One of the more popular posts in this Forum is Annulment, Divorce and Legal Separation in the Philippines: Questions and Answers. It’s time we collate other common issues relating to this topic. When we speak of the “annulment process”, we’re using it in a general sense to include both a petition for annulment and a petition for declaration of nullity (the difference between the two was already discussed in Part I).
Should I seek an annulment?
This is a personal decision that should not be taken lightly. While divorce is not allowed in the Philippines, the fact that the law provides for annulment means that there are meritorious instances that would justify the annulment of marriage.
What specifically is the role of the Solicitor General in the process of annulment? Is it true that the SolGen is often the source of delay?
The Solicitor General is authorized to intervene and take part in the proceedings for annulment and declaration of nullity of marriages before the RTC and on appeal to higher courts.The Solicitor General is the principal law officer and legal defender of the land. His intervention in the proceedings ensures that the interest of the State is represented and protected in proceedings for annulment and declaration of nullity of marriages by preventing collusion between the parties, or the fabrication or suppression of evidence. This is the express pronouncement of the Supreme Court. The SolGen may or may not appeal an annulment decision, and such decision is within its authority. In other words, it’s not true, and unfair to say, that the SolGen is the cause of delay.
How long does an annulment process usually take?
The entire process could take less than a year or, if you’re unfortunate, years. There are so many factors that could delay the proceedings. You and your lawyer must be vigilant in making sure that the proceedings go smoothly.
How much does it usually cost?
This is a difficult question, primarily because there are so many variations. If you have absolutely limited resources, you could file the petition as a pauper litigant (for filing fees) and seek free legal aid (discussed below). If you engage the services of a private lawyer, the entire process may cost you at least a Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP100,000).
I have a limited amount of money. Where can I seek legal aid?
There are certain institutions where you could seek free legal assistance. Start with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), although they may or may not accept your case, depending on their load (they’re usually overloaded with cases). The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and certain law schools, provide free legal aid. Remember, however, that your request may be denied because there are other important cases handled by these institutions.
How can I verify if my lawyer really filed the petition in court or if a decision was really issued? Can I obtain a copy of the decision?
You may ask your lawyer to provide you with a copy of all documents (motions, pleadings, orders, decisions, etc.) relating to your case. The photocopying cost, of course, will be charged to you. In any case, you could always request to photocopy the record with the court where the petition was filed.
If there’s already a decision annulling my marriage, but the decision is appealed by the Office of the Solicitor General, is it ok to remarry?
No. Unless and until the decision in your favor becomes final and executory (no motion for reconsideration or appeal was filed) and the other requisites have been complied with, you can’t remarry.
If you can’t find the answers here, please refer to Part I, Part III, Part IV, Part V, or other related posts. You can check the Related Posts at the bottom of each post. You can also use the Search function (also in the right sidebar).
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Hi Sir:
I just want to ask if there’s already a jurisprudence of Supreme Court taking the definition of pyschologically incapacitated, because according to some of the speakers from different forum that there’s already a Supreme Court definition of psychologically incapacitated… if there’s one what particular case or cases would it be?
because i’m also hearing some speakers telling us that there’s no exact definition for pyschologicall incapacity
Thanks and more power =)
Good morning Sir,Madaam,
Magtanong sana ako Kong pwd ba mag file ng Free annulment kht hnd ka sa lugar na ikinasal pwd ba kahit saan po mag file annulment, hope na pabigyan pansin ung tanong ko
Salamat
Hi sir,
Hiwalay po aq mag 7 years na sa January.Kinasal po Kami sa mayor at year2009 kaso nagsama lng po kami ng aking asawa halos 2 taon lng dahil sa pananakit nya skin physical and emotional. Ngayon po nakapagisip isip q na baka pwedi q ng tuloyang hiwalayan lalot my roon na syang ibang babae. Pwedi nyo po bng ituro as akin f ano pong aking gagawin.
Hello po..san po ako patulong or magpa advice at ano ang dapat kbg gawin para na annualled kasal nmin..
Good morning po .Ask ko lang po ang procedure kung Paano mag apply ng partition of property.Nasa abroad po ako samantalang Asawa ko nasa Phils. Ngayon po hiwalay na kami here in abroad Hindi na po ako Phil. Passport.May apt. Po kami ako ang nasa Name ng title pero yong pinagpahawa share kami ngayon Ayaw nya akong Bigyan ng Karapatan sa apt. Ano po ba Gagawin ko.Salamat po Sana matulungan nyo ako.Thank you po.Normita
Psych incapacity is case to case basis. There are guidelines set down by Republic v. CA (Molina doctrine) and Santos doctrine. However, it is to note that it depends on the circumstances available.
Pax, I won’t consider it as a definition, but more of a characterization. There’s no exact definition of psychological incapacity.
Hi sir paano po ba magpaannul Kasi
po matagal na po kmi hiwalay sa Asawa ko
Ko sir may kasama na din po Xa at may anak na babae at may anak din po kmi..kasal po kmi sa mayor gusto ko po
Sana mawalan ng visa ang kasal namin pro
Magkano po ba sa public attorney ang byad sir?
At mag 4 yrs na po kmi hiwalay sir?? At Yong anak nmin Wla po suporta gusto ko na po sanang maanull sir Yong anak nmin
7 yrs old na po Sana po matulungan po ninyo ako sir
Hi sir im looking for lawyer me and my friend planning to file annulment here my number 09096739366
Hi Sir,
I am married for seven years now and have two kids. 6 and 1 year old. If me and my wife have agreed to file for an annulment due to irreconcilable differences which our problems have reached the barangay’s attention and the police abroad as well, will there be a chance for annulling our marriage? especially emotional and physical abuse is involved? will psychological incapacity be a strong ground for this?
Thanks and kind regards
atty,
my wife will be filing an annulment and will be using the pyschological incapacitated against me..pero nag usap narin kami regarding this matter sabi nya eto na raw ang pinaka mabilis na process ng annulment..my questions are; can i still get marry? coz i heard kung sino lang ang nag file ng annulment sya lang ang pwedeng magpakasal at akong pinalabas na masama just to have an annulment sa marriage namin eh wala nang chance makapagpakasal?at meron pa bang akong karapatan sa mga kids namin?
thanks
Good day sir
Tanong ko lang po may ground po ba para sa annulment. Kung finake lang ang marriage certificate para sa requirements sana ng issurance company. Pero nairegister pala ng agent ang fake marriage. Walang naganap na ceremony. Kumuha lang ng form tapos doon kami pina sign at siya na ang naglakad. Until recently we found out that its registered to nsa. Thank you po in advance.
Marvinfg, I’m sorry I could not address your concerns because I don’t know all the facts and, more importantly, we’re prohibited from giving any legal advice. May I suggest that you read the other related articles in this site. Better still, discuss the grounds with your retained lawyer.
Ilongranger, please note that collusion among the spouses is prohibited in annulment proceedings, and it’s the duty of the public prosecutor to determine that there’s none. There’s a debate on whether a person declared psychologically incapacitated should be allowed to remarry. For those in the affirmative, the reason is the assumption that people change and giving that person a second chance. Those in the negative argue that psychological incapacity is incurable, which means that the person should not be allowed to remarry. As the law stands today, however, even those declared as pscyhologically incapacitated can still remarry.
Good afternoon atty
Tanung ko lng kong kung mag asawa na halos 12 ng hiwalay at my pamilyang iba na po ang mr ko may vesa pa kaya ang kasal namin? Okay ba ako mag asawa or mag pakasal khit hindi kmi annual ng dati kong asawa anu po ba dapat kong gawin
Thanks po sana matulungan nyo ako. Sa katanungan ko Godblessed
hi sir. good day. i’m karen 24 yrs old. presently working in kuwait. i got married sept 2001 at the age of 18. after a year his mom took my husband here in kuwait to work. first year was ok sending text messages everyday, calling. but after a year everything change. communicating only after 2 -3 months and eventually we had lost our communication for almost 6 months. then something happened, his mom called me and told me that he was caught by policeman for illegal drugs and ask me if i wanted to see him here.( he stayed here for more than 3 yrs before i came, but they only took me when he is already in prison) so i came here oct 2005 and decided to work while waiting for courts decision. he was sentenced to 5 yrs imprisonment on illegal drugs. luckily after almost 2yrs of imprisonment he was pardoned and sent back to philippines. we communicate through phone and things are entirely different now and we are having a lot of difficulties understanding each other. his attitude is somewhat different from what i had known him before. saying bad things if im not able to send money inside the prison, telling crazy things and accusations. with the mother in law doing certain things that is really against my will. it was last january when we decided to be on a separate ways, though we haven’t talk in person since we never had a chance here. we’re in good terms now. he’s back in the philippines. i have found a new muslim foreign partner in life recently and offering me a marriage. i just wanna know atty if its posible for me to remarry again? and can i file annulment here in kuwait? i heard his mom is planning to take him here on december, will it be easier if we’re both here? thank you so much. pls help me. ..
Karen,
Petitions for annulment between Filipinos, or those initiated by the Filipino spouse (in a marriage between a Filipino and a foreigner) may only be filed here in the Philippines. Good luck and God bless.
Hi attorney I am willing to file an annulment we are 7 years separated because he has other woman and two sons that are staying together until now we don’t have kid and no and resources to divide I just wanted to be legal my name again please give me an advice how long and how much it will take. Thank you
Atty.
Sa tulad ko pong sperated sa wife ko may dalawang anak ako non ng hiwalay kami ng wife ko last 2013 ng ka sundo kami ng pag hatian yong dalawang bata dalawa po anak namin puro lalaki 7 at 6 yrs old na cla nasa akin mo ang panganay ngayon poh nabalitaan ko nalang na yong panganay ko iniwan ng asawa ko sa tita nya sa surigao city para mag trabaho sa abraod gusto ko sana makasama yong panganay ko gusto kung pumunta ng surigao para kunin yong panganay ko sa tita nya may rights po ba ako para ma kuha ko yong full custody ng anak ko habang wala mama nya at nasa abraod ok lang sa akin kahit di nya kami padalhan ng pera may work naman ako ngayon kaya kung buhayin mga anak ko mg isa sa ngayon poh isa lang talaga nasa isip ko gusto kung makasama anak ko habang wala pa yong mama nya
Tanong ko po
1 makukuha ko po ba anak ko sa titi nya
2 kung sa kaling di pumayag yong wife ko na kunin ko anak ko sa tita nya ano po dapat kung gawin at kanino ahensya ako lalapit para sa custody ng panganay ko
3 balitaan ko kc balak pa nila itakas ang bata para diko ma kuha sa tita nya pwdi ko po ba kasuhan ng kidnaping yong tita nya kung sakaling itatakas nila ang bata palayo sa akin yon lang poh sana makakuha ako kahit kunting payo galing sa inyo salamat
Hello po attorney, hiwalay po ako sa asawa ko ng 2005. Until now magsama po kami ang apat na taon Kaya po ako Naki pag hiwalay sa kanya Kc may babae po Sya. Simula ang mag hiwalay kami Hindi na po Sya nagbigay ang support sa mga anak nya.ano po ba ang dapat Kung gawin sa Ngayon may asawa na po sya.at ako naman mayron na din. At now mag pa convert me sa Islam Ano po ba ang dapat Kung gawin sa ngaun Para mapawalang bisa ang kasal ko sa una.kasal po kami sa huwis.
Hi Atty,
Im an OFW and and would like to seek for my marriage to be annuled. Me and my husband has been separated for over two years now and he has got a daughter with the other woman. We got married in Marinduque and he is an American living in Kuwait. From my understanding, a Filipino living abroad can file the petition as ïn absencia”. Now, would I have to file the petition where we got married or can I file it in a family court in Manila/Cavite?
Half of the time I stay with my parents in Marinduque and half of it, I stay in Cavite.
Best regards,
Pamela
atty, good day! gusto ko lang malaman kung anong gagawin kong process kung annulment ba o void na talaga yung sa case ko. dito kasi ako sa dubai. kasi may gf ako dati, so nagpakasal kami.. papunta na sya ng japan nov 2005.. so nagpakasal kami nung ng nov 9 2005. kasi aalis na sya ng nov 24. nagsama kami nun. at tapos nakita ko wallet nya na may ID sya na iba ang surname. Surname ng isang Japanese. Inamin nya sakin na nagpakasal pala sya sa pinas mga april 2005 sa isang hapon. employer nya yun. spouse visa.. so ipinaliwanag nya sakin kung bakit ganun. so yun nga, dahil nga para lang makapagwork sya dun sa Japan. so pumayag na ako kasi kasal na din kami. after ilang months na makaalis sya eh nagkagalit na kami. nagkahiwalay. di ko na sya nakita. ngayon october 2007 na.. almost 2 years na kaming kasal. pero matagal ko na syang kinalimutan. nakamove on na ako sa ngyari. ngayon gusto ko alisin yung record namin sa NSO. ano bang pwede kong gawin. Void ba yun at walang bisa ang kasal namin? madali lang ba magawan nga paraan yung case ko? please help me atty kasi may gf ako dito sa Dubai, and we are planning to get married. pero magagawa ko lang yung kapag may certificate of no marriage akong naipakita dito sa philippine consulate dito sa dubai. at ang isa pa. alam kasi ng gf ko ngayon na single ako. please help me..
Hello atty. I am presently working as a call center agent. And my husband does not have work. Actually, even before that he has work, it does not make sense since “his money, is his money”. Even when he tried to give me money for expense, I am not accepting it, since when I accept it, I will be paying all his debts, which is much more that what he is about to give me. Anyway, I would like to file marriage annulment. Not only for economical violence (not having work) but because of physical and psychological violence. There are a lot of things that I would like to know since filing annulment is very expensive. First, how long would it take for this process? And secondly, how much? I heard the psychologist examination would cost 30k…ouch. How about if I do not have that money at hand? (I am a bread winner, living with my parents and brother and sister. My parents are just vendor of candle and and brother and sister are still both studying)I cannot afford that kind of consultation. Do you know anymore who would charge me much more lower than 30k? I am asking for assistance too at Public Attorney’s Office, but still the atty told me that the psychological consultation is not free. It is still 30k. Aside from the doctor’s fee, what other expense would I need to pay? Can I pay it in installment if ever? Do I have to pay for my husband’s psychological exacm since he does not have work? Thanks for any assistance you may give.