluntary!recognition!that!
does!not!require!a!separate!action!for!judicial!
approval.!

the!record!of!birth!appearing!in!the!civil!
register!or!a!final!judgment!
or!an!admission!of!legitimate!filiation!in!a!
public!document!or!a!private!handwritten!
instrument!and!signed!by!the!parent!
concerned!

In'the'absence'thereof,'filiation'shall'be'proved'
by:'
1. !!the!open!and!continuous!possession!of!the!
status!of!a!legitimate!child!

Facts:'!Verceles,!Mayor!of!Pandan,!ordered!Posada!
to! go! to! Virac! to! follow! up! funds! for! barangay!
projects! and! stayed! in! Catanduanes! Hotel.!!
Verceles!asked!her!to!brief!him!on!the!status!of!her!
task.! Posada! followed! Verceles! upstairs! under! the!
assumption! that! the! briefing! will! be! done! in! the!
restaurant!of!the!hotel.!!However,!he!led!her!to!a!
room!and!suddenly!embraced!her!and!told!her!that!
he! was! unhappy! w/his! wife! and! that! he! would!
divorce! her! anytime! and! promised! her! that! he!
would! give! her! the! position! of! municipal!
development!coordinator.!!Posada!succumbed!and!
became! pregnant.! ! She! told! Verceles! of! her!
condition!in!a!letter!of!which!he!responded!in!the!
same! manner,! in! his! handwriting,! that! he! would!
have! no! regrets! if! she! became! pregnant!
unexpectedly! and! that! they! would! both! take! care!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

of! the! child.! ! Aliases! were! used! in! Verceles! reply!


referring! to! himself! as! Ninoy! and! to! Posada! as!
Chris.!!
Held:!The!due!recognition!of!an!illegitimate!child!in!
a!record!of!birth,!a!will,!a!statement!before!a!court!
record,! or! in! any! authentic! writing,! is,! in! itself,! a!
consummated! act! of! acknowledgment! of! a! child,!
and! no! further! 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.! ! The! letters! are! private!
handwritten! instruments! of! Verceles! which!
establish! Verna! Aizas! (name! of! the! child! of!
Verceles!and!Posada)!filiation!under!Art.!172!(2)!of!
the!Family!Code.!In!addition,!the!array!of!evidence!
presented! by! respondents,! the! dates,! letters,!
pictures,! and! testimonies,! are! convincing! and!
irrefutable! evidence! that! she! is! Verceles!
illegitimate!child.!!Verceles!not!only!failed!to!rebut!
the! evidence! presented,! he! himself! presented! no!
evidence!of!his!own.!
What'is'a'claim'for'recognition?'
A!claim!for!recognition!is!predicated!on!other!
evidence!merely!tending!to!prove!paternity,!i.e.,!
outside!of!a!record!of!birth,!a!will,!a!statement!
before!a!court!of!record!or!an!authentic!writing,!
judicial!action!within!the!applicable!statute!of!
limitations!is!essential!in!order!to!establish!the!
childs!acknowledgment.!!
!

compulsory'recognition,!on!the!other!hand,!
may!be!demanded!by!the!illegitimate!child!of!
his!parents!and!must!be!brought!during!the!
lifetime!of!the!presumed!parents.!
Who'should'file'the'action'to'claim'the'status'of'
an'illegitimate'child?'When'should'it'be'filed?!
Based!on!Article!175,!the!action!to!claim!the!status!
of!an!illegitimate!child!must!be!filed:!
by!the!guardian!of!a!child!who!is!a!minor,!or!
is!incapacitated!or!insane,!during!the!childs!
lifetime;!
by!the!child,!upon!reaching!the!age!of!
majority;!
by!the!childs!heirs!if!the!child!dies!during!
minority!or!insanity,!within!five!years!from!
the!death.!
! If!the!child!dies!after!reaching!the!age!of!
majority!without!filing!the!action,!the!heirs!
cannot!file!it.!
! If!the!ground!for!filing!the!action!is!open!and!
continuous!possession!of!the!status!of!a!
illegitimate!child,!it!must!be!filed!during!the!
lifetime!of!the!alleged!parent.!(Article!175,!2nd!
paragraph).!
!
CASE:''Nepomuceno'vs'Lopez'

Facts:''Lopez,!through!her!mother!,filed!a!
complaint!for!recognition,!support!of!filiation,!and!
financial!support,!against!Nepomuceno!submitting!
as!evidence!a!handwritten!note!allegedly!written!
and!signed!by!Nepomuceno!.'

What'is'the'difference'between'voluntary'
recognition'and'compulsory'recognition'of'an'
illegitimate'child?!

Issue:''Whether'or'not'the'filiation'of'Lopez'as'
illegitimate'daughter'of'Nepomuceno'is'
established'by'handwritten'note'submitted'as'
documentary'evidence.'

Voluntary'recognition!must!be!express!such!as!
that!in!a!record!of!birth!appearing!in!the!civil!
register,!a!final!judgment,!a!public!instrument!or!
private!handwritten!instrument!signed!by!the!
parent!concerned.!The!voluntary!recognition!of!
an!illegitimate!child!by!his!or!her!parent!needs!
no!further!court!action!and!is,!therefore,!not!
subject!to!the!limitation!that!the!action!for!
recognition!be!brought!during!the!lifetime!of!
the!putative!parent.!!Judicial'or'

Held:''Lopez!relies!mainly!on!the!handwritten!note!
executed! by! petitioner.' ' The! note! does! not!
contain! any! statement! whatsoever! about!
Lopezs! filiation! to! Nepomuceno.! ! It! is!
therefore! not! a! competent! evidence! of!
illegitimate! filiation.! ! It! is! not! therefore!
within!the!ambit!of!Art.!172!(2)!visaaavis!Art.!
175! of! the! Family! Code! states! that! an!
admission! of! filiation! in! a! private!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

handwritten! instrument! signed! by! the!


parent! concerned.! ! All! that! Lopez! has! is!
petitioners! handwritten! undertaking! to!
provide! financial! support! to! her! which! fails!
to!establish!her!claim!of!filiation.!!The!Court!
is! mindful! that! the! best! interests! of! the!
child! in! cases! involving! paternity! and!
filiation!should!be!advanced.!!It!is,!however,!
just! as! mindful! of! the! disturbance! that!
unfounded! paternity! suits! cause! to! the!
privacy! and! peace! of! the! putative! fathers!
legitimate!family.!
'
What'surname'should'illegitimate'children'use?'
Illegitimate!children!should!use!the!surname!and!
be!under!the!parental!authority!of!their!mother.!
They!are!entitled!to!support!in!conformity!with!the!
Family!Code.!(Article!176,!Family!Code)!
!
Republic!Act!9255,!approved!on!February!24,!2004,!
amended!Article!176.!Under!RA!9255,!illegitimate!
children!may:!
use!surname!of!their!father!if!their!filiation!has!
been!expressly!recognized!by!the!father!
through!the!record!of!birth!appearing!in!the!
civil!register,!!
" or!when!an!admission!in!a!public!document!or!
private!handwritten!instrument!is!made!by!the!
father.!!
The!father,!however,!has!the!right!to!file!an!action!
before!the!regular!courts!to!prove!nonafiliation.!
"

What'surname'should'illegitimate'children'use'if'
the'father'does'not'recognize'the'child?'
CASE:''Wang'vs'Cebu'City'Civil'Registrar'
Our!laws!on!the!use!of!surnames!state!that!
legitimate!and!legitimated!children!shall!principally!
use!the!surname!of!the!father.!The!Family!Code!
gives!legitimate!children!the!right!to!bear!the!
surnames!of!the!father!and!the!mother,!while!
illegitimate!children!shall!use!the!surname!of!their!
mother,!unless!their!father!recognizes!their!
filiation,!in!which!case!they!may!bear!the!

fathers!surname.!!An'illegitimate'child'whose'
filiation'is'not'recognized'by'the'father'bears'only'
a'given'name'and'his'mother'surname,'and'does'
not'have'a'middle'name.!The!name!of!the!
unrecognized!illegitimate!child!therefore!identifies!
him!as!such.!It!is!only!when!the!illegitimate!child!is!
legitimated!by!the!subsequent!marriage!of!his!
parents!or!acknowledged!by!the!father!in!a!public!
document!or!private!handwritten!instrument!that!
he!bears!both!his!mothers!surname!as!his!middle!
name!and!his!fathers!surname!as!his!surname,!
reflecting!his!status!as!a!legitimated!child!or!an!
acknowledged!child.!
CASE:''Dela'Cruz'vs'Gracia'
Facts:! ! Jenie! and! Christian! lived! together! as!
husband! and! wife! w/o! the! benefit! of! a! marriage,!
and! lived! under! the! house! of! Christians! parents.!!
On!Nov.!Christian!died,!but!Jenie!continued!to!live!
w/his! parents! and! eventually! gave! birth! to! their!
child! also! named! Christian,! who! is! a! coapetitioner!
in! the! case.! Jenie! applied! for! registration! of! the!
Childs! birth! using! the! fathers! surname,! to! which!
she! attached! an! AUSF! which! she! executed! and!
signed! and! attached! her! late! husbands!
autobiography! which! stated! his! recognition! of! her!
and! their! unborn! child,! and! affidavit! of!
acknowledgment! executed! by! Christians! father,!
Domingo! Aquino.' Both! affidavits! were! proof! that!
the! late! Christian! continuously! acknowledged! his!
unborn! son! and! that! his! paternity! was! never! a!
question.!!However,!Antipolo!civil!registrar,!Gracia!
denied! Jenies! petition! stating! that! the! child! was!
born!out!of!wedlock!and!that!the!father!died!prior!
to! his! birth! and! no! longer! has! the! capacity! to!
acknowledge!his!paternity!to!the!child.!
Held:! ! Under! Art.! 278! of! the! New! Civil! Code,!
voluntary!recognition!by!a!parent!shall!be!made!in!
the! record! of! birth,! a! will,! a! statement! before! a!
court!of!record,!or!in!any!authentic!writing.!To!be!
effective,! the! claim! of! filiation! must! be! made! by!
the!putative!father!himself!and!the!writing!must!be!
the!writing!of!the!putative!father.xxx.!!There!is!no!
dispute! that! the! quoted! statements! in! the! late!
Christians! autobiography! have! been! made! and!
written!by!him.!Taken!together!with!relevant!facts!
of!their!living!together!as!husband!and!wife!under!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

the! late! Christians! parents! and! Jenies! pregnancy!


prior!to!Christians!deathasufficiently!establish!that!
the! child! of! Jenie! is! his! as! well.! In! view! of! the!
pronouncements! therein,! the! Court! sees! it! fit! to!
adopt! the! following! rules! respecting! the!
requirement! of! affixing! the! signature! of! the!
acknowledging! parent! in! any! private! handwritten!
instrument! wherein! an! admission! of! filiation! of! a!
legitimate!or!illegitimate!child!is!made:!

Dominique!and!enter!it!in!his!birth!certificate.!

1)! Where! the! private! handwritten! instrument! is!


the!lone!piece! of! evidence! submitted! to! prove!
filiation,!there!should!be!strict!compliance!with!the!
requirement!that!the!same!must!be!signed!by!the!
acknowledging!parent;!and!

Is'it'possible'for'a'legitimate'child'to'change'his'
status'to'that'of'being'an'illegitimate'child,'by'
deleting'his'fathers'surname?'

2)! Where! the! private! handwritten! instrument!


is!accompanied!by! other! relevant! and! competent!
evidence,! it! suffices! that! the! claim! of! filiation!
therein! be! shown! to! have! been! made! and!
handwritten! by! the! acknowledging! parent! as! it! is!
merely!corroborative!of!such!other!evidence.!
Our!laws!instruct!that!the!welfare!of!the!child!shall!
be! the! "paramount! consideration"! in! resolving!
questions!affecting!him.!!Article!3(1)!of!the!United!
Nations! Convention! on! the! Rights! of! a! Child! of!
which! the! Philippines! is! a! signatory! is! similarly!
emphatic:!
Article!3!
1.! In! all! actions! concerning! children,! whether!
undertaken! by! public! or! private! social! welfare!
institutions,! courts! of! law,! administrative!
authorities! or! legislative! bodies,!the! best! interests!
of! the! child! shall! be! a! primary! consideration.It! is!
thus! "(t)he! policy! of! the! Family! Code!
to!liberalize!the! rule! on! the! investigation! of!
the!paternity! and! filiation! of! children,especially! of!
illegitimate! children!x! x! x."24!Too,! "(t)he! State! as!
parens!
patriae!
affords!special!protection!to!
children! from! abuse,! exploitation! and!other!
conditions!prejudicial!to!their!development."25!
In! the! eyes! of! society,! a! child! with! an! unknown!
father! bears! the! stigma! of! dishonor.! It! is! to!
petitioner!minor!childs!best!interests!to!allow!him!
to! bear! the! surname! of! the! now! deceased!

WHEREFORE,!the!petition!is!GRANTED.!The!City!
Civil!Registrar!of!Antipolo!City!is!DIRECTED!to!
immediately!enter'the!surname!of!the!late!
Christian!Dominique!Sto.!Tomas!Aquino!as!the!
surname!of!petitioner!minor!Christian!dela!Cruz!in!
his!Certificate!of!Live!Birth!and!record!the!same!in!
the!Register!of!Births.!

CASE:''Republic'vs'CosetengdMagpayo'
Facts:!Julian!Edward!Emereson!CosetengaMagpayo!
claimed!that!his!parents!were!never!married!and!
filed!a!petition!in!Quezon!City!to!change!his!name!
to!Julian!Coseteng,!using!his!mothers!maiden!
name.!He!submitted!proof!that!his!mother!has!no!
record!of!a!marriage!in!the!NSO,!and!that!he!has!
been!using!just!Coseteng!since!childhood!as!shown!
in!his!academic!records.!!Julian!submitted!his!
petition!through!Rule!103!of!the!Rules!of!Court!
which!enumerated!the!following!grounds!which!a!
person!can!effect!change!of!name:!
a.

when! the! name! is! ridiculous,! dishonorable! or!


extremely!difficult!to!write!or!pronounce!
b. when! the! change! results! as! a! legal!
consequence!such!as!legitimation!
c. !when!the!change!will!avoid!confusion!
d. !when! one! has! continuously! used! and! been!
known!since!childhood!by!a!Filipino!name,and!
was!unaware!of!alien!parentage!
e. !a! sincere! desire! to! adopt! a! Filipino! name! to!
erase!signs!of!former!alienage,!all!in!good!faith!
and!without!prejudicing!anybody!
f. when!the!surname!causes!embarrassment!and!
there!is!no!showing!that!the!desired!change!of!
name!was!for!a!fraudulent!purpose!or!that!the!
change! of! name! would! prejudice! public!
interest.!
HELD:! ! The! change! being! sought! in! respondents!
petition! goes! so! far! as! to! affect! his!legal) status) in)
relation) to) his) parents.!! It! seeks! to! change! his!
legitimacy! to! that! of! illegitimacy.!! Rule! 103! then!
would! not! suffice! to! grant! respondents! desired!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

change! affects! his! civil! status! from! legitimate! to!


illegitimate,Rule! 108!applies.! ! !IN! FINE,! when! a!
petition!for!cancellation!or!correction!of!an!entry!in!
the! civil! register! involves! substantial! and!
controversial!alterations!including!those!on!!
citizenship,! legitimacy! of! paternity! or! filiation,! or!
legitimacy!of!marriage,!a!strict!compliance!with!the!
requirements! of! Rule! 108! of! the! Rules! of! Court! is!
mandated.! ! Therefore! the! following! should! be!
complied!with:!
apetition! should! be! filed! with! the! RTC! of! the!
province! where! the! corresponding! civil! registry! is!
loated.!
athe!civil!registrar!and!all!persons!who!have!or!
claim! any! interest! which! would! be! affected!
thereby!shall!be!made!parties!to!the!proceeding.!
aUpon!the!filing!of!the!petition,!the!court!shall,!
by!an!order,!fix!the!time!and!place!for!the!hearing!
of! the! same,! and!cause! reasonable! notice! thereof!
to! be! given! to! the! persons! named! in! the! petition,!
to! be! published! once! a! week! for! 3! consecutive!
weeks!in!a!newspaper!of!general!circulation!in!the!
province.!
!
IMPORTANT'POINTS'ON'THE'USE'OF'THE'
SURNAME:'
'
1.''Article!176!of!the!Family!Code!states:!
Illegitimate!children!shall!use!the!surname!
and!shall!be!under!the!parental!authority!of!
their!mother,!and!shall!be!entitled!to!support!
in!conformity!with!this!Code.!However,!
illegitimate!children!may!use!the!surname!of!
their!father!if!their!filiation!has!been!
expressly!recognized!by!the!father!through!
the!record!of!birth!appearing!in!the!civil!
register,!or!when!an!admission!in!a!public!
document!or!private!handwritten!instrument!
is!made!by!the!father.!Provided,!the!father!
has!the!right!to!institute!an!action!before!the!
regular!courts!to!prove!nonafiliation!during!
his!lifetime.!The!legitime!of!each!

illegitimate!child!shall!consist!of!oneahalf!of!
the!legitime!of!a!legitimate!child.!
2. 'If!the!father!does!not!recognize!the!child,!the!
entry!for!middle!name!in!the!birth!certificate!
must!be!left!blank.!
3. The!child!is!still!illegitimate!even!if!the!
biological!fathers!surname!is!used!under!RA!
9255.!The!mother!still!has!exclusive!parental!
authority!over!the!child.!
4.'RA'9255s'IRR'makes'the'use'of'the'fathers'
surname'automatic'and'mandatory.''The!
illegitimate!child!shall!use!the!surname!of!the!
father!if!a!public!document!is!executed!by!the!
father,!either!at!the!back!of!the!Certificate!of!
Live!Birth!or!in!a!separate!document.!!Under'the'
IRR,'if'the'father'signs'the'birth'certificate,'
then'AUTOMATICALLY'the'child'will'carry'his'
surname.'Rule'8.2'also'provides'that'for'births'
previously'registered'under'the'surname'of'the'
mother,'the'following'rule'shall'be'followed:!
Rule'8.2.1!If!admission!of!paternity!was!made!
either!at!the!back!of!the!Certificate!of!Live!Birth!
or!in!a!separate!public!document!or!in!a!private!
handwritten!document,!the!public!document!or!
AUSF!(Affidavit!To!Use!Surname!of!the!Father)!
shall!be!recorded!in!the!Register!of!Legal!
Instruments.!Proper!annotation!shall!be!made!
in!the!Certificate!of!Live!Birth!and!the!Register!
of!Births!as!follows:!"The!surname!of!the!child!is!
hereby!changed!from!(original!surname)!to!
(new!surname)!pursuant!to!RA!9255."!!The!
original!surname!of!the!child!appearing!in!the!
Certificate!of!Live!Birth!and!Register!of!Births!
shall!not!be!changed!or!deleted.!
How'much'is'the'legitime'of'an'illegitimate'child?!
The!legitime!of!each!illegitimate!child!is!oneahalf!of!
the!legitime!of!a!legitimate!child.!!
Are'illegitimate'children'entitled'to'financial'
support?!
[1]!If!the!illegitimate!children!have!not!been!
recognized!by!their!biological!father,!they!can!file!a!
petition!for!compulsory!recognition!and!financial!
support.!They!can!ask!the!court!to!compel!the!
father!to!undergo!DNA!testing.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

[2]!If!the!father!has!recognized!the!illegitimate!
children!by!signing!the!birth!certificate!or!through!
a!written!document,!they!can!file!a!petition!for!
Protection!Order!for!support!under!Section!8,!
paragraph!(g)!of!RA!9262.!!If!the!father!claims!that!
his!signature!or!the!document!was!forged,!they!can!
ask!the!court!to!compel!him!to!undergo!DNA!
testing.!
!
NOTE:!!Through'a'Protection'Order,'the'court'will'
order'the'father'and'his'employer'to'set'aside'a'
certain'percentage'of'his'salary'to'be'remitted'
directly'to'the'children'on'a'monthly'basis.!If!the!
father!or!his!employer,!or!both!fail!to!do!so,!they!
can!be!charged!with!contempt!of!court.!
!
NOTE:!!The!Family!Code!does!not!provide!a!specific!
percentage!of!the!monthly!salary!for!the!support.!It!
only!provides!that!amount!of!support!is!balanced!
between!the!necessities!of!the!person!asking!for!
support!and!the!financial!capability!of!the!person!
from!whom!support!is!being!asked.!Support!can!be!
reduced!or!increased!proportionately,!according!to!
the!reduction!or!increase!of!the!necessities!of!the!
recipient!and!the!resources!or!means!of!the!person!
obliged!to!furnish!the!same.!
'
LEGITIMATION'
NOTE:''Articles'177'up'to'182'of'the'Family'Code'
are' the' rules' in' the' legitimation' of' children' born'
outside' of' wedlock' but' whose' biological' parents'
eventually'enter'into'a'valid'marriage.''
'
Who'can'be'legitimated?!
Only!children!conceived!and!born!outside!of!
wedlock!of!parents!who,!at!the!time!of!the!
conception!of!the!former,!were!not!disqualified!by!
any!impediment!to!marry!each!other!may!be!
legitimated.'
How'does'legitimation'take'place?!
Legitimation!takes!place!by!a!subsequent!valid!
marriage!between!parents.!!The!annulment!of!a!
voidable!marriage!does!not!affect!the!legitimation.!

What'are'the'effects'of'legitimation?!
[1]!Legitimated!children!enjoy!the!same!rights!as!
legitimate!children.!
[2]!The!effects!of!legitimation!retroact!to!the!time!
of!the!child's!birth.!
[3]!The!legitimation!of!children!who!died!before!
the!celebration!of!the!marriage!benefit!their!
descendants.!
Who'can'impugn'or'question'a'childs'
legitimation?!
Legitimation!may!be!questioned!only!by!those!who!
are!prejudiced!in!their!rights,!within!five!(5)!years!
from!the!time!their!cause!of!action!accrues.!
Legal'impediments'or'obstacles'to'legitimation!
As!it!now!stands,!Article!177!states:!Only!children!
conceived!and!born!outside!of!wedlock!of!parents!
who,!at!the!time!of!the!conception!of!the!former,!
were!not!disqualified!by!any!impediment!to!marry!
each!other!may!be!legitimated.!This!means!that!if!
at!the!time!of!the!childs!conception,!there!is!a!
legal!impediment!to!the!marriage!of!the!biological!
parents,!the!child!cannot!be!legitimated!under!
Article!177.!
For!example,!if!any!of!the!biological!parents!was!
validly!married!to!another!person!at!the!time!of!
the!conception!of!the!child!in!question,!the!child!
cannot!be!legitimated.!

ADOPTION'
a

Is! a! juridical! act,! which! creates! between! two!


persons! a! relationship! similar! to! that! which!
results!from!legitimate!paternity!and!filiation!!

NOTEa!EFFECT!OF!ADOPTION:!!
a The!effect!of!adoption!retroacts!to!the!time!
of! the! filing! of! the! petition.! On! the! other!
hand,! adoption! severs! all! relationship!
between! the! adopted! child! and! his/her!
natural! or! biological! parents.! For! purposes!
of! liability,! what! is! material! is:! At! the! time!
the!liability!is!incurred!by!the!child,!the!one!
who! has! actual! custody! and! has! parental!
authority! over! the! child! is! the! one!
responsible.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

The! effect! of! adoption! is! limited! only!


between! the! adopter! and! the! adopted!
child.! It! does! not! go! beyond! their!
relationship,! so! that! while! the! adopted! is!
deemed! to! be! a! child! of! the! adopter,! the!
adopted! cannot! be! considered! as! the!
grandchild!of!the!adopters!parents!and!vice!
versa.!!
CASE:!SAYSON'V.'CA!
While! it! is! true! that! the! adopted! child! shall! be!
deemed!to!be!a!legitimate!child!and!have!the!same!
right! as! the! latter,! these! rights! do! not! include! the!
right!of!representation.!The!relationship!created!by!
the!adoption!is!between!only!the!adopting!parents!
and!the!adopted!child!and!does!not!extend!to!the!
blood!relatives!of!either!party.!
!
CASE:!CANG'V.'CA'
Deprivation! of! parental! authority! is! one! of! the!
effects! of! a! decree! of! adoption! in! this! case!
precisely! because,! as! this! Court!has! demonstrated!
earlier,!the!finding!of!the!courts!below!on!the!issue!
of! petitioners! abandonment! of! his! family! was!
based!on!misappreciation!that!was!tantamount!to!
nonaappreciation!of!facts!on!record.!
aproof! of! abandonment! must! be! established! in!
order!for!them!to!stripaoff!parental!authority!from!
the!father.!
!
CASE:!CERVANTES'V.'FAJARDO'
Adecree!of!adoption!has!the!effect,!among!others,!
of! dissolving! the! authority! vested! in! natural!
parents! over! the! adopted! child,! except! where! the!
adopting!parent!is!the!spouse!of!the!natural!parent!
of! the! adopted,! in! which! case,! parental! authority!
over!the!adopted!shall!be!exercised!jointly!by!both!
spouses.!
Note:! child! was! 5! yrs.! Of! age,! and! mother! was!
jobless! and! is! maintaining! an! illicit! relation! with! a!
married! man.! Since! petitioner! were! more! capable!
and! was! able! to! file! for! a! decree! of! adoption,! the!
court!ruled!in!their!favour.!
RA'8552'DOMESTIC'ADOPTION'LAW'
WHO'CAN'ADOPT?'

c. Of!good!moral!character!
d. Has! not! been! convicted! of! any! crime!
involving!moral!turpitude!
e. Emotionally!
and!
psychologically!
capable!of!caring!for!children!
f. At!least!16!years!old!than!the!adoptee,!
except! when! the! adopter! is! biological!
parent!of!the!adoptee!or!is!!the!spouse!
of!the!adoptees!parent!
g. In! a! position! to! support! and! care! for!
his/her! children! in! keeping! with! the!
means!of!the!family!

FILIPINO'CITIZEN''
a. Of!legal!age!
b. With!full!civil!capacity!and!legal!rights!

NOTE:! Conviction' of' crime' involving' moral'


turpitude'
a

There! must! be! a! final! judgment! of!


conviction.! A! person! convicted! in! the! first!
instance! may! after! all! be! eventually!
acquitted.!

NOTE:!Adopter'may'be'less'than'16'years'old'than'
Adopted:'
a

When! the! adopter! is! the! parent! by! nature!


of!the!adopted;!
a When! the! adopter! is! the! spouse! of! the!
legitimate! parent! of! the! person! to! be!
adopted!
ALIEN!
Same!for!Filipinos!provided!further!that:!
a. At!least!27!years!old!
b. His/her! country! diplomatic! relations!
with!the!Philippines!
c. Has! been! living! continuously! for! 3!
years! (provided! that! absence! not!
exceeding! 60! days! per! 1! year! for!
professional,! business,! or! ! emergency!
reasons!are!allowed)!in!RP!prior!to!the!
filing!of!application!and!maintains!such!
residence!until!the!decrees!is!entered!
d. Has! been! certified! by! his/her!
diplomatic! or! consular! office! or! any!
appropriate! government! agency! that!
he/she! has! the! legal! capacity! to! adopt!
in!his!her!country!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

e. His/her! government! allows! the!


adoptee!to!enter!his/her!country!
f. Has! submitted! all! the! necessary!
clearances!of!such!certification!as!may!
be!required!
NOTE:!An'alien'may'not'adopt'except:'!
a
a
a

A!former!Filipino!citizen!who!seeks!to!adopt!
a!relative!by!consanguinity!
One!who!seeks!to!adopt!the!legitimate!child!
of!his!or!her!Filipino!spouse!
One!who!is!married!to!a!Filipino!Citizen!and!
seeks!to!adopt!jointly!with!his!or!her!spouse!
a!relative!by!consanguinity!of!the!latter!
Aliens' not' included' in' the' foregoing'
exceptions' may' adopt' Filipino' children' in'
accordance'with'the'rules'on'interdcountry'
adoption'as'may'be'provided'by'law.''
GUARDIAN'with!respect!to!their!ward!after!
the! termination! of! the! guardianship! and!
clearance!of!his!or!her!accountabilities!

NOTE:!Guardians'may'adopt'their'wards'only:'
a
a

After!approval!of!their!final!account'
The! final! accounts! must! have! been!
rendered! upon! the! termination! of! the!
guardianship!relation'

HUSBAND' AND' WIFE' SHALL' ADOPT' JOINTLY,'


EXCEPT:'
a
a

If!one!spouse!seeks!to!adopt!the!legitimate!
child!of!the!other!
If!one!of!the!spouse!seeks!to!adopt!his/her!
illegitimate! child! provided! that! other!
spouse!has!signified!his/her!consent!
If! spouse! are! legally! separated! from! each!
other!

EXAMPLE:)!A!husband!is!married!to!a!girl!who!has!
an!illegitimate)child.!If!the!wife!wants!to!adopt!said!
child,! must! her! husband! also! adopt! the! child?! No,!
because! the! child! is! illegitimate.) However,! if! the!
husband! wants! to! do! so,! he! may! join! in! the!
adoption.!!

CASE:!IN'RE'LIM!
Petitioner,! having! remarried! at! the! time! the!
petitions! for! adoption! were! filed,! MUST! jointly!
adopt.! Since! the! petitions! for! adoption! were! filed!
only! by! petitioner! herself,! without! joining! her!
husband,! Olario,! the! trial! court! was! correct! in!
denying!the!petitions!for!adoption!on!this!ground.!
(Sec.!7,!adoption,!Family!Code)!
NOTE:!!
a

If! both! spouses! adopt,! parental! authority!


shall! be! exercised! jointly.! In! cases! of!
disagreement,! the! fathers! decision! shall!
prevail,!unless,!there!is!judicial!order!to!the!
contrary!
The! parent! of! the! child! cannot! adopt!
anymore! his! own! legitimate! child,! for! the!
child! is! already! legitimate,! and! nothing! is!
gained!by!adopting!his!own!legitimate!child.!!
WHO'CAN'BE'ADOPTED?'

a. Minor!who!has!been!administratively!or!
judicially!declared!available!for!adoption!
b. Legitimate!child!of!one!spouse!by!another!
c. Illegitimate!child!by!a!qualified!adopter!to!
improve!the!childs!status!to!that!of!
legitimacy!
d. A!person!of!legal!age!if,!prior!to!the!
adoption,!said!person!has!been!consistently!
considered!and!treated!by!adopter(s)!as!
his/her!child!since!minority.!
e. A!child!whose!previous!adoption!has!been!
rescinded!
f. A!child!whose!biological!or!adoptive!
parent(s)!has!died,!provided!that!no!
proceedings!shall!be!initiated!within!6!
months!from!the!time!of!death!of!said!
parent(s)!
NOTE:!Generally,%only'minors'can'be'adopted.'
EXEMPTION'A!person!of!legal!age!can!be!adopted,!
provided:!
a

The! adopted! must! be! a! child! by! nature! of!


the!adopter!or!the!adopters!spouse!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

The! child! prior! to! the! adoption! had! been!


consistently! considered! and! treated! by! the!
adopter! as! his! or! her! own! child! during!
minority!

SEC.9' WHOSE' WRITTEN' CONSENT' IS' NECESSARY'


FOR'ADOPTION'
a. The! prospective! adoptee! if! 10! years! or!
older!
b. The! prospective! adoptees! biological!
parents,! legal! guardian! or! the!
government!
instrumentality!
or!
institution!that!had!custody!of!the!child!
c. The! prospective! adopters! legitimate!
and!adopted!children!who!are!10!years!
or!older!
d. The! prospective! adopters! illegitimate!
children,! if! any,! who! are! 10! years! or!
older!and!living!with!them!
e. The! spouse,! if! any,! of! the! person!
adopting!or!to!be!adopted!
NOTE:!A!decree!of!adoption!shall!be!effective!as!of!
the! date! the! original! petition! was! filed.! It! also!
applies! in! case! the! petitioner! dies! before! the!
issuance! of! the! decree! of! adoption! to! protect! the!
interest!of!the!adoptee.!!
CASE:!Duncan'vs'CFI'
One! to! whom! a! 3aday! old! child! was! given! by! its!
mother! who! does! not! wish! to! identified! may! be!
considered! as! the! guardian! exercising! patria)
potesta) sover! such! abandoned! child! and!
competent!to!give!consent!to!the!!adoption!of!the!
latter.!
The! rule! Dura! lexsedlex! should! not! be! given!
applied!to!acts!designed!to!prove!homes,!love!and!
care! to! unfortunate,! abandoned! children;! the!
widest! latitude! of! sympathy! ad! assistance! should!
be!extended!by!courts!to!such!acts.!
RIGHTS'OF'AN'ADOPTED'CHILD'
a. Parental!Authority!
b. Legitimacy!

c. Succession!
Art.! 365,! NCC.! An! adopted! child! shall! bear! the!
surname!of!the!adopter.!
CASE:!IN'RE:'ASTORGA'
There! is! no! law! prohibiting! an! illegitimate! child!
adopted! by! her! natural! father,! like! Stephanie,! to!
use,!as!middle!name!her!mothers!surname.!What!
the!law!does!not!provide,!it!allows!
!
Rules' on' legal' or' intestate' succession' to' the'
estate'of'the'adoptee:'
a. Legitimate! and! illegitimate! children,!
descendants! and! the! surviving! spouse! of!
the!adoptee!shall!inherit!in!accordance!with!
the! ordinary! rules! of! legal/intestate!
succession!
b. When! the! surviving! spouse! OR! illegitimate!
childrenAND! adopters! concur,! they! shall!
inherit!on!a!50a50basis!
c. When!the!surviving!spouse!AND!illegitimate!
children! AND! adopters! concur,! they! shall!
inherit!on!a1/3a/1/3a1/3!basis!
d. When! only! adopters! survive,! they! shall!
inherit100%!of!the!estate!
e. When! only! collateral! blood! relatives!
survive,! ordinary! rules! of! legal! or! intestate!
succession!shall!apply!
Example'of'par'a.''An!adopted!child!died!intestate!
survived! by! his! wife! andby! five! (5)! legitimate!
children.! If! the! estate! is! P12! million,! howshould! it!
be! distributed?ANSWER:) The! wife! shall! have! the!
same! right! as! each! ofthe! 5! legitimate! children.!
Hence,! the! estate! will! be! divided! into6! equal!
shares! with! each! child! inheriting! P2! million.! The!
wifeshall!also!inherit!P2!million.'
Example' of' par' b.' X! and! Y! are! the! parents! by!
nature! of! Z,! who! is! eventuallyadopted! by! A.! If! Z!
dies! with! an! intestate! estate! of! P18! million,! how!
will!the!estate!be!divided?!ANSWER:)Half!will!go!to!
the!legitimate!parents,!so!X!and!Y)will!get!a!total!of!
P9! million! (i.e.,! half! of! the! estate).! So! X) and! Y) will!
get!P4.5!million!each;!A)the!adopter,!will!inherit!P9!
million.!
'
'
'

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

RESCISSION'OF'ADOPTION'
Adoptee! may! request! for! rescission,! with! the!
assistance!of!DSWD!if!he/she!is!a!minor!or!over!18!
but!incapacitated,!based!on!the!ff.!grounds:!
a. Repeated!physical!and!verbal!maltreatment!
by! adopters! despite! having! undergone!
counselling!
b. Attempt!on!life!of!adoptee!
c. Sexual!assault!or!violence!
d. Abandonment!or!failure!to!comply!with!
parental!obligations!
!
NOTE:! Adoption,! being! in! the! best! interest! of! the!
child,! shall! not! be! subject! to! rescission! by! the!
adopter(s).!However,!the!adopter(s)!may!disinherit!
the! adopted! based! on! causes! enumerated! in! Art.!
919of!the!NCC:!
a. Conviction! of! an! attempt! on! the! life! of! the!
adopter!
b. Having! accused,! without! grounds,! the!
adopter! of! a! crime! punishable! by!
imprisonment!for!more!than!6!years!
c. Conviction! of! adultery/concubinage! with!
the!adopters!spouse!
d. Having! caused! the! adopter! to! make! or!
change! a! will! by! force,! intimidation! or!
undue!influence!
e. Refusal! without! just! cause! to! support! the!
adopter!
f. Maltreatment!of!the!adopter!by!word/deed!
g. Living!a!dishonorable/disgraceful!life!
h. Conviction! of! a! crime! which! carries! with! it!
the!penalty!of!civil!interdiction!
Effects'of'Rescission'[Sec.'20]'
(1)! 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)! Reciprocal! rights! and! obligations! of! the!
adopters!and!the!adoptee!shall!be!extinguished!
(3)! 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!
(5)!Vested!rights!prior!to!judicial!rescission!shall!be!
respected'

%
NOTE:) Rescission! contemplates! a! situation! where!
the! adoption! decree! remains! valid! until! its!
termination!
!
CASE:!LAHOM'VS.'SIBULO'
The) action) for) recission) of) the) adoption) decree,)
having) been) initiated) by) petitioner) after) R.A) 8522)
had)come)into)force,)no)longer,)could)be)pursued.a!
it! was! 2! months! after! the! effectivity! of! R.A! 8522!
that!herein!petitioner!filed!an!action!to!revoke!the!
decree! of! adoption! granted! I! 1975.! By! then,! the!
new! law! had! already! abrogated! and! repealed! the!
right! of! an! adopter! under! the! Civil! Code! and! the!
Family!Code!to!rescind!a!decree!of!adoption.!!
An) adopter) while) barred) from) severing) the) legal)
ties)of)adoption,)can)always)for)valid)reason)cause)
the)forfeiture)of)certain)benefits)otherwise)accruing)
to) an) undeserving) child.a! while! R.A! 8522! has!
unqualifiedly! withdrawn! from! an! adopter! a!
consequential!right!to!rescind!the!adoption!decree!
even! in! cases! where! the! adoption! might! clearly!
turn! out! to! be! undesirable.,! it! remains,! the!
bounded! duty! of! the! court! to! apply! the! law! (Dura!
lex!sed!lex).!!
RECTIFICATION'OF'SIMULATED'BIRTH'
Simulation!of!birth!is!the!tampering!of!LCR!records!
to!make!it!appear!that!a!certain!child!was!born!to!a!
person! who! is! not! his/her! biological! parent,!
causing!said!child!to!lose!his!true!identity/status!
!
SEC.'21dB'(RA'8552)'
Any! person! who! shall! cause! the! fictitious!
registration! of! the! birth! of! a! child! under! the!
name(s)!of!a!person(s)!who!is!not!his/her!biological!
parent(s)!shall!be!guilty!of!simulation!of!birth,!and!
shall! be! punished! by! prision! mayor! in! its! medium!
period! and! a! fine! not! exceeding! Fifty! thousand!
pesos!(P50,000.00).!
!
SEC.'22'(RA'8552)'
A! person! who! has,! prior! to! the! effectivity! of! RA!
8552,! simulated! the! birth! of! a! child! shall! not! be!
punished!for!such!act,!PROVIDED:!
(a)!The!simulation!was!for!the!childs!best!interest!
(b)!Child!has!been!treated!consistently!as!his!own!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(c)! Petition! filed! within! 5! years! of! RA! 8552s!


effectivity!(2003)!
'
RA'8043''THE'LAW'ON'INTERdCOUNTRY'
ADOPTION'INTERdCOUNTRY'ADOPTION'
arefers! to! the! socioalegal! 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'CAN'ADOPT?'
Any! foreign! national! or! a! Filipino! citizen!
permanently! residing! abroad! who! has! the!
qualifications! and! none! of! the! disqualifications!
under!the!Act!may!file!an!application!if!he/she:!
a. Is!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!!
If! married,! his/her! spouse! must! jointly!
file!for!the!adoption!!
b. 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!!
c. Has! not! been! convicted! of! a! crime!
involving! moral! turpitude! (e)! Is! eligible!
to! adopt! under! his/her! national! law! (f)!
Is! 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!!
d. 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!!
e. Comes! from! a! country! with! whom! the!
Philippines!has!diplomatic!relations!and!
whose!government!maintains!a!

a.
b.

c.

d.

similarly! authorized! and! accredited!


agency! and! that! adoption! is! allowed!
under!his/her!national!laws!!
'
WHO'CAN'BE'ADOPTED'
Only! a! legallyafree! child! may! be! the!
subject!of!interacountry!adoption.!!
A!legallyafree!child!is!one!who!has!been!
voluntarily! or! involuntarily! committed!
to! the! DSWD! of! the! Philippines,! in!
accordance! with! the! Child! and! Youth!
Welfare!Code.!!
No! child! shall! be! matched! to! a! foreign!
adoptive!family!unless!it!is!satisfactorily!
shown!that!the!child!cannot!be!adopted!
locally.!
In! order! that! such! child! may! be!
considered!for!placement,!the!following!
documents! must! be! submitted! to! the!
Board:!!
a Child!study!!
a Birth! Certificate! /! Foundling!
Certificate!!
a Deed! of! Voluntary! Commitment/!
Decree!of!Abandonment/!
a Death!Certificate!of!parents!!
a Medical!Evaluation!/!History!!
a Psychological!
Evaluation,!
as!
necessary!!
a Recent!photo!of!the!child!

!
CASE:!REPUBLIC'VS.'TOLEDANO'
In! cases! where! the! husband! is! a! natural! born!
American! citizen! (alien)! and! the! wife! is! a! Filipina!
turned! alien! through! naturalization,! adoption! of! a!
child! must! be! read! with! article! 184! in! line! with!
article! 185.! Although! the! naturalized! Filipina! may!
adopt!according!to!article!184(a)!it!must!be!read!in!
line!with!article!185!that!a!joint!adoption!must!be!
filed!by!spouses.!
Joint)adoption)by)husband)and)wife)is)mandatory.a
under!the!Family!Code,!joint!adoption!by!husband!
and! wife! is! mandatory.! This! is! in! consonance! with!
the! concept! of! joint! parental! authority! over! the!
child!which!is!the!ideal!situation.!As!the!child!to!be!
adopted!is!elevated!to!the!level!of!legitimate!child,!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

it! is! but! natural! to! require! the! spouses! to! adopt!
jointly.!
Adoption)is)geared)more)towards)the)promotion)of)
the)welfare)of)the)child)and)enhancement)of)his)
opportunities)for)a)useful)and)happy)life.c!it!is!not!
the!bureaucratic!technicalities!but!the!interest!of!
the!child!!that!should!be!the!principal!!criterion!in!
adoption!cases.!!
!

SUPPORT'
'
!WHAT'IT'COMPRISES:'
Consists! of! everything! indispensable! for!
sustenance,!
dwelling,!
clothing,!
medical!
attendance,! education! and! transportation,! in!
keeping! with! the! financial! capacity! of! the! family.!
[Art.'194]!!
(a)! Education! includes! a! persons! schooling! or!
training!for!some!profession,!trade!or!vocation.!!
(b)! Transportation! includes! expenses! in! going! to!
and!from!school,!or!to!and!from!place!of!work.!!!
(c)! The! right! and! duty! to! support,! especially! the!
right!to!education,!subsists!even!beyond!the!age!of!
majority.!
!
!WHO'ARE'OBLIGED'TO'SUPPORT'EACH'OTHER:''
(a)!Spouses;!!
(b)!Legitimate!ascendants!and!descendants;!!
(c)! Parents! and! their! children! (legitimate! and!
illegitimate)! and! the! children! of! the! latter!
(legitimate!and!illegitimate);!!
(d)!Legitimate!brothers!and!sisters,!whether!of!full!
or!halfablood;![Art.'195]!!
(e)!Illegitimate!brothers!and!sisters,!whether!of!full!
or! halfablood,! EXCEPT! when! the! need! for! support!
of! one! (of! age)! is! due! to! a! cause! imputable! to!
his/her!fault!or!negligence.![Art.'196]!
Note:!Both!legitimate!and!illegitimate!children!are!
entitled!to!support.!!
''
PROPERTIES'ANSWERABLE'FOR'SUPPORT''
From!the!separate!property!of!the!obligor.!!!
If!no!separate!property,!the!ACP/CPG!(if!financially!
capable)!shall!advance!the!support,!to!be!deducted!
from! the! obligors! share! upon! liquidation! of! such!
regime.![Art.!197]!!

'ORDER'OF'SUPPORT''
If!there!are!multiple!obligors!(SDAB)!!
(1)!Spouses!!
(2)!Descendants,!nearest!in!degree!!
(3)!Ascendants,!nearest!in!degree!!
(4)!Brothers!and!Sisters![Art.'199]!!
!
When!two!or!more!are!obliged!to!give!support,!the!
payment! shall! be! divided! between! them! IN!
PROPORTION! to! their! resources;! Also,! in! case! of!
URGENT!NEED!and!by!special!circumstances,!judge!
may! order! only! one! obligor! to! furnish! support!
without! prejudice! to! reimbursement! from! other!
obligors!of!the!share!due!from!them!(Art.'200).!!
!
!If! there! are! multiple! recipients! and! only! one!
obligor,! and! the! latter! has! no! sufficient! means! to!
satisfy!all!claims:!!
(1)!Observe!order!in!Article!199!(SDAB)!as!to!whose!
claim!shall!be!satisfied!first;!!
(2)! But! if! the! concurrent! obligees! are! the! spouse!
and!a!child!subject!to!parental!authority,!the!child!
shall!be!preferred.![Art.!200]!!
'
'STRANGER'GIVES'SUPPORT''
When,! WITHOUT! THE! KNOWLEDGE! of! the! person!
obliged! to! give! support,! it! is! given! by! a! stranger,!
the! stranger! has! the! right! to! claim! the! same! from!
the!person!obliged,!unless!it!appears!that!he!gave!
it!without!intention!of!being!reimbursed.![Art.'206]!!
!
PERSON' OBLIGED' REFUSES' OR' FAILS' TO' GIVE'
SUPPORT''
When! the! person! obliged! to! give! support!
UNJUSTLY!REFUSES!OR!FAILS!to!give!support!when!
urgently! needed,! any! third! person! may! furnish!
support! to! the! needy! individual,! with! right! of!
reimbursement! from! the! person! obliged! to! give!
support.! This! particularly! applies! when! the! father!
or! mother! of! a! minor! child! unjustly! refuses! to!
support! or! fails! to! give! support! to! the! child! when!
urgently!needed.![Art.'207]!!
'
CONTRACTUAL'SUPPORT'OR'THAT'GIVEN'BY'WILL''
The! excess! in! amount! beyond! that! required! for!
legal! support! shall! be! subject! to! levy! on!
attachment!or!execution.![Art.'208]!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!Reason:! The! amount! of! support! agreed! upon! in!


the!contract!or!given!in!the!will!can!be!more!than!
what!the!recipient!needs!(SempioaDiy).!!!
Furthermore,! contractual! support! shall! be! subject!
to!adjustment!whenever!modification!is!necessary!
due!to!changes!in!circumstances!manifestly!beyond!
the!contemplation!of!the!parties.![Art.'208]!!
!
SUPPORT'DURING'MARRIAGE'LITIGATION''
Pending! legal! separation! or! annulment,! and! for!
declaration! of! nullity,! support! (pendente) lite)! for!
spouses!and!children!will!come!from!the!ACP/CPG.!
After! final! judgment! granting! the! petition,! mutual!
support!obligation!between!spouses!ceases.!(But!in!
legal! separation! court! may! order! guilty! spouse! to!
give!support!to!innocent!spouse.)![Art.'198]!
Note:!De!facto!separation!does!not!affect!the!ACP,!
except! that! the! spouse! who! leaves! the! conjugal!
home! without! just! cause! shall! not! be! entitled! to!
support.![Art.'100]!!
!!
AMOUNT'!
The! amount! of! support! is! in! proportion! to! the!
means! of! the! provider! and! the! needs! of! the!
receiver,! and! can! be! reduced! or! increased! if! such!
circumstances!change.![Arts.'201,'202]!!
'
WHEN'DEMANDABLE''
(a)! The! obligation! to! give! support! shall! be!
DEMANDABLE!from!the!time!the!person!who!has!a!
right!to!receive!the!same!needs!it!for!maintenance,!
but!it!shall!not!be!PAYABLE!except!from!the!date!of!
judicial!or!extraajudicial!demand.![Art.'203]!!
(b)! Support! pendente! lite! may! be! claimed! in!
accordance!with!the!Rules!of!Court.![Art.'203]!!
(c)!Payment!shall!be!made!within!the!first!five!days!
of!each!corresponding!month.!When!the!recipient!
dies,! his! heirs! shall! not! be! obliged! to! return! what!
he!has!received!in!advance.![Art.'203]!!
!
!OPTIONS'!
(a)!Payment!of!the!amount;!or!!
(b)! Receiving! and! maintaining! the! recipient! in! the!
home! of! the! provider,! unless! there! is! a! legal! or!
moral!obstacle!for!doing!so.!!
'ATTACHMENT''
The!right!to!receive!support!as!well!as!any!money!
or!property!obtained!as!such!support!shall!

not! be! levied! upon! on! attachment! or! execution.!


(Art.'205)!!
'
'

PARENTAL'AUTHORITY'
'

GENERAL'PROVISIONS'
!
Q:' What! do! you! mean! by! parental! authority! (and!
responsibility)?!
!
Parental! authority! and! responsibility!
includes! (1)! the! caring! for! and! rearing! of! the!
children! for! civic! consciousness! and! (2)! the!
development! of! their! moral,! mental! and! physical!
character!and!wellabeing.!(Art.!209)!
!
Q:'What!is!patria%potestas?!
!
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! under! this! under! certain!
circumstances.!!
!
Q:' Can! parental! authority! and! responsibility! be!
renounced!or!transferred?!
!
Parental! authority! and! responsibility! may!
not! be! renounced! or! transferred! except' in' the'
cases'authorized'by'law!because!the!upbringing!of!
the! children! is! a! sacred! duty! entrusted! to! the!
parents.!(Art.!210)!
'
Q:' Between! the! mother! and! the! father,! who! can!
exercise!parental!authority!over!common!children?!
!
The! father' and' the' mother' can! jointly!
exercise! parental! authority! over! their! common!
children.! However,! in! case! of! disagreement,! the!
fathers) decision! shall! prevail,! unless! there! is! a!
judicial!order!to!the!contrary.!(Article!211)!
!
Q:' Does! Article! 211! apply! only! to! legitimate!
children?!
!
No.' Article! 211! applies! also! to) illegitimate)
children) provided! that! the! following! requisites!
concur:! (1)! the! father! is! certain;! and! (2)! the!
illegitimate! children! are! living! with! the! said! father!
and! the! mother,! who! are! cohabiting! without! the!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

benefit! of! marriage! or! under! a! void! marriage! not!


falling!under!Article!36!and!53.!!!
!
Q:'What!are!the!rules'as!to!the!exercise!of!parental!
authority?!!
!
RULE! #! 1:! The! father' and' the' mother' can!
jointly! exercise! parental! authority! over! their!
common! children.! However,! in! case! of!
disagreement,! the! fathers) decision! shall! prevail,!
unless!there!is!a!judicial!order!to!the!contrary.!
!
!
RULE!#!2:!If!the!child!is!illegitimate,!parental!
authority! is! with! the! mother.! (Article! 176,! Family!
Code)!
!
Q:'What!are!the!general!characteristics!of!parental!
authority?!
!
Parental!authority!is!a!(a)!natural!right!and!
duty! of! the! parents.! It! (b)! cannot! be! renounced,!
transferred! or! waived! except! in! cases! authorized!
by! law.! It! is! (c)! jointly! exercised! by! the! father! and!
the! mother.! It! is! (d)! temporary! and! is! (e)! purely!
personal!and!cannot!be!exercised!through!agents.!!
!
Q:'With!regard!to!the!custody!of!the!children,!what!
is!the!general!rule!on!parental!preference?!!
!
The! natural! parents,! who! are! of! good!
character!and!who!can!reasonably!provide!for!the!
child,! are! ordinarily! entitled! to! custody! against! all!
persons.!!
!
Q:' Will! death! of! one! of! the! parents! terminate! the!
parental! authority! of! the! surviving! parent! over!
their!children?!
!
No.!The!death!of!one!of!the!parents!will!not!
terminate! the! parental! authority! of! the! surviving!
parent!over!their!children.!Upon!remarriage!of!the!
surviving! parent,! the! parental! authority! over! the!
children! will! not! be! affected! (Article! 212).!
Moreover,!the!new!spouse,!by!virtue!of!his!or!her!
remarrying! the! surviving! parent,! does! not!
automatically! possess! parental! authority! over! the!
children! of! the! surviving! parent! unless! such! new!
spouse!adopts'the'children.!!
!
Q:' In! case! of! separation! of! the! parents,! who! can!
exercise!parental!authority?!

!
In! case! of! separation! of! the! parents,!
parental! authority! will! be! exercised! by! the! parent!
designated) by) the) court.! The! Court! shall! take! into!
account! all! relevant! considerations,! especially! the!
choice! of! the! child! over! even! years! of! age,! unless!
the! parent! chosen! is! unfit! (Article! 213).! However,!
this! designation! does! not! mean! that! parental!
authority! of! the! other! parent! is! terminated! or!
suspended.! Parental! authority! shall! only! be!
terminated! ONLY! if! the! court! so! decrees! on! the!
basis!of!the!causes!provided!by!law.!!
!
Q:' In! case! of! separation! of! the! parents,! who! can!
exercise!parental!authority!to!children!under'seven'
(7)'years'of'age?!
!
As! a! general! rule,! no! child! under! seven! (7)!
years! of! age! shall! be! separated! from! the! mother,!
unless!the!court!finds!compelling!reasons!to!order!
otherwise.! (Article! 213)! Some! of! the! compelling!
reasons! are:! (a)! when! the! mother! is! insane;! (b)!
when! she! suffers! from! a! communicable! disease!
that!might!endanger!the!life!or!health!of!the!child;!
(c)!when!is!maltreating!the!child;!or!(d)!has!another!
child! by! another! man! who! lives! with! her.! [NOTE:!
Prostitution! and! infidelity! to! husband! does! not!
make!a!mother!unfit!as!parent].!!
!
Q:' In! case! of! separation! of! the! parents,! who! gets!
custody!of!minor!children!in!legal!separation?!!
!
In! case! of! separation! of! the! parents,! the!
innocent'spouse!gets!custody!of!minor!children!in!
legal!separation.!!
!
Q:'In!case!of!death,!absence!or!unsuitability!of!the!
parents,! who! can! exercise! substitute! parental!
authority!over!the!children?!!
!
!
In!case!of!death,!absence!or!unsuitability!of!
the! parents,! substitute! parental! authority! will! be!
exercised! by! the! surviving' grandparents.!
Grandparents! are! the! most! natural,! suitable,! and!
logical! persons! to! exercise! parental! authority.!
Hence,!the!grandparents!have!the!legal!preference!
in!the!matter!of!substitute!parental!authority.!!
!
Q:' What! are! the! RIGHTS' of' parents' upon' their'
children?!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
The!following!are!the!rights!of!parents!upon!
their!children:!(1)!to!have!them!in!their!custody;!(2)!
to! represent! them! in! all! matters! affecting! their!
interests;! (3)! ! to! demand! respect! and! obedience!
and! impose! discipline! on! them;! (4)! administer! the!
property! of! a! child! for! his/her! support! and!
education,!unless!title/transfer!provides!otherwise;!
administer! the! fruits! and! income! (ONLY)! of! the!
childrens! property! primarily! to! support! the! child!
and! secondarily! to! use! for! the! daily! needs! of! the!
family;!(5)!to!give!or!withhold!consent!on!marriage,!
preanuptial,! donation! propter) nuptias,! adoption,!
and! employment;! and! (6)! to! disinherit! them! for!
just!cause.!!
!
Q:' What! are! the! DUTIES' of' parents' upon' their'
children?!!
!
The! following! are! the! duties! of! parents!
upon! their! children:! (1)! support! and! upbringing! in!
accordance! to! their! means;! (2)! educate,! instruct,!
and! provide! them! with! moral! and! spiritual!
guidance,! and! love! and! understanding;! (3)! defend!
them! against! unlawful! aggression;! (4)! answer! for!
damages! caused! by! their! fault! or! negligence,! and!
for!civil!liability!for!crimes!committed!by!them;!and!
give!their!lawful!inheritance.!!
!
Q:' What! is! the! liability! of! parents! for! torts!
committed!by!their!minor!children?!
!
Parents! and! other! persons! exercising!
parental!authority!are!civilly'liable!for!the!torts!of!
their! unemancipated! children! provided! that:! (1)!
they) are) living) in) their) company;! and! (2)! he/she)
observes) the) diligence) of) a) good) father) of) a)
family) (bonus) paterfamilias)) to) prevent) the)
damage.! In! addition,! this! liability! of! the! parents!
and! those! exercising! parental! authority! over! the!
child!is!solidarily,'primarily'and'directly'liable,'not!
subsidiary.!!
!
Q:' If! the! minor! is! not! living! with! the! parents! but!
has!been!entrusted!to!the!care!of!other!persons,!or!
is!an!intern!in!school,!does!liability!apply!to!them?!
!
No.! It! does! not! apply.! (NOTE:! Always! go!
back! to! the! REQUISITES' to! check! whether! or! not!
parents! or! other! persons! exercising! parental!
authority! are! liable! for! torts! committed! by! their!
children.)!!

SUBSTITUTE'AND'SPECIAL'PARENTAL'AUTHORITY'
!
Q:! In! default! of! parents! or! a! judicially! appointed!
guardian,!what!is!the!order%of%preference!as!to!the!
persons! who! shall! exercise! substitute! parental!
authority!over!the!child?!!
!
In! default! of! parents! or! a! judicially!
appointed! guardian,! the! following! persons! shall!
exercise! substitute! parental! authority! over! the!
child! in! the! order! indicated:! (1)! the! surviving'
grandparent! (as! provided! in! Article! 214);! (2)! the!
oldest'brother'or'sister,!over!twentyaone!years!of!
age,! (unless! unfit! or! disqualified);! and! (3)! the!
childs'actual'custodian,!over!twentyaone!years!of!
age,!(unless!unfit!or!disqualified).!!
!
!
Whenever! the! appointment! of! a! judicial)
guardianship! over! the! property! of! the! child!
becomes!necessary,!the!same!order!of!preference!
shall!be!served.!(Article!216)!!
!
Q:!What!constitutes!substitute!parental!authority?!
!
Persons! who! have! substitute! parental!
authority!over!a!child!will!have!the!same!rights!and!
authority! of! the! parents! (enumerated! in! Article!
220).! In! addition,! they! will! also! be! civilly! liable! for!
the! injuries! and! damages! caused! by! acts! and!
omissions! of! the! unemancipated! children! living! in!
their!company!and!under!their!parental!authority.!!
!
Q:!Is!the!order!of!preference!enumerated!in!Article!
216!mandatory?!
!
No.!The!order!of!preference!enumerated!in!
Article! 216! is! NOT! mandatory.! Always,! the!
paramount! interest! of! the! child! must! be! the! basis!
of!custody!and!care.!!
!
!
Q:! In! case! of! foundlings,! abandoned,! neglected! or!
abused! children! and! other! children! similarly!
situated,!who!can!exercise!parental!authority!over!
them?!!
!
In!case!of!foundlings,!abandoned,!neglected!
or! abused! children! and! other! children! similarly!
situated,! parental! authority! shall! be! entrusted! in!
summary! proceedings! to! heads! of! childrens!
homes,! orphanages! and! similar! institutions! duly!
accredited!by!the!proper!government!agency.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Q:! Differentiate! one! form! the! other:! foundling,!


abandoned% child,! neglected% child,! abused% child!
and!dependent%child.!!
!
A! foundling! is! a! newborn! child! abandoned!
by! its! parents! who! are! unknown.! An! abandoned%
child! is! one! who! has! no! proper! parental! care! or!
guardianship,! or! whose! parents! or! guardians! have!
desserted! him! for! a! period! of! at! least! six!
continuous!months.!A!neglected%child!is!one!whose!
basic! needs! have! been! deliberately! unattended! or!
inadequately! attended.! An! abused% child,! on! the!
other! hand,! are! those! who! are! maltreated,! raped,!
or! seduced,! exploited,! overworked! or! made! to!
work! under! conditions! not! conducive! to! good!
health,!made!to!beg!in!the!streets!or!public!places;!
those! who! are! in! moral! danger,! exposed! to!
gambling,! prostitution! and! other! vicesa! in! short,!
those! who! suffer! emotional! neglect.! Lastly,! a!
dependent%child!is!one!who!is!without!a!parent,!a!
guardian! or! custodian,! or! one! whose! parent,!
guardian,!or!other!custodian!for!good!cause!desires!
to! be! relieved! of! his! case! and! custody;! and! is!
dependent!upon!public!for!support.!!
!
Q:! Who! may! exercise! SPECIAL' PARENTAL'
AUTHORITY?!!
!
Special!parental!authority!may!be!exercised!
by! (1)! the! school,! its! administrators! and! teachers,!
or! (2)! individual,! entity,! or! institution! engaged! in!
child!care!while!under!their!supervision,!instruction!
or!custody.!!
!
!
Authority! and! responsibility! shall! apply! to!
all! authorized! activities! whether! inside! or! outside!
the! premises! of! school,! entity! or! institution.!
(Article!218)!
!
Q:! Differentiate! SUBSTITUTE' parental' authority!
from!SPECIAL'parental'authority.!!
!
Substitute)parental)authority!is!exercised!in!
case! of! death,! absence,! or! in! case! of! unsuitability!
of! parents.! On! the! other! hand,! a! special) parental)
authority! is! exercised! concurrently! with! the!
parental!authority!of!the!parents!and!rests!on!the!
theory!that!while!the!child!of!the!person!exercising!
special!parental!authority,!the!parents!temporarily!
relinquish! parental! authority! over! the! child! to! the!
latter.!!

!
Q:! What! is! the! liability! of! their! exercising! special!
parental!authority!over!the!child?!!
!
Persons! exercising! special! parental!
authority! are! principally% and% solidarily% liable! for!
damages! caused! by! the! acts! or! omissions! of! the!
minor! child! while! under! their! supervision,!
instruction,! or! custody.! HOWEVER,! the! liability! is!
subject! to! the! defense! that! the! person! exercising!
parental! authority! exercised! proper! diligence.! ! On!
the! other! hand,! the! parents! and! persons! judicial!
guardians! are! only! subsidiarily' liable' for! said! acts!
and!omissions!of!the!minor.!!
!
EFFECT' OF' PARENTAL' AUTHORITY' UPON' THE'
PERSONS'OF'THE'CHILDREN'
'
'
Chapter! 3! [basically]! only! enumerates! the!
rights! and! duties! of! the! parents! to! their! children!
and! the! duties! of! children! to! their! parents.!
Discussions! on! the! liabilities! are! already! discussed!
in!the!preceeding!chapters.!'
'
EFFECT' OF' PARENTAL' AUTHORITY' UPON' THE'
PROPERTY'OF'THE'CHILDREN'
!
a) The! father! and! the! mother! shall,! jointly!
exercise! legal! guardianship! over! the!
property! of! their! unemancipated! common!
child! without! the! necessity! of! a! court!
appointment.![Article!225]!
b) In! case! of! disagreement,! the! fathers!
decision! shall! prevail,! unless! there! is! a!
judicial!order!to!the!contrary.![Article!225]!!
c) Where!the!market!value!of!the!property!or!
the! annual! income! of! the! child! exceeds!
P50,000.00,! the! parent! concerned! shall! be!
required! to! furnish! a! bond! in! such! amount!
as! the! court! may! determine,! but! not! less!
than! ten! per) centum) (10%)! of! the! value! of!
the! property! or! annual! income,! to!
guarantee! the! performance! of! the!
obligations! prescribed! for! general!
guardians.![Article!225]!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

d) The!ordinary!rules!on!guardianship!shall!be!
merely!suppletory!except!when!the!child!is!
under! special! parental! authority,! or! the!
guardian! is! a! stranger,! or! a! parent! has!
remarried,!in!which!case!the!ordinary!rules!
on!guardianship!shall!apply.!
!
Two! cases! where! the! parent! cannot! be! the!
administrator!of!the!property!of!his!or!her!children:!
a. When! he! is! a! disinherited! parent! (e.g.! A!
disinherits! B! (son! of! A)! thus,! C! (son! of! B)!
inherits!As!properties)![Art.!923,!Civil!Code]!
b. When!he!is!incapacitated!(e.g.!B!accused!his!
father! A! of! murder! making! B! incapacitated!
due! to! unworthiness.)! [Art.! 1035,! Civil!
Code]!
Note:! B! will! not! enjoy! the! usufruct!
and! administration! of! his! childrens!
inheritance.!
!
PROCEDURE! IN! THE! APPROVAL! OF! THE! PARENTS!
BOND![ART.!225]!
a) A!verified!petition!for!approval!of!the!bond!
shall! be! filed! in! the! proper! court! of! the!
place!where)the)child)resides.!
b) If!the!child!resides!in!a!foreign)country,!the!
petition!shall!be!filed!in!the!proper!court!of!
the! place! where) the) property) or) any) part)
thereof)is)situated.!
c) The! petition! shall! be! docketed! as! a!
summary! special! proceeding.! The! court!
shall! determine! the! amount! of! the! bond,!
but!shall!not!be!less!than!10%!of!the!market!
value!of!the!childs!property!or!of!his!annual!
income.!
'
OWNERSHIP!OF!CHILDS!ACQUISITIONS![ART.!226]!
The!property!of!the!unemancipated!child!earned!or!
acquired!with!his!work!or!industry!or!by!onerous!or!
gratuitous! title! shall! belong! to! the! child! in!
ownership! and! shall! be! devoted! exclusively! to! the!
latters! support! and! education,! unless! the! title! or!
transfer!provides!otherwise.!
!

PARENTS!USUFRUCT![ART.!226]!
The!right!of!the!parents!over!the!fruits)and)income)
(not!the!property!itself)!of!the!childs!property!shall!
be! limited! primarily) to! the! childs! support! and!
secondarily) to! the! collective! daily! needs! of! the!
family.!!
!
Note:)If)the)childs)property)is)more)than)sufficient)
to)maintain)the)said)child,)the)said)properties)may)
be) used) to) defray) the) collective) daily) needs) of) the)
family.)It)must)likewise)be)emphasized)that)a)child)
is) obliged) to) support) his) or) her) parents) in)
accordance)with)Article)195)of)the)Family)Code)and)
from)his)or)her)separate)property)can)be)taken)the)
support) to) be) given) to) the) parents) if) the) same)
needs)it)and)if)the)child)can)afford)it.)
!
WHEN! PARENTS! ENTRUST! THE! MANAGEMENT! OF!
THEIR!PROPERTIES!TO!A!CHILD![ART.!227]!
a) If! the! parents! entrust! the! management! or!
administration!of!any)of!their)properties)to!
an! unemancipated! child,! the! net! proceeds!
of!such!property!shall!belong!to!the!owner.!
Note:!The)unemancipated)child)shall)
first) be) given) a) monthly) reasonable)
allowance) taken) from) the) gross)
proceeds)of)the)property)for)the)said)
month.)
Exception:) When) the) parentcowner)
just) decides) to) grant) the) entire)
proceeds)to)the)child)
b) The! child! shall! be! given! a! reasonable!
monthly! allowance! in! an! amount! not! less!
than!that!which!the!owner!would!have!paid!
if!the!administrator!were!a!stranger,!unless!
the!owner!grants!the!entire!proceeds!to!the!
child.!!
c) In! any! case,! the! proceeds! thus! given! in!
whole!or!in!part!shall)not)be!charged!to!the!
childs!legitime.!
'
'
'
'
'

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

SUSPENSION' OR' TERMINATION' OF' PARENTAL'


AUTHORITY'
!
PARENTAL!
AUTHORITY!
TERMINATES!
PERMANENTLY:!
1. Upon!the!death!of!the!parents;![Article!228]!
2. Upon!the!death!of!the!child;![Article!228]!
3. Upon! emancipation! of! the! child;! [Article!
228]!
4. If! the! person! exercising! parental! authority!
has! subjected! the! child! or! allowed! him! to!
be! subjected! to! sexual! abuse,! such! person!
shall!be!permanently!deprived!by!the!court!
of!such!authority.![Article!232]!
Note:! Parental) authority) cannot) be)
revived)if)the)parents)or)the)persons)
exercising) parental) authority) are)
found)to)have)subjected)the)child)or)
allowed) him) or) her) to) be) subjected)
to) sexual) abuse.) Hence,) if) a) father)
subjects) his) daughter) to) sexual)
abuse,) he) can) be) permanently)
deprived) of) his) parental) authority)
over)the)said)abused)daughter.)If)the)
father) reforms) for) the) better) and)
there) are) indications) that! he) might)
not) do) the) same) abusive) act) again,)
his) parental) authority) cannot) be)
revived) even) if) the) reformation) of)
the)father)is)authentic.)
!
Note:! In! the! case! of! death! of! parents,! there! is! no! absolute!
termination! of! parental! authority! because! while! the! child! is!
still! a! minor,! the! grandparents,! brothers! and! sisters,! or! a!
guardian!may!exercise!substitute!parental!authority!over!the!
child![Art.!216]!

!
TERMINATION! OF! PARENTAL! AUTHORITY! WHICH!
CAN!BE!REVIVED!BY!FINAL!JUDGMENT!
Article!229.!Unless!subsequently!revived!by!a!final!
judgment,!parental!authority!also!terminates:!
1. Upon!adoption!of!the!child;!
Note:)In)case)the)adoption)decree)is)
rescinded,) such) rescission) of) the)
adoption) shall) extinguish) all)
reciprocal) rights) and) obligations)
between) the) adopters) and)

the) adopted) arising) from) the)


relationship)of)parent)and)child.)
2. Upon!appointment!of!a!general!guardian;!
Note:! A) guardian) appointed) by) the)
court) shall) generally) have) the) care)
and) custody) of) the) person) of) his) or)
her) ward) and) the) management) of)
his) or) her) estate) (Section) 1,) Rule) 96)
of) the) Rules) of) Court) of) the)
Philippines).!
3. Upon!judicial!declaration!of!!
a. Abandonment!of!the!child!in!a!case!
filed!for!the!purpose;!!
b. Absence!or!incapacity!of!the!person!
exercising!parental!authority.!
4. Upon! final! judgment! of! a! competent! court!
divesting! the! party! concerned! of! parental!
authority;!
!
PARENTAL!AUTHORITY!IS!SUSPENDED:!
1. Upon! conviction! of! the! parent! or! the!
person! exercising! the! same! of! a! crime!
which! carries! with! it! the! penalty! of! civil)
interdiction.! The! authority! is! automatically!
reinstated! upon! service! of! the! penalty! or!
upon! pardon! or! amnesty! of! the! offender.!
[Article!230]!!
2. Treats!the!child!with!excessive!harshness!or!
cruelty;![Article!231]!
3. Gives! the! child! corrupting! orders,! counsel!
or!example;![Article!231]!
4. Compels!the!child!to!beg;![Article!231]!
5. Subjects! the! child! or! allows! him! to! be!
subjected! to! acts! of! lasciviousness.! [Article!
231]!!
!
Culpable!Negligence!
The! grounds! enumerated! above! are! deemed! to!
include! cases! which! have! resulted! from! culpable!
negligence! of! the! parent! or! the! person! exercising!
parental!authority.!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Example:! If) a) stepfather) forces) his) stepson) to) beg)


and) the) mother) acts) indifferently) or) does) not) care)
about) such) act) of) the) stepfather,) she) can) be)
considered) culpably) negligent,) warranting) the)
suspension)of)parental)authority.!
!
If! the! degree! of! seriousness! so! warrants,! or! the!
welfare! of! the! child! so! demands,! the! court! shall!
deprive! the! guilty! party! of! parental! authority! or!
adopt! such! other! measures! as! may! be! proper!
under! the! circumstances.! 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! therefor! has! ceased! and! will! not! be!
repeated.![Art.!231]!
!
SCOPE! OF! SUBSTITUTE! AND! SPECIAL! PARENTAL!
AUTHORITY!
Article! 233.! The! person! exercising! substitute!
parental! authority! shall! have! the! same! authority!
over! the! person! of! the! child! as! the! parents.! In! no!
case! shall! the! school! administrator,! teacher! or!
individual! engaged! in! child! care! and! exercising!
special) parental) authority,! inflict! corporal)
punishment!upon!the!child.!
!
While! a! teacher! may! be! administratively! or! civilly!
liable! in! the! event! that! he! or! she! inflicts! corporal!
punishment! to! a! student,! it! has! been! held! that!
where!there!was!no!criminal!intent!on!the!part!of!
the! teacher! xxx! and! where! the! purpose! of! the!
teacher! was! to! discipline! a! student,! the! said!
teacher! cannot! be! held! feloniously! liable! for! the!
criminal! offense! of! slight! physical! injuries.! (Bagajo)
v.)Marave,)86!SCRA!389).!
!
RA!7610!!CHILD!ABUSE!LAW!
Children' ! persons! below! eighteen! (18)! years! of!
age! or! those! but! are! unable! to! fully! take! care! of!
themselves! or! protect! themselves! from! abuse,!
neglect,! cruelty,! exploitation! or! discrimination!
because! of! a! physical! or! mental! disability! or!
condition;!
!
FORMS!OF!ABUSE:!
1. Child!prostitution!and!other!sexual!abuse;!!
2. Child!trafficking;!!

3. Obscene!publications!and!indecent!shows;!!
4. Other!acts!of!abuse;!
a. An! ascendant,! stepparent! or!
guardian! of! a! minor! who! shall!
induce,!deliver!or!offer!the!minor!to:!
i.
Any! one! prohibited! to! keep! the!
minor!or!
ii.
Any! one! prohibited! to! have! in!
his! company! a! minor,! twelve!
(12)!years!or!under!or!who!is!ten!
(10)! years! or! more! his! junior! in!
any! public! or! private! place,!
hotel,! motel,! beer! joint,!
discotheque,! cabaret,! pension!
house,!sauna!or!massage!parlor,!
beach! and/or! other! tourist!
resort! or! similar! places! shall!
suffer!
penalties!
and!
imprisonment.!!
!

Note:! Those! not) prohibited! to!


have!in!his!company!such!minor!
in! any! of! the! mentioned! places:!
anyone!who!is!related!within!the!
fourth! degree! of! consanguinity!
or! affinity! or! any! bond!
recognized! by! law,! local! custom!
and! tradition! or! acts! in! the!
performance! of! a! social,! moral!
or!legal!duty.!
5. Circumstances! which! endanger! child!
survival!and!normal!development.!

'
CASES'

LEOUEL'SANTOS,'SR.!vs.!CA'and'LEOPOLDO'and'
OFELIA'BEDIA'
(G.R.'No.'113054'March'16,'1995)'

!
FACTS:!
Petitioner! Leouel! Santos,! Sr.,! an! army! lieutenant,!
and! Julia! Bedia! a! nurse! by! profession,! were!
married! in! Iloilo! City! in! 1986.! Their! union! beget!
only!one!child,!Leouel!Santos,!Jr.!who!was!born!July!
18,!1987.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Petitioner!and!wife!Julia!agreed!to!place!Leouel!Jr.!
in! the!temporary! custody!of! the! latter's! parents,!
the! respondent! spouses! Bedia.! The! latter! alleged!
that! they! paid! for! all! the! hospital! bills,! as! well! as!
the! subsequent! support! of! the! boy! because!
petitioner!could!not!afford!to!do!so.!
The! boy's! mother,! Julia! BediaaSantos,! left! for!
the!United! States!in! May! 1988! to! work.! Petitioner!
alleged! that! he! is! not! aware! of! her! whereabouts!
and! his! efforts! to! locate! her! in! the! United! States!
proved!futile.!!
Private! respondents! contend! that! through! deceit!
and!false!pretensions,!petitioner!abducted!the!boy!
and! clandestinely! spirited! him! away! to! his!
hometown!in!Bacong,!Negros!Oriental.!
!
ISSUE:!Who!should!properly!be!awarded!custody!of!
the!minor!Leouel!Santos,!Jr.?!
!
RULING:! We! find! the! aforementioned!
considerations! insufficient! to! defeat! petitioner's!
parental! authority! and! the! concomitant! right! to!
have! custody! over! the! minor! Leouel! Santos,! Jr.,!
particularly!since!he!has!not!been!shown!to!be!an!
unsuitable! and! unfit! parent.! Private! respondents'!
demonstrated! love! and! affection! for! the! boy,!
notwithstanding,! the! legitimate! father! is! still!
preferred!over!the!grandparents.!
Private!respondents'!attachment!to!the!young!boy!
whom!they!have!reared!for!the!past!three!years!is!
understandable.!Still!and!all,!the!law!considers!the!
natural! love! of! a! parent! to! outweigh! that! of! the!
grandparents,! such! that! only! when! the! parent!
present!is!shown!to!be!unfit!or!unsuitable!may!the!
grandparents! exercise! substitute! parental!
authority,!a!fact!which!has!not!been!proven!here.!
Custody! over! the! minor! Leouel! Santos! Jr.! is!
awarded!to!his!legitimate!father,!herein!petitioner!
Leouel!Santos,!Sr.!
'
ESPIRITU'VS'CA'(242'SCRA'362)'
!
FACTS:!!
At! Pittsburgh,! petitioner! Reynaldo! Espiritu! and!
respondent! Teresita! Masauding! began! with! a!
common! law! relationship.! Their! relationship!
resulted!to!Rosalind,!their!daughter!who!was!born!
on! August! 16,! 1986.! When! they! were! on!

brief!vacation!in!the!Philippines,!they!got!married.!
Upon!returning!to!United!States,!their!second!child!
Reginald!Vince!was!born.!
On! January! 1,! 1988,! their! relationship! went! sour!
and! they! decided! to! separate! sometime! on! 1990.!
Instead! of! giving! their! marriage! a! chance! as!
allegedly! pleaded! by! Reynaldo,! Teresita! left!
Reynaldo! and! the! children! and! went! back! to!
California.! Reynaldo! brought! his! children! home! to!
the! Philippines,! but! he! was! sent! back! by! his!
company!to!Pittsburg.!He!had!to!leave!his!children!
with!his!sister,!co!petitioner!Guillerma!Layug.!
Teresita!claims!that!she!did!not!immediately!follow!
her! children! because! she! was! afraid! of! being!
arrested! since! Reynaldo! had! filed! a! criminal! case!
for! bigamy! against! her.! On! 1992,! she! returned! to!
the! Philippines! and! filed! the! petition! of! writ! of!
habeas! corpus! to! gain! custody! over! her! children.!
The! trial! court! favored! Reynaldo! for! the! children!
chose!him!over!her!children.!However,!the!Court!of!
Appeals! reversed! the! trial! courts! decision.!!!!!
Petitioner! filed! for! review! to! the! SC! contending!
that! the! Court! of! Appeals! awarded! the! custody! of!
the! children! to! the! mother! through! an! automatic!
and! blind! application! of! the! age! proviso! that!
children!below!7!shall!not!be!separated!from!their!
mothers.!
!
ISSUE:!Between!the!father!and!the!mother,!who!is!
more! suitable! and! better! qualified! in! helping! the!
children! grow! into! responsible,! wellaadjusted,! and!
happy!young!adulthood?!
'
HELD:!!
In!ascertaining!the!best!interest!of!the!child,!courts!
are! mandated! by! the! Family! Code! to! take! into!
account! all! relevant! considerations.! If! a! child! is!
under!7!years!old,!the!law!presumes!the!mother!is!
the!best!custodian.!However,!it!is!not!conclusive.!It!
can!be!overcome!by!compelling!reason.!If!a!child!
is!over!seven,!his!choice!is!paramount!but!the!court!
is! not! bound! by! that! choice.! In! its! discretion! the!
court!may!find!the!chosen!parent!unfit!and!award!
custody!to!the!other!parent,!or!even!to!third!party!
as! it! deem! fit! under! the! circumstances.! Both!
children!Reginald!Vince!and!Rosalind!are!now!over!
7!years!old,!capable!of!fair!and!intelligent!decision.!
Their! best! interest! would! be! better! served! in! an!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

environment! characterized! by! emotional! stability!


and! a! certain! degree! of! material! sufficiency! for!
which! the! mother! Teresita! solely! is! incapable! or!
lacking.! There! is! nothing! in! the! records! to! show!
that! Reynaldo! is! unfit! under! the! Family! Code.!
Moreover,! the! childrens! clear! choice! is! their!
father.!
!
!
SAGALAdESLAO'VS'CA'
G.R.!No.!116773!January!16!1997![Parental!
Authority]!
!
FACTS:!
When! Maria! Paz's! husband! Reynaldo! Eslao! died,!
she! entrusted! custody! of! heryoungest!
child!Angelica! to! her! grieving! motherainalaw.! She!
then! returned! to! her! mother's! house! with! Leslie.!
Years! later,! Maria! Paz! got! married! to! a! Japanesea
American! and! live! with! him! in! the! US.! !After! this!
she!returned!to!the!Philippines!to!be!reunited!with!
her! children! and! bring! them! to! the! US.! She! then!
informed!Teresita!about!her!desire!to!take!custody!
of!Angelica!her!new!husband's!willingness!to!adopt!
her! children.! Teresita! refused,! and! accused!! Maria!
of! having! abandoned! Angelica! when! she! was! 10!
days! old.! Maria! instituted! an! action! against!
Teresita!over!the!return!of!the!custody!of!Angelica!
to!her.!After!the!trial!on!the!merits,!the!trial!court!
granted! the! petition.! CA! affirmed! in! the! full!
decision!of!the!trial!court.!
!
ISSUE:!
Whether! or! not! Teresita! SagalaaEslao! should! !be!
given!the!custody!of!the!child?!
!
RULING:!
No.! !The! right! of! parents! to! the! custody! of! their!
minor!children!is!one!of!the!natural!rights!incident!
to! parenthood,! a! right! supported! by! law! and!
sound!public! policy.! The! right! is! an! inherent! one,!
which! is! not! created! by! the! state! or! decisions! of!
the! courts,! but! derives! from! the! nature! of! the!
parental!relationship.!
!
Thus,! when! Maria! entrusted! the! custody! of!
Angelica! to! Teresita,! what! she! gave! to! the! latter!
was! merely!temporary! custody!and! it! did!

not! constitute! abandonment! or! renunciation! of!


parental! authority.! The! law! allows! a! waiver! of!
parental! authority! only! in! cases! of! adoption,!
guardianship!and!surrender!to!a!children's!home!or!
an!orphan!institution.!
!
!
HERALD'BLACK'DACASIN'!v.!SHARON'DEL'MUNDO'
DACASIN!(G.R.'No.'168785':'February'5,'2010)!
'
'
Facts:!
!
! Herald,! American,! and! Sharon,! Filipino,!
were!married'in'Manila'in'April'1994.!
! They! have! one! daughter,! Stephanie,! born!
on!September!21,!1995.!
! In'June'1999,'Sharon'sought'and'obtained'
a' divorce' decree' from! the! Circuit! Court,!
19th! Judicial! Circuit,! Lake!County,! Illinois!
(Illinois!court).!In!its!ruling,!the!Illinois!court!
dissolved! the! marriage! of!petitioner! and!
respondent,! awarded! to! respondent! sole!
custody! of!Stephanie! and! retained!
jurisdiction! over! the! case! for!enforcement!
purposes.!
! On' January' 28,' 2002,' both! executed! in!
Manila! a! contract! for! joint! custody! over!
Stephanie.!
! In' 2004,' Herald! ! filed! a! case! against! Sharon!
alleging!that!Sharon!had!exercised!!sole!custody!
over!
Stephanie!
contrary!
to!their!
agreement.!
! The! trial! court! held! that! (1)!it! is! precluded!
from! taking! cognizance! over! the! suit!
considering! the! Illinois! courts! retention! of!
jurisdiction! to! enforce! its! divorce! decree,!
including!its!order!awarding!sole!custody!of!
Stephanie! to! respondent;! (2)! the! divorce!
decree! is! binding! on! petitioner! following!
the! nationality! rule! prevailing! in!this!
jurisdiction;! and! (3)! the!Agreement! is! void!
for! contravening! Article! 2035,! paragraph! 5!
of! the! Civil! Code! prohibiting! compromise!
agreements! on! jurisdiction! and! dismissed!
the!case.!
Issue:!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

WON! the! trial! court! has! jurisdiction! to! take!


cognizance! of! petitioners! suit! and! enforce! the!
Agreement!on!the!joint!custody!of!the!parties!child!
'
Held/'Rationale:!
!The! trial! courts! refusal! to! entertain! petitioners!
suit!was!grounded!not!on!its!lack!of!power!to!do!so!
but!on! its! thinking! that! the!Illinois! courts! divorce!
decree!stripped!it!of!jurisdiction.!This!conclusion!is!
unfounded.!What! the! Illinois! court!retained! was!
jurisdiction! x! x! x!for! the! purpose! of! enforcing! all!
and!sundry!the!various!provisions!of![its]!Judgment!
for! Dissolution.! Petitioners! suit! seeks!
the!enforcement!not!of!the!various!provisions!of!
the! divorce! decree! but! of! the! postadivorce!
Agreement!on!joint!child!custody.!Thus,!the!action!
lies!beyond!the!zone!of!the!Illinois!courts!soacalled!
retained!jurisdiction.!
!
'
HORACIO&'LIBERTY'LUNA'VS'INTERMEDIATE'
APPELLATE'COURT'ET'AL'
'
Facts:! Legal!battle!over!the!custody!of!Shirley,!a!9a
year! old! and! daughter! of! Spouses! Maria! Lourdes!
Santos! and! SixtoSalumbides! (private! respondents)!
but! who! grew! up! in! the! comforts! of! luxury!
provided!by!her!grandparents!Spouses!Horacio!and!
Liberty!Luna!(petitioners).!
'
Held:! Shirley! was! awarded! back! to! her!
grandparents.!Her!manifestation!that!she!would!kill!
herself! or! run! away! from! home! if! she! should! be!
taken! away! from! her! grandparents! is! a!
circumstance! that! would! make! the! execution! of!
the! judgment! rendered,! which! is! awarding! her! to!
her! biological! parents,! inequitable,! unfair! and!
unjust,! if! not! illegal.! She! depicted! her! biological!
parents! as! selfish! and! cruel! and! who! beat! her!
often,! and! that! they! do! not! love! her.! As! pointed!
out! by! the! child! psychologist,! she! has! become!
embittered,! cautious! and! distrusting! of! them! and!
to! return! her! to! her! custody! would! be! indeed!
traumatic!and!cause!irreparable!damage.!
'
Principle:'
Article! 363! of! the! Civil! Code!
provides! thatin! all! questions! relating! to! the! care,!
custody,! education! and! property! of! the!

children,! the! latters! welfare! is! paramount.! This!


means! that! the! best! interest! of! the! minor! can!
override! procedural! rules! and! even! the! rights! of!
parents! to! the! custody! of! their! children.! Since,! in!
this!case,!the!very!life!and!existence!of!the!minor!is!
at! stake! and! the! child! is! in! an! age! when! she! can!
exercise!an!intelligent!choice,!the!courts!can!do!no!
less! than! respect,! enforce! and! give! meaning! and!
substance! to! that! choice! and! uphold! her! right! to!
live! in! an! atmosphere! conducive! to! her! physical,!
moral!and!intellectual!development.!
'
Dissenting:' The! right! of! the! parents! to! the!
custody! of! their! minor! children! is! one! of! the!
natural! rights! incident! to! parenthood,! a! right!
supported! by! law! and! sound! public! policy.! The!
right! is! an! inherent! one,! which! is! not! created! by!
the! state! or! by! the! decisions! of! the! courts,! but!
derives! from! the! nature! of! parental! relationship.!
Since! the! rights! of! parents! to! the! custody! of! their!
minor! children! is! both! a! natural! and! a! legal! right,!
the! law! should! not! disturb! the! parentachild!
relationship! except! for! the! strongest! reasons,! and!
only! upon! a! clear! showing! of! a! parents! gross!
misconduct!or!unfitness,!or!of!other!extraordinary!
circumstances!affecting!the!welfare!of!the!child.!
!
ZENAIDA'MEDINA'VS'DRA.VENANCIA'MAKABALI'
'
Facts:! !
Petitioners! claim! for! custody! of! a! minor!
boy! named! Joseph! Casero.! Zenaida! Medina!
(petitioner)! gave! birth! to! Joseph! Casero! in! the!
Makabali! Clinic! assisted! by! Dra.! VenanciaMakabali!
(respondent).! The! baby! (Joseph)! was! Zenaidas! 3rd!
with!Feliciano!Casero,!a!married!man.!Zenaida!left!
her! baby! with! Dra.! Makabali! who! took! care! and!
reared!the!same!like!her!own!son.From!birth!until!
August! 1966,! Joseph! was! left! unvisited! by! his! real!
and!mother.!
'
Held:' The! court! awarded! the! custody! of! Joseph!
Casero! to! Dra.! VenanciaMakabali! because! the!
petitioner! proved! remiss! in! the! sacred! duties! to!
provide! adequate! support,! education,! moral,!
intellectual!and!civic!training!and!development.!
'
Principle:!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

While! the! law! recognizes! the! right! of! a!


parent!to!the!custody!of!her!child,!Courts!must!not!
lose!sight!of!the!basic!principle!that!in!all!questions!
on! the! care,! custody,! education! and! property! of!
the! children,! the! latters! welfare! shall! be!
paramount! (Civil! Code,! Article! 363),! and! that! for!
compelling!reasons,!even!a!child!under!seven!may!
be!ordered!separated!from!the!mother.!This!is!as!it!
should! be,! for! in! the! continual! evolution! of! legal!
institutions,! the! patria! potestas! has! been!
transformed!from!the!jus!vitae!ac!necis!(right!of!life!
and! death)! of! the! Roman! law,! under! which! the!
offspring!was!virtually!a!chattel!of!his!parents,!into!
a! radically! different! institution,! due! to! the!
influence! of! Christian! faith! and! doctrines.! The!
obligational!aspect!is!now!supreme.!As!pointed!out!
by! Puig! Pena,! now! there! is! no! power! but! a! task;!
no!complex!of!rights!of!parents!but!a,!but!a!sum!of!
duties:! no! sovereignty! but! a! sacred! trust! for! the!
welfare!of!the!minor.!
!
!
!
The! right! of! parents! to! the! company! and!
custody! of! their! children! is! but! ancillary! to! the!
proper!discharge!of!parental!duties!to!provide!the!
children!with!adequate!support,!education,!moral,!
intellectual!and!civic!training!and!development.!
'
'
MIGUEL'UNSON'III'VS'HON.'PEDRO'NAVARRO'
AND'EDITAARANETA'
'
Facts:' '
Legal! actions! over! the! custody! of! Teresa,!
eightayear!old!child.!
!
Petitioner! and! private! respondent! were!
married! in! 1971! and! out! of! that! marriage,! Teresa!
was! born.! However,! they! executed! an! agreement,!
which! was! approved! by! the! Court,! for! the!
separation! of! their! properties! and! to! live!
separately.! No! provisions! were! made! as! to! the!
custody!of!their!child.!!!
'
Held:! Custody! of! the! minor! child! awarded! to! the!
wife!who!has!immoral!influence!over!the!child.!The!
Court! finds! no! difficulty! in! seeing! that! it! is! in! the!
best! interest! of! the! child! to! be! freed! from! the!
obviously! unwholesome,! not! to! say! immoral!

influence,! that! the! situation! in! which! private!


respondent!has!placed!herself.!
'
Principle:!
It! is! axiomatic! in! our! jurisprudence!
that! in! all! controversies! regarding! the! custody! of!
minors,!the!sole!and!foremost!consideration!is!the!
physical,!education,!social!and!moral!welfare!of!the!
child!concerned,!taking!into!account!the!respective!
resources! and! social! and! moral! situations! of! the!
contending!parents.!!
!
!
JOYCELYN' PABLOdGUALBERTO' VS' CRISANTO'
RAFAELITO'GUALBERTO'
'
Facts:! Private! respondent! filed! a! petition! for!
declaration! of! nullity! of! his! marriage! to! Joycelyn,!
with! an! ancillary! prayer! for! custody! pendente! lite!
of!their!almost!4!year!old!son,!Rafaello,!whom!his!
wife!took!away!from!their!conjugal!home.!
Held:! No! child! under! seven! years! of! age! shall! be!
separated! from! the! mother! unless! the! court! finds!
compelling! reasons! to! order! otherwise.! Based! on!
the!above!jurisprudence,!it!is!therefore!not!enough!
for! Crisanto! to! show! merely! that! Joycelyn! was! a!
lesbian.!He!must!also!demonstrate!that!she!carried!
on!her!purported!relationship!with!a!person!of!the!
same! sex! in! the! presence! of! their! son! or! under!
circumstances! not! conducive! to! the! childs! proper!
moral!development.!
Principle:!
The! general! rule! that! children! less!
than! seven! years! of! age! shall! not! be! separated!
from! their! mother! finds! its! raison! detre! in! the!
basic! need! of! minor! children! for! their! mothers!
loving! care.! In! explaining! the! rationale! for! Article!
363! of! the! Civil! Code,! the! general! rule! is!
recommended!in!order!to!avoid!a!tragedy!where!a!
mother!has!seen!her!baby!torn!away!from!her.!No!
man!can!sound!the!deep!sorrows!of!a!mother!who!
is! deprived! of! her! child! of! tender! age.! The!
exception! allowed! by! the! rule! has! to! be! for!
compelling!reasons!for!the!good!of!the!child:!those!
cases!must!indeed!be!rare,!if!the!mothers!heart!is!
not!to!be!unduly!hurt.!If!she!has!erred,!as!in!cases!
of! adultery,! the! penalty! of! imprisonment! and! the!
relative! divorce! decree! will! ordinarily! be! sufficient!
punishment! for! her.! Moreover,! her! moral!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

dereliction!will!not!have!any!effect!upon!the!baby!
who!is!as!yet!unable!to!understand!the!situation.!
!
MARIA'TERESA'CUADRA,'REPRESENTED'BY'HER'
FATHER,'ETAL'VS'ALFONSO'MONFORT'
'
Facts:' Maria! Teresa! Cuadra! and! Maria! Teresa!
Monfort! were! both! classmates! in! Mabini!
Elementary! School! Bacolod! City.! While! they! were!
weeding,! Monfort! found! a! headband! and! she!
jokingly!shouted!it!as!an!earthworm!and!thereafter!
tossed!it!at!Cuadra,!hitting!in!her!eye.!Cuadras!eye!
got! infected,! was! attempted! to! be! surgically!
repaired! but! nevertheless! got! blind.! Cuadras!
parents!sued!Alfonso!Monfort!,!the!dad,!based!on!
Article! 2180! of! the! Civil! Code.! The! lower! court!
ruled!that!Monfort!should!pay!for!actual!damages!
(cost! of! hospitalization),! moral! damages! and!
attorneys!fees.!
Held:' Article! 2180! provides! that! the! father,! in!
case! of! his! incapacity! or! death,! the! mother,! is!
responsible! for! the! damages! caused! by! the! minor!
children! who! live! in! their! company.! The! basis! of!
this!vicarious,!although!primary,!liability!is!fault!or!
negligence,! which! is! presumed! from! that! which!
accompanied! the! causative! act! or! omission.! The!
presumption! is! merely! prima! facie! and! may!
therefore!be!rebutted.!This!is!the!clear!and!logical!
inference! that! may! be! drawn! from! the! last!
paragraph! of! Article! 2180,! which! states! that! the!
responsibility! treated! of! in! this! Article! shall! cease!
when! the! persons! herein! mentioned! prove! that!
they!observed!all!the!diligence!of!a!good!father!of!a!
family!to!prevent!damage.!
Principle:!
There! is! nothing! from! which! it! may!
be! inferred! that! the! defendant! could! have!
prevented! the! damage! by! the! observance! of! due!
care! or! that! he! was! in! any! way! remiss! in! the!
exercise! of! his! parental! authority! in! failing! to!
foresee! such! damage,! or! the! act! which! caused! it.!
On! the! contrary,! his! child! was! at! school! where! it!
was!his!duty!to!send!her!and!where!she!was,!as!he!
had! the! right! to! expect! her! to! be,! under! the! care!
and! supervision! of! the! teacher.! And! as! far! as! the!
act!which!caused!the!injury!was!concerned,!it!was!
an! innocent! prank! not! unusual! among! children! at!
play!and!which!no!parent,!however!careful,!would!
have! any! special! reason! to! anticipate,!

much! less! guard! against.! Nor! did! it! reveal! any!


mischievous! propensity,! or! indeed! any! trait! in! the!
childs! character! which! would! reflect! unfavorably!
or! her! upbringing! and! for! which! the! blame! would!
be!attributed!to!her!parents.!
!
AMADORA'V.'CA'
GR'No.'L47745,'April'15,'1988)
FACTS:)
!
A!17ayear!old!Alfredo!Amadora,!while!in!the!
auditorium! of! the! school,! was! shot! to! death! by!
Pablito!Daffon!on!April!13,!1972,!three!days!before!
their! high! school! graduation.! The! latter! was!
convicted! of! homicide! through! reckless!
imprudence.! The! petitioners! filed! a! civil! action! for!
damages! under! Article! 2180! of! the! Civil! Code!
against! the! private! respondents.! The! complaint!
against!the!students!was!later!dropped.!After!trial,!
the! Court! of! First! Instance! of! Cebu! held! the!
remaining!respondents!liable!to!the!plaintiffs!in!the!
sum! of! PhP294,984.00,! representing! death!
compensation,!moral!damages!and!attorneys!fees!
among!others.!!
!
!
!
On! appeal! to! the! respondent! court,!
however,! the! decision! was! reversed! and! all! the!
defendants! were! completely! absolved.! Petitioners!
contended! that! since! Alfredo! Amadora! went! to!
school! on! that! day! to! submit! his! physics!
experiment! as! a! prerequisite! to! his! graduation,!
then! he! was,! at! that! very! moment,! under! the!
custody! of! the! private! respondents.! In! addition,!
petitioners! argued! that! there! was! negligence! on!
the!part!of!the!private!respondents!as!there!was!an!
earlier! incident! on! a! confiscation! of! a! gun! from! a!
student!of!the!school!which!was!later!on!returned!
without! any! disciplinary! action.! But! the! private!
respondents! maintained! that! Alfredo! Amadora!
went!to!school!on!that!day!only!for!the!purpose!of!
submitting! his! physics! report! and! that! he! was! no!
longer! in! the! schools! custody! because! the!
semester! had! already! ended.! Moreover,! private!
respondents! contended! that! they! had! exercised!
due! diligence! in! the! enforcement! of! the! schools!
regulations.!!
!
ISSUES:)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
1.!

Whether! Alfredo! Amadora! was! under! the!


custody!of!the!private!respondents!(i.e.,!the!
school,! head! of! school,! dean! of! boys,!
physics! teacher,! etc.)! at! the! time! of! the!
incident?!

!
2.!
Whether!the!private!respondents!are!liable!
for!the!death!of!Alfredo!Amadora?!
!
HELD:)
!
!
Considering! the! fact! that! Alfredo! Amadora!
went!to!school!to!submit!a!project,!which!was!held!
a! legitimate! purpose,! the! Court! ruled! that! he! was!
still!under!the!custody!of!the!authorities!of!Colegio!
de! San! JoseaRecoletos,! notwithstanding! that!
classes! had! formally! ended.! However,! the! rector,!
the! high! school! principal! and! the! dean! of! boys!
cannot! be! held! liable! because! none! of! them! was!
the! teacherainacharge.! They! merely! exercise! their!
authority! over! the! student! body.! They! were! not!
directly!involved!with!the!students.!!
!
!
!
Moreover,! the! petitioners! werent! able! to!
disclose! who! the! teacherainacharge! of! Pablito!
Daffon!was.!The!dean!of!boys!cannot!also!be!held!
liable!for!the!shooting!incident!since!there!was!no!
concrete! proof! and! evidence! that! the! gun! he!
confiscated! and! returned! and! the! gun! that! killed!
Alfredo! Amadora! was! one! and! the! same.! Finally,!
Colegio! de! San! JoseaRecoletos! cannot! be! held!
directly!liable!because!it!is!an!academic!institution!
of! learning! and! not! a! school! of! arts! and! trades.!
Only!the!teacher!or!the!head!of!the!latter!is!made!
responsible!for!the!damage!caused!by!a!student!or!
apprentice! under! Article! 2180! of! the! Civil! Code.!
The! private! respondents! were! also! able! to! prove!
that! they! exercised! due! diligence! in! the!
enforcement!of!the!school!regulations.!
!
!
!
Hence,!the!petition!was!DENIED.!
!
ST.'MARYS'ACADEMY'V.'CARPITANOS'
FACTS:)
Petitioner! conducted! an! enrollment! drive!
for!the!school!year!1995a1996.!They!visited!schools!
from! where! prospective! enrollees! were!

studying.!Sherwin!Carpitanos!joined!the!campaign.!
Along! with! the! other! high! school! students,! they!
rode! a! Mitsubishi! jeep! owned! by! Vivencio!
Villanueva! on! their! way! to! Larayan! Elementary!
School.! The! jeep! was! driven! by! James! Daniel! II,! a!
15ayear! old! student! of! the! same! school.! It! was!
alleged!that!he!drove!the!jeep!in!a!reckless!manner!
which!resulted!for!it!to!turned!turtle.!Sherwin!died!
due!to!this!accident.!!
!
ISSUE:'
Whether!petitioner!should!be!held!liable!for!
damages?!
HELD:)
!
CA! held! petitioner! liable! for! the! death! of!
Sherwin! under! Article! 218! and! 219! of! the! Family!
Code! where! it! was! pointed! that! they! were!
negligent! in! allowing! a! minor! to! drive! and! not!
having!a!teacher!accompany!the!minor!students!in!
the!jeep.!However,!for!them!to!be!held!liable,!the!
act!or!omission!to!be!considered!negligent!must!be!
the! proximate! cause! of! the! injury! caused! thus,!
negligence! needs! to! have! a! causal! connection! to!
the! accident.! It! must! be! direct! and! natural!
sequence! of! events,! unbroken! by! any! efficient!
intervening!causes.!The!parents!of!the!victim!failed!
to! show! such! negligence! on! the! part! of! the!
petitioner.! The! spouses! Villanueva! admitted! that!
the! immediate! cause! of! the! accident! was! not! the!
reckless! driving! of! James! but! the! detachment! of!
the!steering!wheel!guide!of!the!jeep.!Furthermore,!
there!was!no!evidence!that!petitioner!allowed!the!
minor! to! drive! the! jeep! of! Villanueva.! The!
mechanical! defect! was! an! event! over! which! the!
school!has!no!control!hence!they!may!not!be!held!
liable!for!the!death!resulting!from!such!accident.!!
!
The!registered!owner!of!any!vehicle,!even!if!
not! used! for! public! service,! would! primarily! be!
responsible! to! the! public! or! to! third! persons! for!
injuries!caused!while!it!is!being!driven!on!the!road.!
It!is!not!the!school,!but!the!registered!owner!of!the!
vehicle!who!shall!be!held!responsible!for!damages!
for! the! death! of! Sherwin.! Case! was! remanded! to!
the! trial! court! for! determination! of! the! liability! of!
the!defendants!excluding!herein!petitioner.!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

'LIBI'V.'IAC'
'

FACTS:)

Julie! Ann! Gotiong! and! Wendell! Libi! were!


sweethearts! until! the! former! broke! up! with! the!
latter! after! she! found! out! that! Wendell! was!
irresponsible! and! sadistic.! Wendell! wanted!
reconciliation! but! was! not! granted! by! Julie! so! it!
prompted! him! to! resort! to! threats.! One! day,! they!
were! found! dead! from! a! single! gunshot! wound!
each! coming! from! the! same! gun.! The! parents! of!
Julie! herein! private! respondents! filed! a! civil! case!
against! the! parents! of! Wendell! to! recover!
damages.! The! trial! court! dismissed! the! complaint!
for! insufficiency! of! evidence! but! was! set! aside! by!
CA.!
!
ISSUE:'
Whether! the! parents! should! be! held! liable!
for!damages?!
!
HELD:)
The! subsidiary! liability! of! parents! for!
damages! caused! by! their! minor! children! imposed!
under!Article!2180!of!the!Civil!Code!and!Article!101!
of! the! Revised! Penal! Code! covers! obligations!
arising! from! both! quasiadelicts! and! criminal!
offenses.!The!court!held!that!the!civil!liability!of!the!
parents!for!a!quasiadelict!of!their!minor!children!is!
primary! and! not! subsidiary! and! that! responsibility!
shall! cease! when! the! persons! can! prove! that! they!
observe! all! the! diligence! of! a! good! father! of! a!
family! to! prevent! damage.! However,! Wendells!
mother! testified! that! her! husband! owns! a! gun!
which! he! kept! in! a! safety! deposit! box! inside! a!
drawer!in!their!bedroom.!Each!of!the!spouses!had!
their! own! key.! She! likewise! admitted! that! during!
the! incident,! the! gun! was! no! longer! in! the! safety!
deposit!box.!Wendell!could!not!have!gotten!hold!of!
the! gun! unless! the! key! was! left! negligently! lying!
around!and!that!he!has!free!access!of!the!mothers!
bag!where!the!key!was!kept.!The!spouses!failed!to!
observe! and! exercise! the! required! diligence! of! a!
good!father!to!prevent!such!damage.!
'

FACTS:)

YLARDE'V.'AQUINO!

Private! respondent! Mariano! Soriano! was!


the! principal! of! the! Gabaldon! Primary! School! in!
Pangasinan.! Defendant! Edgardo! Aquino! was! a!
teacher! therein.! During! that! time,! the! school! had!
several! concrete! blocks! which! were! remnants! of!
the! old! school! shop! destroyed! in! World! War! II.!
Defendant! decided! to! help! clear! the! area! so! he!
gathered! 18! of! his! male! students! and! ordered!
them! to! dig! beside! a! oneaton! concrete! block! in!
order! to! make! a! hole! where! the! stone! can! be!
buried.! It! was! left! unfinished! so! the! following! day!
he! called! 4! of! the! 18! students! including! Novelito!
Ylarde! to! complete! the! excavation.! Defendant! left!
the!children!to!level!the!loose!soil!while!he!went!to!
see! Banez! for! the! key! to! the! school! workroom!
where! he! can! get! some! rope.! It! was! alleged! that!
before! leaving,! he! told! the! children! not! to! touch!
the! stone.! After! he! left,! the! children! playfully!
jumped! into! the! pit! when! suddenly! the! concrete!
block! slide! down.! Unfortunately,! Novelito! Ylarde!
was! pinned! to! the! wall! causing! serious! physical!
injuries!which!as!a!consequence!led!to!his!death,!3!
days! thereafter.! The! parents! of! the! victim,! herein!
petitioners,! filed! a! suit! for! damages! against! both!
Aquino!and!Soriano.!
!
ISSUE:'
Whether! both! Soriano! and! Aquino! can! be!
held!liable!for!damages?!
!
HELD:)
As! held! in! Amadora! v.! CA,! it! is! only! the!
teacher! and! not! the! head! of! an! academic! school!
who!should!be!answerable!for!torts!committed!by!
their! students.! Where! the! school! is! academic!
rather! than! technical! or! vocational! in! nature,!
responsibility! for! the! tort! committed! by! the!
student!will!attach!to!the!teacher!in!charge!of!such!
student,! which! is! the! general! rule.! However,! in!
cases!of!establishments!of!arts!and!trades,!it!is!the!
head!thereof,!and!only!he,!who!shall!be!held!liable!
as!an!exception!to!the!general!rule.!In!other!words,!
teachers! in! general! shall! be! liable! for! the! acts! of!
their!students!except!where!the!school!is!technical!
in!nature,!in!which!case!it!is!the!head!thereof!who!
shall! be! answerable.! Hence,! Soriano! as! principal!
cannot!be!held!liable!for!the!reason!that!the!school!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

he!heads!is!an!academic!school!and!he!did!not!give!
any!instruction!regarding!the!digging.!
!
A!teacher!who!stands!in!loco!parentis!to!his!
students! should! make! sure! that! the! children! are!
protected!from!all!harm.!The!excavation!instructed!
clearly!exposed!the!students!to!risk!and!should!not!
be! placed! under! the! category! of! Work! Education!
such! as! school! gardening,! planting! trees,! etc.!
Aquino! acted! with! fault! and! gross! negligence!
where! instead! of! availing! himself! of! adult! manual!
laborers! he! instead! utilized! his! students.!
Furthermore,!the!warning!given!is!not!sufficient!to!
cast! away! all! serious! danger! that! the! concrete!
block!adjacent!to!the!excavation!would!present!to!
the! children.! He! is! therefore! ordered! to! pay!
damages!to!the!petitioners.!!
'
'

EMANCIPATION'
''
Art.' 234.! Emancipation! takes! place! by! the!
attainment!of!majority.!Unless!otherwise!provided,!
majority!commences!at!the!age!of!eighteen!years.!!
'
Art.'235.'Repealed!by!RA!No.!6809!
'
Art.' 236.! Emancipation! shall! terminate! parental!
authority!over!the!person!and!property!of!the!child!
who!shall!then!be!qualified!and!responsible!for!all!
acts!of!civil!life,!save!the!exceptions!established!by!
existing!laws!in!special!cases.!!
Contracting! marriage! shall! require! parental!
consent!until!the!age!of!twentyaone.!!
Nothing!in!this!Code!shall!be!construed!to!derogate!
from! the! duty! or! responsibility! of! parents! and!
guardians! for! children! and! wards! below! twentya
one! years! of! age! mentioned! in! the! second! and!
third!paragraphs!of!Article!2180!of!the!Civil!Code.!!
'
Art.'235.'Repealed!by!RA!No.!6809!
'
Emancipation'
! attained!upon!reaching!18!years!of!age.!!
'
RA'6809:''
By! virtue! of! this! law,! emancipation! can! no! longer!

take!place!by!virtue!of!the!minors!marriage!or!by!
the! concession! of! the! parents! to! a! minor! in! a!
recorded!public!instrument.!
!

RETROACTIVE'EFFECT''
!

RETROACTIVE'EFFECT''
This!Code!shall!have!retroactive!effect!insofar!as!it!
does! not! prejudice! or! impair! vested! or! acquired!
rights! in! accordance! with! the! Civil! Code! or! other!
laws.![Art!256]!!
!
INVALIDITY'OF'OTHER'PROVISIONS''
If!any!provision!is!held!invalid,!other!provisions!not!
affected!shall!remain!valid.![Art.!255]!!

!
FUNERAL,'NCC'ARTS.'305d310''
The! duty! and! the! right! to! make! arrangements! for!
the!funeral!of!a!relative!shall!be!in!accordance!with!
the! order! established! for! support,! under! Article!
294![Art.!305]:!!
(1)!!Spouse!!
(2)! !Descendants! in! the! nearest! degree.! In!
case!of!descendants!of!the!same!degree,!or!
of! brothers! and! sisters,! the! oldest! shall! be!
preferred.!!
(3)! !The! ascendants! in! the! nearest! degree.!
In! case! of! ascendants,! the! paternal! shall!
have!a!better!right!!
(4)!!The!brothers!and!sisters.!!
(5)! !Municipal! authorities! ! if! there! are! no!
persons! who! are! bound! to! support! or! if!
such!persons!are!without!means!!
!
NATURE! OF! FUNERAL:! Every! funeral! shall! be! in!
keeping! with! the! social! position! of! the! deceased.!
[Art.!306]!!
!
The!funeral!shall!be:!
(1)!In!accordance!with!the!expressed!wishes!of!the!
deceased.!!
(2)!!In!the!absence!of!such!expression,!his!religious!
beliefs! or! affiliation! shall! determine! the! funeral!
rites.!!
(3)!!In!case!of!doubt,!the!form!of!the!funeral!shall!
be! decided! upon! by! the! person! obliged! to! make!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

arrangements! for! the! same,! after! consulting! the!


other!members!of!the!family![Art.!307]!!
!
Note:! No! human! remains! shall! be! retained,!
interred,! disposed! of! or! exhumed! without! the!
consent! of! the! persons! mentioned! in! articles! 294!
and!305.!!
!
Damages:!Any!person!who!shows!disrespect!to!the!
dead,! or! wrongfully! interferes! with! a! funeral! shall!
be! liable! to! the! family! of! the! deceased! for!
damages,!material!and!moral![Art.!309]!!
!
Funeral!Expenses:!The!construction!of!a!tombstone!
or! mausoleum! shall! be! deemed! a! part! of! the!
funeral! expenses,! and! shall! be! chargeable! to! the!
conjugal! partnership! property,! if! the! deceased! is!
one!of!the!spouses![Art.!310].!!
!
GUIDELINES'
IN'
MAKING'
FUNERAL'
ARRANGEMENTS''
(1)! !The! persons! who! are! preferred! in! the! right! to!
make! funeral! arrangements! may! waive! the! right!
expressly! or! impliedly! in! which! case! the! right! and!
duty! immediately! descend! to! the! person! next! in!
the!order.!!
(2)!!It!must!be!in!keeping!with!the!social!position!of!
the!deceased.!!
(3)! !Law! shall! prevail! over! the! will! of! the! persons!
who! have! the! right! to! control! the! burial! of!
deceased! ! exhumation,! evidential! purpose,!
disposition! of! corpse! by! deceased,! mutilation! of!
corpses!and!autopsies.!!
(4)! !Corpses! which! are! to! be! buried! at! public!
expenses! may! also! be! used! for! scientific! purposes!
under!certain!conditions.!!
(5)! !Expressed! wishes! of! the! deceased! is! given!
priority!provided!that!it!is!not!contrary!to!law!and!
must! not! violate! the! legal! and! reglementary!
provisions! concerning! funerals! and! disposition! of!
the!remains!(time,!manner,!place!or!ceremony)!!
(6)! !In! the! absence! of! expressed! wishes,! his!
religious! beliefs! or! affiliation! shall! determine! the!
funeral!rights.!!
(7)! !In! case! of! doubt,! the! persons! in! Art.! 199! shall!
decide.!!
(8)! !Any! person! who! disrespects! the! dead! or!

interferes! with! the! funeral! shall! be! liable! for!


material!and!moral!damages.!!
!

USE' OF' SURNAMES,' ARTS.' 364d'


369,'369d380''
!

SURNAMES'OF'CHILDREN''
(1)! Legitimate! and! legitimated! children! shall!
principally!use!the!surname!of!the!father.![Art.!364]!!
(2)!!An!adopted!child!shall!bear!the!surname!of!the!
adopter.![Art.!365]!!
(3)! !A! natural! child! acknowledged! by! both! parents!
shall! principally! use! the! surname! of! the! father.! If!
recognized! by! only! one! of! the! parents,! a! natural!
child! shall! employ! the! surname! of! the! recognizing!
parent.![Art!366]!!
(4)!Natural!children!by!legal!fiction!shall!principally!
employ!the!surname!of!the!father![Art.!367]!!
(5)! Illegitimate! children! referred! to! in! Article! 287!
shall!bear!the!surname!of!the!mother.![Art!368]!!
(6)!Children!conceived!before!the!decree!annulling!
a! voidable! marriage! shall! principally! use! the!
surname!of!the!father.![Art.!369]!!
!
WIFE'AFTER'AND'DURING'MARRIAGE''
(1)!A!married!woman!may!use![Art.!370]:!
(a)!Her!maiden!first!name!and!surname!and!
add!her!husband's!surname,!or!!
(b)! !Her! maiden! first! name! and! her!
husband's!surname!or!!
(c)!!Her!husband's!full!name,!but!prefixing!a!
word!indicating!that!she!is!his!wife,!such!as!
"Mrs."!!
[Tolentino:]! The! wife! cannot! claim! an! exclusive!
right! to! use! the! husbands! surname.! She! cant! be!
prevented! from! using! it;! but! neither! can! she!
restrain!others!from!using!it.!!
(2)!!In!case!of!annulment!of!marriage,!and!the!wife!
is! the! guilty! party,! she! shall! resume! her! maiden!
name! and! surname.! If! she! is! the! innocent! spouse,!
she! may! resume! her! maiden! name! and! surname.!
However,! she! may! choose! to! continue! employing!
her!former!husband's!surname,!unless![Art.!371]:!!
(a)!The!court!decrees!otherwise,!or!!
(b)! She! or! the! former! husband! is! married!
again!to!another!person.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(3)! !When! legal! separation! has! been! granted,! the!


wife! shall! continue! using! her! name! and! surname!
employed!before!the!legal!separation.![Art.!372]!!
(4)! !A! widow! may! use! the! deceased! husband's!
surname! as! though! he! were! still! living,! in!
accordance!with!Article!370.![Art!373]!!
!
CONFUSION'AND'CHANGE'OF'NAMES''
In! case! of! identity! of! names! and! surnames,! the!
younger! person! shall! be! obliged! to! use! such!
additional! name! or! surname! as! will! avoid!
confusion.![Art.!374]!!
!
In! case! of! identity! of! names! and! surnames!
between! ascendants! and! descendants,! the! word!
"Junior"!can!be!used!only!by!a!son.!Grandsons!and!
other! direct! male! descendants! shall! either! [Art.!
375]:!!
(a)!Add!a!middle!name!or!the!mother's!surname,!or!
(b)!Add!the!Roman!Numerals!II,!III,!and!so!on.!!
No! person! can! change! his! name! or! surname!
without!judicial!authority.![Art.!376]!!
Usurpation! of! a! name! and! surname! may! be! the!
subject! of! an! action! for! damages! and! other! relief.!
[Art.!377]!!
!

CIVIL'REGISTRAR''
ARTS.!407a413!!
Art.! 407.! Acts,! events! and! judicial! decrees!
concerning! the! civil! status! of! persons! shall! be!
recorded!in!the!civil!register.!!
Art.!408.!The!following!shall!be!entered!in!the!civil!
register:!
(1)!Births;!
(2)!marriages;!!
(3)!deaths;!!
(4)!!legal!separations;!!
(5)!!annulments!of!marriage;!!
(6)! !judgments! declaring! marriages! void! from! the!
beginning;!!
(7)!!legitimations;!!
(8)!!adoptions;!!
(9)!!acknowledgments!of!natural!children;!!
(10)!!naturalization;!!
(11)!!loss,!or!!
(12)!!recovery!of!citizenship;!!

(13)!!civil!interdiction;!!
(14)!!judicial!determination!of!filiation;!!
(15)!!voluntary!emancipation!of!a!minor;!and!!
(16)!!changes!of!name.!!
!
Art.! 409.! In! cases! of! legal! separation,! adoption,!
naturalization!and!other!judicial!orders!mentioned!
in!the!preceding!article,!it!shall!be!the!duty!of!the!
clerk! of! the! court! which! issued! the! decree! to!
ascertain! whether! the! same! has! been! registered,!
and! if! this! has! not! been! done,! to! send! a! copy! of!
said! decree! to! the! civil! registry! of! the! city! or!
municipality!where!the!court!is!functioning.!!
!
Art.!410.!The!books!making!up!the!civil!register!and!
all!documents!relating!thereto!shall!be!considered!
public! documents! and! shall! be! prima! facie!
evidence!of!the!facts!therein!contained.!!
!
Art.! 411.! Every! civil! registrar! shall! be! civilly!
responsible! for! any! unauthorized! alteration! made!
in!any!civil!register,!to!any!person!suffering!damage!
thereby.! However,! the! civil! registrar! may! exempt!
himself!from!such!liability!if!he!proves!that!he!has!
taken! every! reasonable! precaution! to! prevent! the!
unlawful!alteration.!!
!
Art.! 412.! No! entry! in! a! civil! register! shall! be!
changed!or!corrected,!without!a!judicial!order.!!
!
Art.! 413.! All! other! matters! pertaining! to! the!
registration! of! civil! status! shall! be! governed! by!
special!laws.!!
!
RA'9048'AS'AMENDED'BY'RA'10172''
AN' ACT' AUTHORIZING' THE' CITY' OR' MUNICIPAL'
CIVIL' REGISTRAR' OR' THE' CONSUL' GENERAL' TO'
CORRECT'A'CLERICAL'OR'TYPOGRAPHICAL'ERROR'
IN' AN' ENTRY' AND/OR' CHANGE' OF' FIRST' NAME'
OR' NICKNAME' IN' THE' CIVIL' REGISTER' WITHOUT'
NEED'OF'A'JUDICIAL'ORDER,'AMENDING'FOR'THIS'
PURPOSE' ARTICLES' 376' AND' 412' OF' THE' CIVIL'
CODE'OF'THE'PHILIPPINES''
!
General! rule:! No! entry! in! a! civil! register! shall! be!
changed!or!corrected!without!a!judicial!order!!
Exception:!!
(a) Clerical!or!typographical!errors;!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(b) Change! of:! first! name! or! nickname,! day! and!


month!in!the!date!of!birth,!or!sex!of!a!person!!

This! exception! applies! where! it! is! patently! clear!


that! there! was! a! clerical! or! typographical! error! or!
mistake! in! the! entry,! which! can! be! corrected! or!
changed! by! the! concerned! city! or! municipal! civil!
registrar! or! consul! general! in! accordance! with! the!
provisions! of! this! Act! and! its! implementing! rules!
and!regulations!!
!
Notes:!!
(a)! Clerical! or! typographical! error! refers! to! a!
mistake! committed! in! the! performance! of! clerical!
work! in! writing,! copying,! transcribing! or! typing! an!
entry! in! the! civil! register! that! is! harmless! and!
innocuous! (i.e.! misspelled! name,! misspelled! place!
of!birth,!mistake!in!the!entry!of!day!and!month!in!
the! date! of! birth! or! the! sex! of! the! person! or! the!
like,! which! is! visible! to! the! eyes! or! obvious! to! the!
understanding,! and! can! be! corrected! or! changed!
only! by! reference! to! other! existing! record! or!
records)!!
(b)! Before! the! amendment! by! RA! 10172,! no!
correction! must! involve! the! change! of! sex,!
nationality,! age! or! status! of! the! petitioner.! After!
the! amendment,! change! of! sex! can! now! be!
subjected! to! correction! without! judicial! order!
under!the!rules!of!this!Act.!!
(c)!Civil!Register!refers!to!the!various!registry!books!
and!related!certificates!and!documents!kept!in!the!
archives!of!the!local!civil!registry!offices,!Philippine!
Consulates! and! of! the! Office! of! the! Civil! Registrar!
General.!!
!
Sec.! 3.! Who! May! File! the! Petition! and! Where.! !
Any! person! having! direct! and! personal! interest! in!
the!correction!of!a!clerical!or!typographical!error!in!
an!entry!and/or!change!of!first!name!or!nickname!
in! the! civil! register! may! file,! in! person,! a! verified!
petition!with!the!local!civil!registry!office!of!the!city!
or! municipality! where! the! record! being! sought! to!
be!corrected!or!changed!is!kept.!!
In! case! the! petitioner! has! already! migrated! to!
another! place! in! the! country! and! it! would! not! be!
practical!for!such!party,!in!terms!of!transportation!
expenses,! time! and! effort! to! appear! in! person!
before! the! local! civil! registrar! keeping! the!
documents! to! be! corrected! or! changed,! the!

petition!may!be!filed,!in!person,!with!the!local!civil!
registrar!of!the!place!where!the!interested!party!is!
presently! residing! or! domiciled.! The! two! (2)! local!
civil!registrars!concerned!will!then!communicate!to!
facilitate!the!processing!of!the!petition.!!
Citizens! of! the! Philippines! who! are! presently!
residing! or! domiciled! in! foreign! countries! may! file!
their! petition,! in! person,! with! the! nearest!
Philippine!Consulates.!!
The! petitions! filed! with! the! city! or! municipal! civil!
registrar!or!the!consul!general!shall!be!processed!in!
accordance! with! this! Act! and! its! implementing!
rules!and!regulations.!!
All!petitions!for!the!clerical!or!typographical!errors!
and/or!change!of!first!names!or!nicknames!may!be!
availed!of!only!once.!!
!
GROUNDS''
Who!may!file!the!petition!and!where?!
(1)! Any! person! having! direct! personal! interest! in!
the!correction!of!a!clerical!or!typographical!error!in!
an!entry!and/or!change!of!first!name!or!nickname!
in!the!civil!register!!
(2)! Verified! petition! with! the! local! civil! registry!
office!of!the!city!or!municipality!
(a)! where! the! record! being! sought! to! be!
corrected!or!changed!is!kept!!
(b)!!where!the!interested!party!is!presently!
residing!or!domiciled,!if!it!will!be!impractical!
to!submit!in!the!place!where!record!is!kept!
(i.e.! when! party! has! migrated! to! another!
place!in!the!country!!
(c)! !nearest! Philippine! Consulates,! if! the!
petitioner!is!presently!residing!or!domiciled!
in!foreign!countries!!
!
Note:!All!petitions!for!the!clerical!or!typographical!
errors! and/or! change! of! first! names! or! nicknames!
may!be!availed!of!only!once.!!
!
Sec.! 4.! Grounds! for! Change! of! First! Name! or!
Nickname.!!The!petition!for!change!of!first!name!
or! nickname! may! be! allowed! in! any! of! the!
following!cases:!!
(1)!The!petitioner!finds!the!first!name!or!nickname!
to! be! ridiculous,! tainted! with! dishonor! or!
extremely!difficult!to!write!or!pronounce.!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(2)! The! new! first! name! or! nickname! has! been!


habitually!and!continuously!used!by!the!petitioner!
and! he! has! been! publicly! known! by! that! by! that!
first!name!or!nickname!in!the!community:!or!!
(3)!The!change!will!avoid!confusion.!!
!
Sec.! 5.! Form! and! Contents! of! the! Petition.! ! The!
petition!for!correction!of!a!clerical!or!typographical!
error,! or! for! change! of! first! name! or! nickname,! as!
the! case! may! be,! shall! be! in! the! form! of! an!
affidavit,! subscribed! and! sworn! to! before! any!
person!authorized!by!the!law!to!administer!oaths.!
The! affidavit! shall! set! forth! facts! necessary! to!
establish!the!merits!of!the!petition!and!shall!show!
affirmatively! that! the! petitioner! is! competent! to!
testify! to! the! matters! stated.! The! petitioner! shall!
state! the! particular! erroneous! entry! or! entries,!
which! are! sought! to! be! corrected! and/or! the!
change!sought!to!be!made.!!
!
The!petition!shall!be!supported!with!the!following!
documents:!
(1)!A!certified!true!machine!copy!of!the!certificate!
or! of! the! page! of! the! registry! book! containing! the!
entry!or!entries!sought!to!be!corrected!or!changed.!!
(2)! At! least! two! (2)! public! or! private! documents!
showing! the! correct! entry! or! entries! upon! which!
the!correction!or!change!shall!be!based;!and!
(3)! Other! documents! which! the! petitioner! or! the!
city! or! municipal! civil! registrar! or! the! consul!
general! may! consider! relevant! and! necessary! for!
the!approval!of!the!petition.!!
!
No! petition! for! correction! of! erroneous! entry!
concerning!the!date!of!birth!or!the!sex!of!a!person!
shall! be! entertained! except! if! the! petition! is!
accompanied! by! earliest! school! record! or! earliest!
school! documents! such! as,! but! not! limited! to,!
medical! records,! baptismal! certificate! and! other!
documents!issued!by!religious!authorities;!nor!shall!
any! entry! involving! change! of! gender! corrected!
except! if! the! petition! is! accompanied! by! a!
certification! issued! by! an! accredited! government!
physician! attesting! to! the! fact! that! the! petitioner!
has! not! undergone! sex! change! or! sex! transplant.!
The!petition!for!change!of!first!name!or!nickname,!
or!for!correction!of!erroneous!entry!concerning!the!
day!and!month!in!the!date!of!birth!or!the!

sex! of! a! person,! as! the! case! may! be,! shall! be!
published! at! least! once! a! week! for! two! (2)!
consecutive! weeks! in! a! newspaper! of! general!
circulation.!!
Furthermore,! the! petitioner! shall! submit! a!
certification! from! the! appropriate! law!
enforcements,! agencies! that! he! has! no! pending!
case!or!no!criminal!record.!!
The!petition!and!its!supporting!papers!shall!be!filed!
in!three!(3)!copies!to!be!distributed!as!follows:!first!
copy! to! the! concerned! city! or! municipal! civil!
registrar,!or!the!consul!general;!second!copy!to!the!
Office!of!the!Civil!Registrar!General;!and!third!copy!
to!the!petitioner.!!
!
RULE'108,'RULES'OF'COURT''
CANCELLATION' OR' CORRECTION' OF' ENTRIES' IN'
THE'CIVIL'REGISTRY''
Sec.! 1.! Who! may! file! petition.! a! Any! person!
interested! in! any! act,! event,! order! or! decree!
concerning! the! civil! status! of! persons! which! has!
been! recorded! in! the! civil! register,! may! file! a!
verified! petition! for! the! cancellation! or! correction!
of! any! entry! relating! thereto,! with! the! Court! of!
First! Instance! of! the! province! where! the!
corresponding!civil!registry!is!located.!!
Sec.!2.!Entries!subject!to!cancellation!or!correction.!
a! Upon! good! and! valid! grounds,! the! following!
entries! in! the! civil! register! may! be! cancelled! or!
corrected:! (a)! births;! (b)! marriages;! (c)! deaths;! (d)!
legal! separations;! (e)! judgments! of! annulments! of!
marriage;! (f)! judgments! declaring! marriages! void!
from! the! beginning;! (g)! legitimations;! (h)!
adoptions;! (i)! acknowledgments! of! natural!
children;! (j)! naturalization! (k)! election,! loss! or!
recovery! of! citizenship! (l)! civil! interdiction;! (m)!
judicial! determination! of! filiation;! (n)! voluntary!
emancipation!of!a!minor;!and!(o)!changes!of!name.!!
Sec.!3.!Parties.!a!When!cancellation!or!correction!of!
an! entry! in! the! civil! register! is! sought,! the! civil!
registrar! and! all! persons! who! have! or! claim! any!
interest! which! would! be! affected! thereby! shall! be!
made!parties!to!the!proceeding.!!
Sec.!4.!Notice!and!publication.!a!Upon!the!filing!of!
the! petition,! the! court! shall,! by! an! order,! fix! the!
time! and! place! for! the! hearing! of! the! same,! and!
cause!reasonable!notice!thereof!to!be!given!to!the!
persons!named!in!the!petition.!The!court!shall!also!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

cause! the! order! to! be! published! once! a! week! for!


three! (3)! consecutive! weeks! in! a! newspaper! of!
general!circulation!in!the!province.!!
Sec.! 5.! Opposition.! a! The! civil! registrar! and! any!
person! having! or! claiming! any! interest! under! the!
entry! whose! cancellation! or! correction! is! sought!
may,! within! fifteen! (15)! days! from! notice! of! the!
petition,! or! from! the! last! date! of! publication! of!
such!notice,!file!his!opposition!thereto.!!
Sec.!6.!Expediting!proceedings.!a!The!court!in!which!
the! proceeding! is! brought! may! make! orders!
expediting! the! proceedings,! and! may! also! grant!
preliminary! injunction! for! the! preservation! of! the!
rights!of!the!parties!pending!such!proceedings.!!
Sec.!7.!Order.!a!After!hearing,!the!court!may!either!
dismiss!the!petition!or!issue!an!order!granting!the!
cancellation! or! correction! prayed! for.! In! either!
case,! a! certified! copy! of! the! judgment! shall! be!
served!upon!the!civil!registrar!concerned!who!shall!
annotate!the!same!in!his!record.!!
!
WHO'MAY'FILE'PETITION?''
(1)!Any!person!interested!!
(2)!!Any!act,!event,!order!or!decree!concerning!the!
civil!status!of!persons!which!has!been!recorded!in!
the!civil!register!!
(3)! !Verified! petition! for! the! cancellation! or!
correction! of! any! entry! relating! thereto! with! the!
Court! of! First! Instance! of! the! province! where! the!
corresponding!civil!registry!is!located!!
ENTRIES!SUBJECT!TO!CANCELLATION!!
(a)!!Births!!
(b)!!Marriages!!
(c)!!Deaths!!
(d)!!Legal!separations!!
(e)!!Judgments!of!annulments!of!marriage!!
(f)! !Judgments! declaring! marriages! void!
from!the!beginning!!
(g)!!Legitimations!!
(h)!!Adoptions!!
(i)!!Acknowledgments!of!natural!children!!
(j)!!Naturalization!!
(k)!!Election,!loss!or!recovery!of!citizenship!!
(l)!!Civil!interdiction!!
(m)!Judicial!determination!of!filiation!!
(n)!Voluntary!emancipation!of!a!minor!!
(o)!Changes!of!name!!
!

PERSONS'AND'PERSONALITY''
Concept'of'Persons''
! Personality! is! the! quality! derived! from! being! a!
person;!it!is!an!attribute!of!persons.!!
!
Characteristics!!
1.!It!is!not!a!being,!but!a!quality!of!certain!beings.!!
# It! is! not! a! physical! element,! but! a! juridical!
concept.!!
# It! is! not! an! object! of! contract,! or! of!
possession,! and! cannot! be! impaired! by!
agreement.!!
2.!It!is!a!matter!of!public!interest.!!
!
CAPACITY'TO'ACT''
!
CIVIL'PERSONALITY''
Art.!37.!Juridical!capacity,!which!is!the!fitness!to!be!
the! subject! of! legal! relations,! is! inherent! in! every!
natural! person! and! is! lost! only! through! death.!
Capacity!to!act,!which!is!the!power!to!do!acts!with!
legal!effect,!is!acquired!and!may!be!lost!
!
!
!
Juridical!Capacity!
Fitness! of! man! to! be!
subject!of!legal!relations!
Passive!
Aptitude! for! the! Holding!
and!Enjoyment!of!rights!
Inherent! in! every! natural!
person!
Lost!upon!death!

Capacity!to!Act!
Power! to! do! acts! with!
legal!effect!
Active!
Aptitude! for! the! Exercise!
of!rights!
Must!be!acquired!

Lost! through! death! and!


other!causes!
Can! exist! without! capacity! Must! exist! with! juridical!
to!act!
capacity!
Cannot! be! limited! or! May! be! restricted! or!
restricted!
limited!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
Note:! Juridical! capacity! can! exist! even! without!
capacity! to! act;! the! existence! of! the! latter! implies!
that!of!the!former.!!
!
RESTRICTIONS'ON'CAPACITY'TO'ACT''
Art.!38.!Minority,!insanity!or!imbecility,!the!state!of!
being!a!deafamute,!prodigality!and!civil!interdiction!
are!mere!restrictions!on!capacity!to!act,!and!do!not!
exempt! the! incapacitated! person! from! certain!
obligations,! as! when! the! latter! arise! from! his! acts!
or!from!property!relations,!such!as!easements.!!
!
Art.! 39.! The! following! circumstances,! among!
others,! modify! or! limit! capacity! to! act:! age,!
insanity,!imbecility,!the!state!of!being!a!deafamute,!
penalty,! prodigality,! family! relations,! alienage,!
absence,! insolvency! and! trusteeship.! The!
consequences!of!these!circumstances!are!governed!
in!this!Code,!other!codes,!the!Rules!of!Court,!and!in!
special!laws.!!
Capacity! to! act! is! not! limited! on! account! of!
religious!belief!or!political!opinion.!!
A! married! woman,! twentyaone! years! of! age! or!
over,! is! qualified! for! all! acts! of! civil! life,! except! in!
cases!specified!by!law.!!
!
General! rule:! Incapacitated! persons! are! not!
exempt! from! certain! obligations! arising! from! his!
acts!or!property!relations.!!
!
Minority''
RA! 6809! (1989):! An! act! lowering! the! age! of!
majority!from!twentyaone!to!eighteen!years.!!
Effects'on'Contracts''
(1)! They! cannot! give! consent! to! a! contract! [Art.!
1327!(1)]!!
(2)!A!contract!where!one!of!the!parties!is!a!minor!is!
voidable![Art.!1390(1)]!!
(3)! A! contract! is! unenforceable! when! both! of! the!
parties! are! minors! (incapable! of! giving! consent)!
[Art.!1403(3)]!!
(4)!Minority!cannot!be!asserted!by!the!other!party!
in!an!action!for!annulment![Art.!1397]!!
(5)!!Not!obliged!to!make!restitution!except!insofar!
as!he!has!been!benefited![Art.!1399]!!
(6)! !Minor! has! no! right! to! demand! the! thing/price!
voluntarily!returned!by!him![Art.!1426]!!

(7)! !Minor! has! no! right! to! recover! voluntarily! paid!


sum! or! delivered! thing,! if! consumed! in! good! faith!
[Art.!1427]!!
(8)Must! pay! reasonable! amount! for! necessaries!
delivered!to!him![Art.!1489]!!
!
Mercado!v.!Espiritu,!(1918):!!
Estoppel! works! against! minors! who! misrepresent!
their! ages! in! a! contract! and! are! compelled! to!
comply! with! its! terms.! (active! misrepresentation!
done!by!minors).!!
!
Bambalan!v.!Maramba,!(1928):!!
When! a! minor! made! no! active! misrepresentation!
as! to! his! minority! and! such! minority! is! known! to!
the!other!party,!the!contract!is!voidable!(Art.!1403)!
as!to!the!minor.!!
!
Braganza!v.!Villa!Abrille,!(1959):!!
Minors! are! obliged! to! make! restitution! insofar! as!
they!have!been!benefited!(Art.!1399).!!
!
Effects'on'Marriage'
(1)!May!not!yet!contract!marriage![Art.!5,!FC].!
(2)! Marriages,! where! one! of! the! parties! is! below!
18,! even! with! the! consent! of! parents/guardians,!
are!VOID![Art.!35,!FC]!!
!
Insanity''
Insanity! includes! many! forms! of! mental! disease,!
either!inherited!or!acquired.!A!person!may!not!be!
insane! but! only! mentally! deficient! (idiocy,!
imbecility,!feebleamindedness).!!
!
Effect'on'Contracts''
(1)! Incapacity! to! give! consent! to! a! contract! [Art.!
1327(2)]!!
(2)!Contracts!entered!into!during!lucid!intervals!are!
valid![Art.!1328]!!
(3)!Restitution!of!benefits![Art.!1399]!
(4)! Voidable! if! one! of! the! parties! is! insane! [Art.!
1390]! (5)! Unenforceable! if! both! of! the! parties! are!
insane!(Art.!1403!(3))!!
!
Effect'on'Crimes''
(1)!General!rule:!EXEMPTED!from!criminal!liability!!
(2)!Exception:!Acted!during!lucid!interval!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

Effect'on'Marriage''
(1)!May!be!annulled!if!either!party!was!of!unsound!
mind!unless!the!such!party!after!coming!to!reason,!
freely!cohabited!with!the!other![Art.!45(2),!FC]!!
(2)!Action!for!annulment!of!marriage!must!be!filed!
by!the!sane!spouse!who!had!no!knowledge!of!the!
others!insanity,!or!by!any!relative/guardian!of!the!
insane! before! the! death! of! either! party;! or! by! the!
insane! spouse! during! a! lucid! interval! or! after!
regaining!sanity![Art.!47(2),!FC]!!
!
State'of'Being'DeafdMute''
(1)!Cannot!give!consent!to!a!contract!if!he/she!also!
does!not!know!how!to!write!(Art.!1327(2),!CC)!!
(2)! Can! make! a! valid! WILL,! provided:! he! must!
personally!read!the!will.!The!contents!of!the!same!
have! either! been! read! personally! by! him! or!
otherwise!communicated!to!him!by!2!persons!(Art.!
807,!CC)!!
(3)! Cannot! be! a! witness! to! the! execution! of! a! will!
(Art.!820,!CC)!!
(4)!Voidable!if!one!of!the!parties!is!deafamute!and!
does!not!know!how!to!write!!
(5)! Unenforceable! if! both! of! the! parties! are! deafa!
mutes!and!does!not!know!how!to!write!!
!
Prodigality''
!
Martinez!v.!Martinez,!(1902):!!
A! spendthrift! or! a! prodigal! is! a! person,! who,! by!
excessive! drinking,! gambling,! idleness! or!
debauchery! of! any! kind! shall! so! spend,! waste! or!
lessen!his!estate!as!to!expose!himself!or!his!family!
to!want!or!suffering.!The!acts!of!prodigality!must!
show!a!morbid!state!of!mind.!!
!
Note:!It!is!not!the!circumstance!of!prodigality,!but!
the! fact! of! being! under! guardianship! that! restricts!
capacity!to!act.!!
!
Civil'interdiction''
(1)! !It! is! an! accessory! penalty! imposed! upon!
persons! who! are! sentenced! to! a! principal! penalty!
not!lower!than!reclusion!temporal!(Art.!41,!RPC).!!
(2)! !Offender! is! deprived! of! rights! of! parental!
authority,! or! guardianship,! of! marital! authority,! of!
the!right!to!manage!his!property!and!of!the!right!to!
dispose!of!such!(Art.!34,!RPC)!!

(3)! For! the! validity! of! marriage! settlements,! the!


participation!of!the!guardian!shall!be!indispensable!
(Art.!123)!!
!
Family'relations''
(1)! Justifying! circumstance! if! acted! in! defense! of!
person/rights! of! spouse,! ascendants,! descendants,!
brothers/sisters,! and! other! relatives! up! to! the! 4th!

civil!degree![Art.!11(2),!RPC]!!
(2)! Mitigating! circumstance! if! acted! in! the!
immediate! vindication! of! a! grave! offense/felony!
committed! against! his! spouse,! ascendants! or!
relatives!of!the!same!civil!degree![Art.!13(5),!RPC]!!
(3)!Incestuous!and!void!marriages:!
(a)!Between!ascendants!and!descendants!of!
any!degree;!
(b)! Between! brothers! and! sisters,! whether!
full!or!halfablood.![Art.!37,!FC]!!
(4)! !Donations/grants! of! gratuitous! advantage!
between! spouses! during! the! marriage! shall! be!
VOID,! except! moderate! gifts! during! family!
occasions![Art.!87,!FC]!!
(5)!!Descendants!cannot!be!compelled!to!testify!in!
a! criminal! case,! against! his! parents! and!
grandparents!
(a)! UNLESS:! crime! was! against! the!
descendant!!
OR! by! one! parent! against! the! other! [Art.!
215,!!
FC]!!
(6)! Spouses! cannot! sell! property! to! each! other,!
except:!!
(a)! Absolute! separation! is! agreed! upon! in!
the!marriage!settlements!!
(b)! Judicial! separation! of! property! [Art.!
1490]!!
!
Absence''
Art.!390.!After!an!absence!of!seven!years,!it!being!
unknown!whether!or!not!the!absentee!still!lives,!he!
shall!be!presumed!dead!for!all!purposes,!except!for!
those!of!succession.!!
The! absentee! shall! not! be! presumed! dead! for! the!
purpose! of! opening! his! succession! till! after! an!
absence! of! ten! years.! If! he! disappeared! after! the!
age!of!seventyafive!years,!an!absence!of!five!years!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

shall!be!sufficient!in!order!that!his!succession!may!
be!opened.!(n)!!
!
Art.!391.!The!following!shall!be!presumed!dead!for!
all! purposes,! including! the! division! of! the! estate!
among!the!heirs:!!
1.! A! person! on! board! a! vessel! lost! during! a! sea!
voyage,!or!an!aeroplane!which!is!missing,!who!has!
not! been! heard! of! for! four! years! since! the! loss! of!
the!vessel!or!aeroplane;!!
2.!A!person!in!the!armed!forces!who!has!taken!part!
in!war,!and!has!been!missing!for!four!years;!!
3.!A!person!who!has!been!in!danger!of!death!under!
other!circumstances!and!his!existence!has!not!been!
known!for!four!years.!!
Article!124,!FC:!!
(1)!!Administration!and!enjoyment!of!the!CPG!shall!
belong!to!both!spouses!jointly.!!
(2)! !In! case! of! disagreement,! husbands! decision!
shall! prevail,! subject! to! recourse! to! the! court! by!
the! wife! for! proper! remedy! (within! 5! years! from!
date!of!contract!implementing!such!decision)!!
(3)! !If! one! spouse! is! incapacitated/unable! to!
administer,! sole! powers! of! administration! may! be!
assumed!by!the!other!spouse.!!
(4)!
General!
Rule:!
This!
power!
disposition/encumbrance.!!
!
Exception:! Judicial! authority! or! written! consent! of!
other!spouse.!!
!
Birth''
!
General! Rule:! Birth! determines! personality! [Art.!
40].!Death!extinguishes!civil!personality![Art.!42].!!
Exception:! A! conceived! child! shall! be! considered!
born! for! all! purposes! that! are! FAVORABLE! to! it,!
provided!it!be!born!later![Art.!40,!2nd!clause]!with!
the!following!circumstances:!!
!
!
Birth! =! complete! removal! of! the! fetus! from! the!
mothers!womb;!before!birth,!a!fetus!is!merely!part!
of!the!mothers!internal!organs.!!
!
Personality!of!Conceived!Child!!
(1) Limited!=!only!for!purposes!FAVORABLE!to!it.!

(2)! Conditional! =! it! depends! upon! the! child!


being!born!alive!later.!!
!
Period!of!Conception!=!the!first!120!days!of!the!300!
days!preceding!the!birth!of!the!child.!!
A! conceived! child! can! acquire! rights! while! still! in!
the! mothers! womb.! It! can! inherit! by! will! or! by!
intestacy.!!
!
Geluz!v!CA,!(1961):!!
An! aborted! fetus! had! conditional! personality! but!
never! acquired! legal! rights/civil! personality!
because! it! was! not! alive! at! the! time! of! delivery!
from! the! mothers! womb.! No! damages! can! be!
claimed!in!behalf!of!the!unborn!child.!!
!
Complete! respiration! =! test/sign! of! independent!
life!!
!
Death''
!
Art.! 42.! Civil! personality! is! extinguished! by! death.!
The!effect!of!death!upon!the!rights!and!obligations!
of!the!deceased!is!determined!by!law,!by!contract!
and!by!will!!
Criminal! liability! ends! with! death! BUT! civil! liability!
may!be!charged!against!the!estate![People!v.!Tirol,!
(1981)].!!
!
Art.!43.!If!there!is!a!doubt,!as!between!two!or!more!
persons! who! are! called! to! succeed! each! other,! as!
to! which! of! them! died! first,! whoever! alleges! the!
death! of! one! 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.!!
!
Note:! Article! 43! provides! a! statutory! presumption!
when! there! is! doubt! on! the! order! of! death!
between! persons! who! are! called! to! succeed! each!
Intraa
Uterine!Life!
7! months!
or!more!
Less! than! 7!
months!

When!Considered!Born!
Alive!upon!delivery!
Alive! only! after! completion! of! 24!
hours!from!delivery!

other!(only).!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

The! statutory! presumption! of! Article! 43! was! not!


applied! due! to! the! presence! of! a! credible!
eyewitness!as!to!who!died!first![Joaquin!v.!Navarro,!
(1948)]!!
)
Compare) Art.) 43) with) Rule) 131,) Sec.) 3) (jj),)
presumption)of)Survivorship.))
!
Article!43!
Rule!131,!Section!3!(jj)!
Only! use! the! presumptions! when! there! are! no! facts! to!
get!inferences!from!
Only! use! for! succession! Cannot! be! used! for!
purposes!
succession!purposes!
In!any!circumstance!
Only! during! death! in!
calamities,! wreck,! battle!
or!conflagration!!

!
Presumption%of%Survivorship%in%the%Rules%of%Court%
(Rule%131,%sec.%3,%(jj.)%%
Age!
Both!under!15!
Both!above!60!
One! under! 15,! the! other!
above!60!
Both! over! 15! and! under!
60,!different!sexes!
Both! over! 15! and! under!
60,!same!sex!
One! under! 15! or! over! 60,!
the! other! between! those!
ages!

Juridical!
Person!

Constitution!
(defines!
its!
1.!State!!
organization!and!limits!its!rights!visa
avis!citizens)!!
2.!
Political!
Charter!creating!them!!
Subdivision!!
3.!
Public!
Charter!creating!them!!
Corporation!!
4.!
Private!Corporation! Code,! Articles! of!
Corporation!! Incorporation!and!ByaLaws!!
Stipulations! of! the! parties! and!
suppletorily! by! the! general!
5.!Partnerships!!
provisions! on! partnership! of! the!
Civil!Code!!
!
Rules!!

Presumed!Survivor!
Older!
Younger!
One!under!15!

1. Juridical! persons! may! acquire! and! possess!


property!of!all!kinds,!incur!obligations,!and!
bring!civil!or!criminal!actions!(Art.!46,!CC)!!
2. Upon! dissolution! of! corporations! or!
institutions! and! other! entities! for! public!
interest,! their! property! and! assets! shall! be!
disposed! of! in! pursuance! of! the! law! or!
charter!creating!them.!(Art.!47,!CC)!!

Male!
Older!
One!between!15!and!60!

Governed!by!

!
!

Juridical'Persons''

DOMICILE' AND' RESIDENCE' OF' PERSON' FOR'


NATURAL'PERSONS:'

Juridical'Persons'(Art'44,'Civil'Code)'

The!place!of!their!habitual)residence)[Art.)50]!!

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!
to! which! the! law! grants! a! juridical!
personality.!!
Governing!Laws!(Art!45,!Civil!Code)!!

!
FOR'JURIDICAL'PERSONS:''
The! place! where! their! legal! representation! is!
established,! or! where! they! exercise! their) primary)
functions,! unless! there! is! a) law) or) other) provision)
that!fixes!the!domicile![Art.)51]!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

!
DOMICILE'VS.'RESIDENCE''
While! domicile! is! permanent! (there! is! intent! to!
remain),! residence! is! temporary! and! may! be!
changed! anytime! (there! is! no! necessary! intent! to!
remain).!!
!
REQUISITES'OF'DOMICILE'[Callejo%v.%Vera]'
(1) Physical)Presence)in)a)fixed)place)
(2) Intent! to! remain! permanently! (animus)
manendi))!
!
KINDS'OF'DOMICILE''
(1)! !Domicile! of! Origin! a! domicile! of! parents! of! a!
person!at!the!time!he!was!born.!!
(2)!!Domicile!of!Choice!!
(a)! !Domicile! chosen! by! a! person,! changing!
his!domicile!of!origin.!!
(b)!!A!3rd!requisite!is!necessary!!intention!
not! to! return! to! ones! domicile! as! his!
permanent!place.!!
(3)! !Domicile! by! Operation! of! Law! (i.e.,) Article! 69,!
domicile!of!minor)!
(a)! A! married! woman! does! not! lose! her!
domicile! to! her! husband.! (Romualdeza
Marcos!vs.!Comelec!(1995))!!

EFFECT' AND' APPLICATION' OF'


LAWS''
!

The!Civil!Code!took!effect!on!August!30,!1950!!
'
WHEN'LAWS'TAKE'EFFECT''
Art.! 2.! Laws! shall! take! effect! after! fifteen! days!
following! the! completion! of! their!

publication! in! the! Official! Gazette,! unless! it! is!


otherwise!provided.!This!Code!shall!take!effect!one!
year!after!such!publication.!(1a)!!
!
Taada!v.!Tuvera!(1986):!!
(a)! The! clause! "unless! it! is! otherwise! provided"!
refers! to! the! date! of! effectivity! and! not! to! the!
requirement! of! publication! itself,! which! cannot! in!
any!event!be!omitted.!!
(b)! !Publication! is! indispensable! in! every! case,! but!
the! legislature! may! in! its! discretion! provide! that!
the! usual! fifteenaday! period! shall! be! shortened! or!
extended.!!
(c)! !EXCEPTION:! interpretative! regulations! and!
those!internal!in!nature!!
!
National!Power!Corporation!v.!Pinatubo!
The! equal! protection! clause! means! "no! class! or!
class! of! persons! should! be! deprived! of! the! same!
protection! of! laws! should! is! enjoyed! by! other!
classes! in! the! same! place! and! in! like!
circumstances."! It! is! not! violated! as! long! as! it! is!
based! in! a! reasonable! classification.! It! does! not!
preclude! classification! of! individuals! who! may! be!
accorded!different!treatment!under!the!law!as!long!
as!the!classification!is!reasonable!and!not!arbitrary.!
!
National!Electrification!v.!Gonzaga!!
When! it! is! not! a! mere! internal! in! memorandum,!
interpretative! in! nature,! or! instructions! to!
subordinates,!then!it!needs!to!be!published!in!the!
Official! Gazette.! Because! ECEC! affects! all! electric!
cooperatives! in! the! country! and! the! public...! And!
since! it! did! not! comply! with! the! requirements! of!
publication,! then! the! Supreme! Court! held! it! as!
invalid.!
!
!
IGNORANCE'OF'THE'LAW''
!
Art.! 3.! Ignorance! of! the! law! excuses! no! one! from!
compliance!therewith.!(2)!!
(a)!Conclusive!Presumption!!That!everyone!knows!
the!law,!even!if!they!have!no!actual!knowledge!of!
the!law!!
(b)! Mistake! of! Fact! &! Difficult! Questions! of! Law! a!
These! may! excuse! a! party! from! the! legal!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

consequences!of!his!conduct;!but!not!ignorance!of!
law.!!
(c)!In!specific!instances!provided!by!law,!mistake!as!
to!difficult!legal!questions!has!been!given!the!same!
effect!as!a!mistake!of!fact.!(Tolentino)!!
(d)!The!laws!referred!to!by!this!article!are!those!of!
the!Philippines.!There!is!no!conclusive!presumption!
of!knowledge!of!foreign!laws.!(Tolentino)!!
!
Diego!v.!Castillo!!
Error!committed!by!respondent!Judge!being!gross!
and!patent,!the!same!constitutes!ignorance!of!the!
law!of!a!nature!sufficient!to!warrant!disciplinary!
action.!
!
!
RETROACTIVITY'OF'LAWS''
!
Art.!4.!Laws!shall!have!no!retroactive!effect,!unless!
the!contrary!is!provided.!(3)!!
General! Rule:! All! statutes! are! to! be! construed! as!
having!only!prospective!operation!!
!
Exceptions!!
(1)!When!the!law!itself!expressly!provides!!
Exceptions!to!Exception:!!
(a)!Ex!post!facto!law!!
(b)!Impairment!of!contract!!
(2)!!In!case!of!remedial!statutes!!
(3)!!In!case!of!curative!statutes!!
(4)!!In!case!of!laws!interpreting!others!!
(5)! !In! case! of! laws! creating! new! rights! [Bona! v.!
Briones!(1918)]!!
(6)!Penal!Laws!favorable!to!the!accused!!
!
Republic!v.!Miller!
American!spouses!wanted!to!adopt!a!Filipino!child,!
submitted! the! petition! for! adoption! on! July! 29,!
1988!before!August!3,!1988!when!the!Family!code!
took! effect! prohibiting! aliens! to! adopt! Filipino!
children.! The! adoption! petition! can! still! be!
continued!since!it!was!submitted!before!the!Family!
Code!took!effect.!Since!they!acquired!vested!rights!
which! could! not! be! affected! by! the! subsequent!
enactment!of!a!law!disqualifying!them.!
!
Valdez!v.!Republic!

Angelita! Valdez! married! Sofio! in! 1971.! In! 1975,!


they! both! agreed! part! ways! and! Angelita! haven't!
heard!of!Sofio!since!then.!Angelita!married!Virgillo!
in!1985.!!
Virgilios! application! for! naturalization! in! US! was!
denied! because! petitioners! marriage! with! Sofio!
was! subsisting.! ! Hence,! in! March! 2007,! petitioner!
filed!a!petition!seeking!declaration!of!presumptive!
death! of! Sofio.! The! court! ruled! that! no! decree! on!
the! presumption! of! Sofios! death! is! necessary!
because! Civil! Code! governs! during! 1971! and! not!
Family!Code!where!at!least!7!consecutive!years!of!
absence! is! only! needed.! ! Thus,! petitioner! was!
capacitated! to! marry! Virgilio! and! their! marriage! is!
legal!and!valid.!
!
!
ACTS'CONTRARY'TO'LAW''
!
Art.! 5.! Acts! executed! against! the! provisions! of!
mandatory!or!prohibitory!laws!shall!be!void,!except!
when!the!law!itself!authorizes!their!validity.!(4a)!!
!
WAIVER'OF'RIGHTS''
!
Art.! 6.! Rights! may! be! waived,! unless! the! waiver! is!
contrary!to!law,!public!order,!public!policy,!morals,!
or! good! customs,! or! prejudicial! to! a! third! person!
with!a!right!recognized!by!law.!(4a)!!
!
Waiver!!the!relinquishment!of!a!known!right!with!
both!knowledge!of!its!existence!and!an!intention!to!
relinquish!it.![Portland!v.!Spillman]!!
!
Exceptions:!!
(1)! !If! the! waiver! is! contrary! to! law,! public! order,!
public!policy,!morals!or!good!customs!!
(2)!!If!the!waiver!prejudices!a!third!person!!
(3)!!If!the!alleged!rights!do!not!yet!exist!!
(4)!!If!the!right!is!a!natural!right!!
!
REPEAL'OF'LAWS''
!
Art.!7.!Laws!are!repealed!only!by!subsequent!ones,!
and!their!violation!or!nonaobservance!shall!not!be!
excused! by! disuse,! or! custom! or! practice! to! the!
contrary.!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

When!the!courts!declared!a!law!to!be!inconsistent!
with!the!Constitution,!the!former!shall!be!void!and!
the!latter!shall!govern.!!
Administrative! or! executive! acts,! orders! and!
regulations! shall! be! valid! only! when! they! are! not!
contrary!to!the!laws!or!the!Constitution.!(5a)!!
TWO!KINDS!OF!REPEAL!OF!LAW![Tolentino]!
(1)! Express! or! Declared! ! contained! in! a! special!
provision!
of!
a!
subsequent!
law!
(2)! Implied! or! Tacit! ! takes! place! when! the!
provisions!of!the!subsequent!law!are!incompatible!
or!inconsistent!with!those!of!an!earlier!law.!!
!
JUDICIAL'DECISIONS''
!
Art.! 8.! Judicial! decisions! applying! or! interpreting!
the!laws!or!the!Constitution!shall!form!a!part!of!the!
legal!system!of!the!Philippines.!(n)!!
(a)! !Jurisprudence! cannot! be! considered! as! an!
independent!source!of!law;!it!cannot!create!law.!(1!
Camus!38!as!cited!in!Tolentino)!!
(b)! !But! the! Courts! interpretation! of! a! statute!
constitutes! part! of! the! law! as! of! the! date! it! was!
originally! passed! since! the! Courts! construction!
merely! establishes! contemporaneous! legislative!
intent! that! the! interpreted! law! carried! into! effect.!
[Senarillos!v.!Hermosisima!(1956)]!!
!
DUTY'TO'RENDER'JUDGMENT''
!
Art.! 9.! No! judge! or! court! shall! decline! to! render!
judgment! by! reason! of! the! silence,! obscurity! or!
insufficiency!of!the!laws.!(6)!!
!
Exception:!!
This!article!does!not!apply!to!criminal!prosecutions!
because! where! there! is! no! law! punishing! an! act,!
the!case!must!be!dismissed.![Tolentino]!!
!
PRESUMPTION'AND'APPLICABILITY'OF'CUSTOM''
!
Art.! 10.! In! case! of! doubt! in! the! interpretation! or!
application! of! laws,! it! is! presumed! that! the!
lawmaking! body! intended! right! and! justice! to!
prevail.!(n)!!
!
Art.!11.!Customs!which!are!contrary!to!law,!public!

order! or! public! policy! shall! not! be! countenanced.!


(n)!!
!
Art.! 12.! A! custom! must! be! proved! as! a! fact,!
according!to!the!rules!of!evidence.!(n)!!
!
LEGAL'PERIODS''
!
Art.! 13.! When! the! laws! speak! of! years,! months,!
days!or!nights,!it!shall!be!understood!that!years!are!
of! three! hundred! sixtyafive! days! each;! months,! of!
thirty!days;!days,!of!twentyafour!hours;!and!nights!
from!sunset!to!sunrise.!!
If!months!are!designated!by!their!name,!they!shall!
be! computed! by! the! number! of! days! which! they!
respectively!have.!!
In! computing! a! period,! the! first! day! shall! be!
excluded,!and!the!last!day!included.!(7a)!!
!
POLICY' ON' LAST' DAY' BEING' A' LEGAL'
HOLIDAY/SUNDAY''
(a)!!If!the!period!arises!by!statute!or!orders!by!the!
government,! the! last! day! will! automatically! be!
considered!the!next!working!day!!
(b)! !If! the! period! arises! from! a! contractual!
relationship,! the! act! will! still! be! due! on! that! Legal!
Holiday/Sunday!!
!
APPLICABILITY'OF'PENAL'LAWS''
Art.!14.!Penal!laws!and!those!of!public!security!and!
safety! shall! be! obligatory! upon! all! who! live! or!
sojourn! in! the! Philippine! territory,! subject! to! the!
principles!of!public!international!law!and!to!treaty!
stipulations.!(8a)!!
!
EXEMPTIONS' UNDER' INTERNATIONAL' LAW'
(THEORY'OF'EXTRATERRITORIALITY):''
(1)! !When! the! offense! is! committed! by! a! foreign!
sovereign!while!in!Philippine!territory!!
(2)! !When! the! offense! is! committed! by! diplomatic!
representatives!!
(3)! !When! the! offense! is! committed! in! a! public! or!
armed!vessel!of!a!foreign!country.!!
!
CONFLICT'OF'LAWS'
CONFLICT' OF' LAWS/' PRIVATE' INTERNATIONAL'
LAW''

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(a)! !It! is! a! branch! or! part! of! Philippine! Law! which!
regulates! the! application! of! foreign! law! within!
Philippine! jurisdiction! in! the! resolution! of! cases!
involving!foreign!elements.!!
(b)! !It! is! that! part! of! municipal! law! which! governs!
cases!involving!a!foreign!element.!!
(c)! !Private! International! Law! is! more! commonly!
known!in!other!jurisdictions!as!conflict!of!laws!!
!
SOURCES!!
(1)!!Codes!and!statutes!!
(2)!!Treaties!and!international!conventions!!
(3)! !Treatises,! commentaries,! and! studies! of!
learned!societies!!
(4)!!Judicial!decisions!!
!
EXAMPLES! OF! CONFLICT! OF! LAW! RULES! IN! THE!
PHILIPPINES!!
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Art.!15!CC:!Lex!Patriae!
Art.!1251!(par.!3)!CC:!Lex!Domicili!
Art.!16!CC:!Lex!Situs/!Lex!Rei!Sitae!
Art.! 17! (par.! 1)! CC:! Lex! Loci! Contractus! (5)! Art.!
71!CC:!Lex!Loci!Celebrationis!
(5) Art.!26!(par.!1)!FC:!Lex!Loci!Celebrationis!(7)!Art.!
1306!CC:!Lex!Loci!Intentionis!!
!

Art.!15.!Laws!relating!to!family!rights!and!duties,!or!
to! the! status,! condition! and! legal! capacity! of!
persons! are! binding! upon! citizens! of! the!
Philippines,!even!though!living!abroad.!(9a)!!
Most! civil! law! countries! such! as! the! Philippines!
follow!
the!
National!
Law!
Theory:!
It!is!the!nationality!or!citizenship!of!the!individual,!
which!regulates!the!following:!!
(a)!Civil!status!
(b)!Capacity!
(c)!Condition!
(d)!Family!rights!and!duties!!
(e)!Laws!on!Succession!!
(f)!Capacity!to!succeed!!
!
According! to! the! Supreme! Court,! it! is! a! conflict! of!
laws!theory!by!virtue!of!which!jurisdiction!over!the!
particular! subject! matter! affecting! a! person! is!
determined! by! the! latters! nationality.! [Ellis! vs.!
Republic!(1963)]!!
!
!

RULE'ON'PROPERTY''
Controlling!Law!!Lex!Situs/Lex!Rei!Sitae!!
General!Rule:!Real!and!Personal!Property!is!subject!
to!the!law!of!the!country!where!it!is!situated!(Art.!
16)!!
Application! of! the! Doctrine! of! Lex! Situs/Lex! Rei!
Sitae!!
(1)!!The!capacity!to!transfer!or!acquire!property!is!
governed!by!Lex!Situs.!!
Note:! Transfer! of! property! to! a! foreigner!
who!subsequently!became!a!Filipino!citizen!
shall! be! recognized! [Llantino! v! Co! Liong!
Chong]!!
(2)! !The! formalities! of! a! contract! to! convey!
property!are!governed!by!Lex!Situs!!
!
Exceptions!to!Lex!Situs!!
(1)! Transactions! Not! Affecting! Transfer! of! Title! or!
Ownership! of! Land:! Lex! Intentionis! or! Lex!
Voluntatis!!
(2)! Contracts! where! Real! Property! Offered! as!
Security:! The! principal! contract! is! the! loan! while!
the!mortgage!of!the!land!is!only!an!accessory!
(a)!Mortgage!a!Lex!Situs!!
(b)! Loan! Contract! a! Rules! on! ordinary!
contracts!!
(3)!Intestate!and!Testamentary!Succession:!
Intestate! and! testamentary! successions! shall! be!
regulated!by!the!national!law!of!the!decedent,!with!
respect!to!the!following![Art.!16(2);!Art.!1039]!!
(a)!Order!of!succession!
(b)!Amount!of!succession!rights!
(c)! Intrinsic! validity! of! the! testamentary!
provisions!!
(d)!Capacity!to!succeed!!
(4)!Under!a!Policyacentered!Approach:!
Forum!court!is!not!bound!to!look!to!the!law!of!the!
situs! when! the! situs! of! the! movable! property! is!
insignificant!or!accidental!!
(a)! !Questions! relating! to! the! validity! and!
effect!of!!
the! transfer! of! the! movable! property! are!
governed! by! the! law! of! the! place! of!
principal!use!!
(b)!!Where!the!issue!involves!considerations!
other! than! the! validity! and! effect! of! the!
transfer! itself,! governing! law! is! the! law! of!
the!state!whichhasrealinterest!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

RULE'ON'SUCCESSION''
!
Extrinsic'Validity'[Arts.'17,'815d817,'CC]''

Alien!Testator!

Filipino!Testator!

Place!of!execution!
Philippines!
Foreign!Country!

Applicable!law!
!Philippine!Law!
(1)! Law! of! the! place!
where! he! may! be! (lex!
loci! celebrationis)! [Art!
815]!!
(2)!Philippine!law![see!III!
Tolentino!117]!
Philippines!
(1)!PhilippineLaw(Art.17)!
(2)!Law!of!the!country!in!
which! he! is! a! citizen! or!
subject! (lex! nationali)!
[Art.!!
817]!!
!
Foreign!
Country! (1)! Law! of! the! place! in!
(Arts!816,!17)!
which! he! resides! (lex!
domicilii)!!
(2)! Law! of! his! country!
(lex!nationali)!!
(3)!
Philippine!
law!
(4)! Law! of! the! place!
where!!
they! were! executed! (lex!
loci!celebrationis)!!

!
Note:!Rule!re:!Joint!Wills!!
(1)! !Joint! wills! prohibited! under! Art.! 818! executed!
by!Filipinos!in!a!foreign!country!shall!not!be!valid!in!
the!Philippines!even!though!authorized!by!the!laws!
of! the! country! where! they! were! executed.! (Art.!
819)!!
(2)! !Civil! Code! is! silent! as! to! the! validity! of! a! joint!
will! executed! by! an! alien! in! the! Philippines.! It! is!
suggested!that!it!should!not!be!probated!if!it!would!
affect!the!heirs!in!the!Philippines.!!
!
Intrinsic'Validity''
Intestate! and! testamentary! successions! shall! be!
regulated!by!the!national!law!of!the!decedent,!with!
respect! to! the! following! (Art.! 16(2);! Art.! 1039)!
(1)!Order!of!succession!!
(2)!Amount!of!successional!rights!
(3)!Intrinsic!validity!of!the!testamentary!provisions!
(4)!Capacity!to!succeed!!
!

Interpretation'of'Wills''
Governed!by!the!National!Law!of!the!decedent.!!
!
Revocation''
Testator!!
!
Testator!
Will!is!revoked!in! Philippine!
the!Philippines!
Domiciliary!
Nonadomiciliary!
(Art.!829)!
Philippine!
Domiciliary!

Nonadomiciliary!
Will!is!revoked!in!
(Art.!829)!
a!
Foreign!
Country!

Applicable!Law!
Philippine!Law!

(1)!
Philippine!
Law!
(2)! Law! of! the!
place!of!!
revocation! (lex!
loci!!
actus)!
(1)! law! of! the!
place!where!!
the! will! was!
made! (2)! law! of!
the!place!in!!
which!
the!
testator! had! his!
domicile! at! the!
time! of! the!
revocation!!
!

!
Applicable!Law!!
Probate'of'wills''
!
Controlling!Law:!!
The! probate! of! a! will! being! essentially! procedural!
in! character,! the! law! of! the! forum! (lex! fori)!
governs.!!
Wills!Proved!and!Allowed!in!a!Foreign!Country!!
(1)!!A!will!proved!and!allowed!in!a!foreign!country!
in!accordance!with!the!laws!of!that!country!may!be!
allowed,!filed,!and!recorded!in!the!proper!Regional!
Trial! Court! in! the! Philippines! (RULES! OF! COURT,!
Rule!77,!Sec.1)!!
(2)! !Requisites! for! Reprobate! [Vda! de! Perez! v!
Tolete,!232!SCRA!722]!!
The! following! must! be! proved! by! competent!
evidence:!
(a)! due! execution! of! the! will! in! accordance!
with!the!foreign!laws!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(b)! the! testator! had! his! domicile! in! the!


foreign! country! and! not! in! the! Philippines!
(c)!the!will!has!been!admitted!to!probate!in!
such!country!
(d)! the! laws! of! the! foreign! country! on!
procedure!and!allowance!of!wills!!
!
Administration'of'Estates''
!
Territorial:!governed!by!the!law!of!the!place!where!
the!administration!takes!place,!and!that!is!the!law!
of! the! country! from! which! the! administrator!
derives!his!authority.!!
!
Trusts!!
Extrinsic! validity:! Rule! governing! wills! apply!
intrinsic! validity:! lex! situs! since! a! trust! involves!
property!cf!Art.!17!!
!
Art.! 17.! The! forms! and! solemnities! of! contracts,!
wills,! and! other! public! instruments! shall! be!
governed!by!the!laws!of!the!country!in!which!they!
are!executed.!!
!
When!the!acts!referred!to!are!executed!before!the!
diplomatic! or! consular! officials! of! the! Republic! of!
the!Philippines!in!a!foreign!country,!the!solemnities!
established!by!Philippine!laws!shall!be!observed!in!
their!execution.!!
Prohibitive! laws! concerning! persons,! their! acts! or!
property,! and! those! which! have,! for! their! object,!
public! order,! public! policy! and! good! customs! shall!
not! be! rendered! ineffective! by! laws! or! judgments!
promulgated,!or!by!determinations!or!conventions!
agreed!upon!in!a!foreign!country.!(11a)!!
!
RULE'ON'EXTRINSIC'VALIDITY'OF'CONTRACTS''
General!Rule:!Lex!Loci!Celebrationis!
!
The!forms!and!solemnities!of!contracts!xxx!shall!be!
governed!by!the!laws!of!the!country!in!which!they!
are!executed![Art.!17]!!
!
Note:!
(1)!Contracts!Before!Diplomatic/!Consular!Officials:!!
The!solemnities!established!by!Philippine!laws!shall!
be! observed! with! respect! to! contracts! executed!
before! diplomatic! or! consular! officials! of!

the!Republic!of!the!Philippines!in!a!foreign!country!
[Art.!17(2),!FC]!!
(2)! Contracts! entered! Into! by! Letter/! Cablegram,!
etc.:!A!contract!accepted!by!letter!or!cablegram!is!
presumed! to! have! been! entered! into! the! place!
where!the!offer!was!made.![Art.!1319(2)]!!
!
Three!possible!laws:!!
(1)! Lex! Loci! Contractus! (Asked! in! 95,! 02! BAR!
EXAMINATIONS)!
(a)! Law! of! the! place! where! the! contract! is!
made!!
(b)!Merits!!
(i)!Relative!ease!in!establishing!!
(ii)!Certainty!and!stability!!
(c)! Demerit! a! Unjust! results! when! place! of!
making!entirely!incidental!!
Note:! To! determine! where! the! contract! is! made,!
we! look! to! the! place! where! the! last! act! is! done!
which!is!necessary!to!bring!the!binding!agreement!
into! being! so! far! as! the! acts! of! the! parties! are!
concerned.!!
(2)!Lex!Loci!Solutionis!
(a)! Law! of! the! place! of! performance!
governs!
(b)! Merit! a! Always! connected! to! the!
contract!in!a!significant!way!!
(c)!Demerit!a!Not!helpful!when!the!contract!
is! performed! in! 2! or! more! states! with!
conflicting!laws!!
(3)!Lex!Loci!Intentionis!!
(a)!!Law!intended!by!the!parties!!
(b)!!Basis:!!
The! contracting! parties! may! establish! such!
stipulations,! clauses,! terms! and! conditions!
as! they! may! deem! convenient,! provided!
they! are! not! contrary! to! law,! morals,! good!
customs,!public!order,!or!public!policy![Art.!
1306]!!
(c)!!May!be!express!or!implied!!
(i)! Express! a! when! the! parties!
stipulate! that! the! contract! be!
governed!by!a!specific!law,!such!law!
will! be! recognized! unless! there! are!
cogent!reasons!for!not!doing!so.!!
(ii)!Implied!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(a)!
!Based!
on!
the!
contemporaneous! and! subsequent!
acts!of!the!parties!!
(b)! !Often! upheld! with!
reference! to! the! rule! of!
validity! of! contracts! which!
presumes! that! the! parties!
contemplate! to! enter! into! a!
valid!contract!!
Roehr!v.!Rodriguez!
The! issues! on! this! case! is! that! whether! or! not! the!
divorce!in!Germany!by!the!German!National!to!his!
Filipina! wife! is! recognized.! And! to! whom! the!
custody! shall! be! awarded.! As! a! general! rule,!
divorce! decrees! obtained! by! foreigners! in! other!
countries! are! recognizable! in! our! jurisdiction,! but!
the!legal!effects!thereof,!e.g.!on!custody,!care!and!
support! of! the! children,! must! still! be! determined!
by!our!courts.!The!Court!declare!that!the!trial!court!
has!jurisdiction!over!the!issue!between!the!parties!
as!to!who!has!parental!custody,!including!the!care,!
support! and! education! of! the! children.! The! case!
was! referred! back! to! the! trial! court! for! further!
proceeding! regarding! the! custody,! support! and!
appropriate!proceedings.!
!
Art.!18.!In!matters!which!are!governed!by!the!Code!
of! Commerce! and! special! laws,! their! deficiency!
shall!be!supplied!by!the!provisions!of!this!Code.!!
!
SPECIAL'CONFLICT'OF'LAW'RULES''
!
MARRIAGE''
Definition:!!
Art.! 1,! FC.! Marriage! is! a! special! contract! of!
permanent! union! between! a! man! and! a! woman!
entered! into! in! accordance! with! law! for! the!
establishment! of! conjugal! and! family! life.! It! is! the!
foundation! of! the! family! and! an! inviolable! social!
institution! whose! nature,! consequences,! and!
incidents! are! governed! by! law! and! not! subject! to!
stipulation,! except! that! marriage! settlements! may!
fix! the! property! relations! during! the! marriage!
within!the!limits!provided!by!this!Code.!!
!
Extrinsic'Validity'of'Marriage''
(1)!Formal!Requisites!of!Marriage!under!Philippine!
Law![Art.!3,!FC]!!

(a)!Authority!of!the!solemnizing!officer!!
(b)! !Valid! marriage! license! except! in! the!
cases!provided!for!in!Chapter!2!of!Title!I!!
(c)!!A!marriage!ceremony!which!takes!place!
with! the! appearance! of! the! contracting!
parties! before! the! solemnizing! officer! and!
their! personal! declaration! that! they! take!
each! other! as! husband! and! wife! in! the!
presence!of!not!less!than!two!witnesses!of!
legal!age.!!
(2)!Determination!of!Extrinsic!Validity!!
Art.! 26,! FC.! All! marriages! solemnized! outside! the!
Philippines!in!accordance!with!the!laws!in!force!in!
the!country!where!they!were!solemnized,!and!valid!
there!as!such,!shall!also!be!valid!in!this!country.!Xxx!!
Art.!2,!Hague!Convention.!Formal!requirements!for!
marriage! are! governed! by! the! law! of! the! state! of!
celebration.!!
General!Rule:!Lex!Loci!Celebrationis!!
Exceptions:!The!following!marriages!are!void!even!
if! valid! in! the! country! where! celebrated! [Art.! 26,!
FC]:!!
(a)! Those! contracted! by! any! party! below! 18! years!
of! age! even! with! the! consent! of! parents! or!
guardians![Art.!35(1),!FC]!
(b)! Bigamous! or! polygamous! marriages! not! falling!
under!Art.!41,!FC![Art.!35!(4),!FC]!
(c)! Those! contracted! thru! mistake! of! one!
contracting! party! as! to! the! identity! of! the! other!
[Art.!35(5),!FC]!!
(d)! Those! subsequent! marriage! without! recording!
in! the! civil! registry! the! judgment! of! annulment! or!
declaration! of! nullity,! partition! and! distribution! of!
properties! and! the! delivery! of! the! childrens!
presumptive!legitimes![Art.!35(6),!FC]!!
(e)!!A!marriage!contracted!by!any!party!who,!at!the!
time! of! the! celebration,! was! psychologically!
incapacitated! to! comply! with! the! essential! marital!
obligations! of! marriage,! even! if! such! incapacity!
becomes! manifest! only! after! solemnization! [Art.!
36,!FC]!!
(f)!!Incestuous!marriages[Art.37,FC]!!
(i)! !Marriages! between! ascendants! and!
ascendants! of! any! degree,! whether!
legitimate!or!illegitimate;!and!!
(ii)! !Marriages! between! brothers! and!
sisters,!whether!of!the!full!or!halfablood!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(g)!Void!marriages!for!reasons!of!public!policy!(Art.!
38,!FC)!!
(i)! !Marriages! between! collateral! blood!
relatives,!whether!legitimate!or!illegitimate,!
up!to!the!4th!civil!degree!!

(2)! !Intrinsic! requirements! of! marriage! under!


Philippine!Law![Art.!2,!FC]!!
(3)!!The!Hague!Convention!on!Validity!of!Marriages!
allows! a! contracting! state! to! refuse! recognition! of!
the!marriage!in!the!ff.!Cases!(CRaM3):!!

(ii)! !Marriages! between! stepaparents! and!


stepa!children.!!
(iii)! !Marriages! between! the! adopting!
parent!and!adopted!child!!
(iv)! !Marriages! between! the! surviving!
spouse! of! the! adopting! parent! and! the!
adopted!child!!
(v)! !Marriages! between! the! surviving!
spouse! of! the! adopted! child! and! the!
adopter!!
(vi)! !Marriages! between! an! adopted! child!
and!a!legitimate!child!of!the!adopter!!
(vii)! !Marriages! between! adopted! children!
of!the!same!adopter!!
(viii)!Marriages!between!parties!where!one,!
with!the!intention!to!marry!the!other,!killed!
that! other! person's! spouse,! or! his! or! her!
own!spouse.!!
!
Note:!These!exceptions!put!into!issue!the!capacity!
of! the! parties! to! enter! into! the! marriage! and!
therefore!relate!to!the!substantive!requirement!for!
marriage!and!is!governed!by!lex!nationalii.!!
!
Intrinsic'Validity'of'Marriage''
(refers!to!capacity!of!a!person!to!marry)!
(1)! Intrinsic! validity! is! determined! by! the! parties!
personal! law,! which! may! be! their! domiciliary! or!
national!law.!!
Note:!
(a)!Laws!relating!to!Family!rights!and!duties,!!
Status,! Condition! or! Legal! capacity! of! persons! are!
binding!on!citizens!of!the!Philippines,!even!though!
living!abroad![Art.!15]!!
(b)!!When!either!or!both!of!the!contracting!parties!
are! citizens! of! a! foreign! country,! it! shall! be!
necessary! for! them! before! a! marriage! license! can!
be!obtained!to!submit!a!certificate!of!legal!capacity!
to! contract! marriage,! issued! by! their! respective!
diplomatic!or!consular!officials![Art.!21,!FC]!!
(c)!!Marriages!enumerated!under!Art.!26(2),!FC!are!
void!even!if!valid!in!the!country!where!celebrated.!!

(a)! !One! of! the! parties! did! not! freely!


Consent!!
(b)! !Spouses! were! Related,! by! blood! or!
adoption!!
(c)! !One! of! the! parties! did! not! have! the!
Mental!capacity!to!consent!!
(d)! !One! of! the! spouses! was! already!
Married!!
(e)!!One!of!the!parties!has!not!attained!the!
Minimum! age,! nor! acquired! the! necessary!
dispensation!!
!
Note:!!
(1)!Rule!on!Proxy!Marriages:!
(a)! Proxy! marriages,! where! permitted! by!
the! law! of! the! place! where! the! proxy!
participates! in! the! marriage! ceremony,! are!
entitled! to! recognition! in! countries!
adhering!to!the!lex!loci!celebrationis!rule,!at!
least!insofar!as!formal!validity!is!concerned!!
(b)! Internal! Philippine! law,! however,! does!
not!sanction!proxy!marriages.!!
(2)!Consular!Marriages!
Marriages!between!Filipino!citizens!abroad!may!be!
solemnized! by! a! consulageneral,! consul! or! vice!
consul! of! the! Republic! of! the! Philippines! [Art.! 10,!
FC].!!
!
Effects'of'Marriage''
(1)!Personal!relations!between!the!spouses!
(a)! Governed! by! the! national! law! of! the!
parties!!
NOTE:! If! the! spouses! have! different! nationalities,!
generally! the! national! law! of! the! husband! may!
prevail!as!long!as!it!is!not!contrary!to!law,!customs!
and!good!morals!of!the!forum.!!
(b)!Under!Philippine!law,!personal!relations!
between! the! spouses! include! [Arts.! 68,! 70a
71,!FC]!!
(i)!!mutual!fidelity!!
(ii)!!respect!!
(iii)!!cohabitation!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

(iv)!!support!!
(v)! !right! of! the! wife! to! use! the!
husbands!family!name!!
(2)!Property!relations!
(a)!The!Hague!Convention!declares!that!the!
governing!law!on!matrimonial!property!is:!!
(i)! !The! internal! law! designated! by!
the!spouses!before!the!marriage!!
(ii)! !In! the! absence! thereof,! the!
internal!law!of!the!state!in!which!the!
spouses!fix!their!habitual!residence!!
(b)!Rule!under!Philippine!law![Art.!80,!FC]!!
(i)! !In! the! absence! of! a! contrary!
stipulation!in!the!marriage!settlements,!the!!
property! relations! of! the! spouses!
shall! be! governed! by! Philippine! laws,!
regardless!of!!
the! place! of! the! celebration! of! the!
marriage!and!their!residence.!!
(ii)!!Rule!is!inapplicable:!!
(1)!!If!both!spouses!are!aliens!!
(2)! !With! respect! to! the!
extrinsic! validity! of! the!
contracts! affecting! property!
not! situated! in! the!
Philippines! and! executed! in!
the! country! where! the!
property!is!located!!
(3)! !With! respect! to! the!
extrinsic!validity!of!contracts!
entered! into! in! the!
Philippines! but! affecting!
property!situated!in!a!foreign!
country! whose! laws! require!
different! formalities! for! its!
extrinsic!validity.!!
(c)!Doctrine!of!Immutability!of!Matrimonial!
Property!Regime:!!
The!change!of!nationality!on!the!part!of!the!
husband!or!wife!does!not!affect!the!original!
property! regime! EXCEPT! when! the! law! of!
the! original! nationality! itself! changes! the!
marital!regime,!hence,!the!property!regime!
has!to!change!accordingly.!!
!
!
!
!

DIVORCE'AND'SEPARATION''
!
Rule'under'the'Hague'Convention''
The!granting!of!divorce!or!separation!must!comply!
with! the! national! law! of! the! spouses! and! lex! fori!
(law!of!the!place!where!the!application!for!divorce!
is!made).!!
Divorce!Decrees!Obtained!by!Filipinos!!
General!Rule:!Decrees!of!absolute!divorce!obtained!
by! Filipinos! abroad! have! no! validity! and! are! not!
recognized!in!Philippine!Jurisdiction.!!
Note:!Statutory!Bases!!
(a)!!Laws!relating!to!Family!rights!and!duties,!or!to!
the!Status,!Condition!and!Legal!capacity!of!persons!
are! binding! upon! citizens! of! the! Philippines,! even!
though!living!abroad![Art.!15,!CC]!!
(b)!!Prohibitive!laws!concerning!persons,!their!acts!
or!property,!and!those!which!have!for!their!object!
public!order,!public!policy!and!good!customs,!shall!
not!be!rendered!ineffective!by!laws!or!judgments,!
or! by! determinations! or! conventions! agreed! upon!
in!a!foreign!country.![Art.!17(3),!CC]!!
!
Exception:!Art.!26(2),!FC!
Where!a!marriage!between!a!Filipino!citizen!and!a!
foreigner! is! validly! celebrated! and! a! divorce! is!
thereafter! validly! obtained! abroad! by! the! alien!
spouse! capacitating! him! or! her! to! remarry,! the!
Filipino! spouse! shall! have! capacity! to! remarry!
under!Philippine!law!!
!
Van! Dorn! v.! Romillo,! Jr.! (1985):! Owing! to! the!
Nationality! Principle,! only! Philippine! nationals! are!
covered! by! the! policy! against! absolute! divorces,!
the!same!being!considered!contrary!to!our!concept!
of!public!policy!and!morality.!However,!aliens!may!
obtain! divorces! abroad,! provided! they! are! valid!
according!to!their!national!law.!!
!
Llorente! v.! Court! of! Appeals! (2000):! Divorce!
obtained!by!Petitioner!from!his!first!wife,!after!he!
was! admitted! to! US! citizenship,! is! valid! and!
recognized!in!our!jurisdiction!as!a!matter!of!comity.!!
!
Republic!v.!Orbecido!(2005):!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!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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! were! a! foreigner! at! the! time! of! the!
solemnization!of!the!marriage.!The!reckoning!point!
is! not! the! citizenship! of! the! parties! at! the! time! of!
the! celebration! of! the! marriage,! but! their!
citizenship! at! the! time! a! valid! divorce! is! obtained!
abroad! by! the! alien! spouse! capacitating! the! latter!
to!remarry.!!
!
Validity'of'Foreign'Divorce'Between'Foreigners''
(1)! A! foreign! divorce! will! be! recognized! in! all!
contracting! states! if,! at! the! date! of! the! institution!
of! the! proceedings! (Hague! Convention! on! the!
Recognition!of!Divorce!and!Legal!Separation):!!
(a)!either!spouse!had!his!habitual!residence!
there;!!
(b)! both! spouses! were! nationals! of! that!
state;! or! (c)! if! only! the! petitioner! was! a!
national,! he! should! have! his! habitual!
residence!there!!
(2)While! there! is! no! provision! of! law! requiring!
Philippine! courts! to! recognize! a! foreign! divorce!
decree! between! nonaFilipinos! such! will! be!
recognized! under! the! principle! of! international!
comity,!provided!that!it!does!not!violate!a!strongly!
held!policy!of!the!Philippines.!!
!
ANNULMENT'AND'DECLARATION'OF'NULLITY''
Jurisdiction'to'Annul''
(1)! Vested! in! the! court! of! the! domicile! of! the!
parties!!
(2)! Jurisdiction! over! the! nonaresident! defendant! is!
not!essential!!
!
Governing'Law''
(1)! Lex! loci! celebrationis! determines! the!
consequences!of!any!defect!as!to!form!!
(2)! In! general,! the! same! applies! with! reference! to!
substantive!or!intrinsic!validity.!But!with!regard!to!
capacity! of! the! parties! to! marry,! national! law! is!
determinative.!!

!
!
!

HUMAN'RELATIONS''
ABUSE'OF'RIGHT''
!
Art.! 19.! Every! person! must,! in! the! exercise! of! his!
rights! and! in! the! performance! of! his! duties,! act!
with! justice,! give! everyone! his! due,! and! observe!
honesty!and!good!faith.!!
!
ACTS'CONTRARY'TO'LAW''
Art.!20.!Every!person!who,!contrary!to!law,!wilfully!
or! negligently! causes! damage! to! another,! shall!
indemnify!the!latter!for!the!same.!!
!
ACTS'CONTRA'BONUS'MORES''
Art.! 21.! Any! person! who! wilfully! causes! loss! or!
injury! to! another! in! a! manner! that! is! contrary! to!
morals,! good! customs! or! public! policy! shall!
compensate!the!latter!for!the!damage.!!
Breach! of! promise! to! marry! is! not! an! actionable!
wrong.! [De! Jesus! vs.! Syquia,! 58! Phil.,! 866]!
BUT!damages!may!be!recoverable!!
!
Wassmer!v.!Velez!(1964):!Mere!breach!of!promise!
to! marry! is! not! an! actionable! wrong.! But! to!
formally! set! a! wedding! and! go! through! all! the!
aboveadescribed!preparation!and!publicity,!only!to!
walk! out! of! it! when! the! matrimony! is! about! to! be!
solemnized,! is! quite! different.! This! is! palpably! and!
unjustifiably! contrary! to! good! customs! for! which!
defendant!must!be!held!answerable!in!damages!in!
accordance!with!Article!21!aforesaid.!!
!
Baksh! vs.! Court! of! Appeals! (1993):! Article! 21! may!
also! be! applied! in! a! breach! of! promise! to! marry!
where! the! woman! is! a! victim! of! moral! seduction.!
Award! of! damages! pursuant! to! Article! 21! is!
justified!not!because!of!such!promise!to!marry!but!
because!of!the!fraud!and!deceit!behind!it!and!the!
willful! injury! to! her! honor! and! reputation! which!
followed!thereafter.!!
!
Tanjanco! v.! Court! of! Appeals! (1966):! The! conduct!
of! a! woman! of! adult! age,! maintaining! intimate!
sexual!relations!with!appellant,!with!repeated!acts!
of! intercourse! is! incompatible! with! the! idea! of!
seduction.!!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

PRINCIPLE'OF'UNJUST'ENRICHMENT''
!
Art.! 22.! Every! person! who! through! an! act! of!
performance! by! another,! or! any! other! means,!
acquires!or!comes!into!possession!of!something!at!
the! expense! of! the! latter! without! just! or! legal!
ground,!shall!return!the!same!to!him.!!
Not! necessarily! a! Payment! should! be! mistake! in!
payment!made!by!mistake!!
!
!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!JD 103-PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS REVIEWER

Silliman University College of Law Class of 2018

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