Custody of children is one of the most intense aspects in family litigation. A custody battle could be an independent case or a mere incident in an annulment/separation case. Some basic matters pertaining to child custody under Philippine laws are discussed below.
In custody disputes, what is the paramount criterion?
The paramount criterion in custody disputes is the welfare and well-being of the child, or the best interest of the child. The court, in arriving at its decision as to whom custody of the minor should be given, must take into account the respective resources and social and moral situations of the contending parents. Nevertheless, this primordial rule can override the rights of one or both parents over their children.
What is the general rule as to custody over children?
The general rule is that a child under seven years of age shall not be separated from his mother, which is based on the basic need of a child for his mother’s loving care. Article 213 of the Family Code provides that “[n]o child under seven years of age shall be separated from the mother, unless the court finds compelling reasons to order otherwise.” This is more pronounced in case of illegitimate children, as the law expressly provides that illegitimate children shall be under the parental authority of their mother.
Is this rule absolute?
This rule is not absolute. Even a mother may be deprived of the custody of her child who is below seven years of age for “compelling reasons.” Instances of unsuitability are neglect, abandonment, unemployment and immorality, habitual drunkenness, drug addiction, maltreatment of the child, insanity, and affliction with a communicable illness. Negligent and careless failure to perform the duties of parenthood is a significant element of abandonment, regardless of actual intention. A strong basis for a finding of the parent’s abandonment of his or her child is found in the case where the parent has left the child permanently or indefinitely in the care of others, given it to another, or surrendered it entirely.
I left my child with a relative, even signing a document to such effect. Am I barred from taking back my child?
Parental authority and responsibility are inalienable and may not be transferred or renounced except in cases authorized by law. The right attached to parental authority, being purely personal, 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. When a parent entrusts the custody of a minor to another, such as a friend or godfather, even in a document, what is given is merely temporary custody and it does not constitute a renunciation of parental authority. Even if a definite renunciation is manifest, the law still disallows the same.
Is the court bound by such preference of a child below 7 years of age?
While such choice is given respect, the court is not bound by that choice. The court may exercise its discretion by disregarding the child’s preference should the parent chosen be found to be unfit, in which instance, custody may be given to the other parent, or even to a third person. Decisions on custody of children are always open to adjustment as the circumstances may warrant.
[See also Child Custody of the Father and Mother, Visitation Rights in the Philippines]
- Twin-Notice Rule and Procedural Requirements in Employment Termination Proceedings - June 3, 2020
- When Travel Pass is Needed for Interzonal Travel during Community Quarantine - June 1, 2020
- Can Companies Compel Employees to Work during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and Impose Disciplinary Sanctions - May 29, 2020
Hello i would to ask how i get costudy of my 2kids? My kds was staying with me and my ex.bf have an agreement about how visitation .. and every holiday and summer but something happen he suddenly said to me that kids will be staying with him thats not in our agreement… how do i get my kids back is my ex. Need have to be the right costudy …and his a foreigners… please help me…. thank you
Sir gud eve po.d2 po aq n0w s saudi.mlpt na po matapos ang k0ntrata ko..naiwan ko po sa pilipinas ang 2 n anak isang mg’3 at mg’6.kc to gusto ko na po talaga humiwalay sa asawa ko.kc po nasa pilipinas pa lang po aq sinasaktan nya ako physically mentally and emotionally.at y0ng mga anak ko ganun dn po ginagawa nya.tap0s po kpg nkainum sya lagi n ak0ng inaambaan ng itak,pti mga anak ko nakikita po y0n.hangang andito n po aq nasasaktan nya po ako.dahik kada txt po marami syang sinasabi na masasakit.at nabalitaan ko po na gumagamit sya ng drugz.lht ng bisyo nasa kanya n.tap0s lage ak0ng tinatak0t n hnd ko daw mkuha mga anak ko.patayin dw muna sya bago ko mkuha.anu po pd kung gwn.s s0brang dmi n po kc ng txt skn bnura ko n po.dhl masakit kpg nbsa q,hangang ngaun po my bisyo p sya.sir need ko talaga advice.plz wg nyo po publish nem q ang email.tnx po at hntyin q po email nyo.
Hello po atty.
Isa po akong ofw sa middle east. May asawa pero hiwalay na po kami at may isang na babae 7 years old.
1 year na kaming hiwalay ng asawa ko atty. Dahil sa mga bisyo nya habang wala ako. Pati babae at drogas. Maraming ngsasabi sa kin, pati na mga kapatid nya at mama nya tungkol sa mga ginagawa nya.
Pati anak namin di na nya inaalagaan ng mabuti kasi maagang aalis ng bahay at uuwi naman ng madaling araw. Minsan iniwan nya yung bata na mag isang natulog sa gabi,hindi rin umaatend ng mga meetings sa school ng bata. Kahit saan nalang nya iniiwan ang anak namin. At minsan pa iniwan pa nya yung bata sa bahay ng babae nya. At palagi din po umiiyak ang bata dahil tinutukso ng mga tao na may ibang mama na daw sya. Sabi din ng teacher nya na may time na naging tulala ang bata sa klase nya,dahil siguro sa mga naririnig nya sa labas na hindi maganda tungkol sa papa nya.
Wala po syang stable job,pa extra extra lng. Minsan ngdrive ng tricyle or mag wiring sa mga bahay bahay.
Nung ng bakasyon po ako march 2015,kinuha ko yung anak namin at hinahabilin ko po sa mama ko. Dun mas maaalagaan sya ng mabuti at mapapakain sa saktong oras. Pinapadalhan ko na lang ng pera buwan buwan para sa lahat ng gastusin ng bata.
At nung bumalik na ako dito sa abroad,ngbalak naman ang asawa ko na kunin nya yung anak namin kasi magbabagong buhay na daw sya at magpapakabait. At habang wala daw ako dun,sa kanya daw muna ang custody ng bata.
Hindi ako pumayag sa gusto nya,kasi ng alala ako na baka mauulit na naman ang mga ngyayari sa bata dati na nasa poder pa nya. At hindi rin ako naniniwala na magpakabait na sya.
Ang tanong ko po, is there a possibility na makuha ng asawa ko ang anak namin habang wala ako sa pinas? Sa kabila ng mga ginawa nyang pang aabuso sa aming mag ina? Di po ba psychological abuse na ang sinapit ng aking anak? Ayoko na po na maulit ulit ang nadaanan ng anak ko po,na pinapabayaan lang. Ayoko ko na ibigay sa kanya anak namin,pero pinapayagan ko naman sya na bisitahin nya anak namin.
Please po,tulungan nyo po ako kung ano ba ang dapat kung gawin para hindi makuha ng asawa ko ang anak namin. Napakasakit isipin at damdamin na marinig ko na hindi maganda ang kalagayan ng aking anak,tapos wala pa akung magawa kasi andito ako sa malayo ngtatrabaho.
sir, what is our right para sa kid na 15 yrs old na napamahal na sa amin living with mom na may apat pa sya na kapatid lahat stop sa school and abandoned 5 their father for 5 yrs… sir, we put him in schoil and pay his debts sa dati nyang school. The boy is really attached to us… I supported the mother also and 4 na kapatid na quite sometime. shelter, needs , school etc. But then kinuha sa amin ang bata while in school for no reason… okay lang they went back to bataan tapos i even send the kid through his mom para mag school sa letran. pero the mom di nya sinabi sa kid na kami nagpadala… kasi she cut biglaan all communication sa min ng bata…. it was a traumatic event for my kids nawalan sila ng kuya kasi ung bunsi sibrang close sa kid. Last new year binalik nya ung bata so we put him in school again and supported the other kids ulit na ank nya.. then after few weeks the mother refunded the tuition fee without us knowing so no choice nag bayad na lang kami ulit then atleast naraos nya 1 year nya… so we transfer ulit sya sa better school kaso the school found out sa refund issue ng mom nya so ask us na magseek ng conscent letter sa father so hinanap namin ang father an okay na biglang ang father ayaw magbigay ng conscent and kukunin na raw nya mga bata… kaso ayaw sumama sa kanya ng bata so he got his ego there and forced the child to stay and pinalayas kami sa housr nila… ni choice ang bata he was crying and askin for help … then as of now d pa sya binabalik and ma drop na dya sa school. wlanag fone at pinagbawalan na mag communicate sa amin… di sya nag aaral as of now and kinuha na din ung mga kapatid… sayabg ang school..sobrang attached sa amin ang bata reason why nya kinuha by forced. Sir , napamahal na ang bata sa amjn at pamilya ko and naawa kami sa bata kasi sa mga tao na nakakausap nya halatang di masaya at pilit ang mga sagot … ano po ba ang pwde namin gawin?
ATTY, I understand that you are not allowed to provide any legal advice. How long will it take for the court to decide whose parent is capable to raise my son. I am a father, we are not merried. I don’t have big amount of money to pay a private atty. can PAO help me?
good day im jethro. my wife is working abroad. me and my mother in laws are renting a house. but we will fight who have a rights in my children.she told me that i dont have a right in my children. because they believe i have un affair to other girl. the bottom of this we we’ll fight about the custody of my 3 children.
she also told me that they have rights.because she taking may children.
who have rights?
thank you
hi atty good day, i need an advice i have 2 children from before age 11 and 12 and they had their fathers last name but we are not married ,and now i wanna bring them to other country what should i do? the father of my child is currently in prison lifetime in prison , what should i do to get sole custody or court order? the atty we ask is he said that i need the fathers signature but i doubt what the atty say ,i currently in other country now my children is in philippines please help me,
Godbless
Atty, I am currently here in dubai I want to get my child to her mother because she’s been not good and not always there for my baby I am saying this now because she’s having a baby too another man now she doesn’t want too give the child costudity to me. What should I do and give me an advice too make everything legal Atty.
Ask ko lng po sana kung ano pwedeng gawin sa mga apo ko na mtapos abandunahin ng nanay nila bigla na lamang kukunin kung kailan 3 at 2 yrs old na po halos lahat ng suporta pati mga pampa doktor ng bata kmi po ang sumagot mag asawa bale manugang ko po syang babae at anak ko ang lalaki,bnigyan pa po nmin sila ng bahay na matitirhan ,pero mula pa nmn po noon talagang di na sya palauwi hnggang mkatanggap na lamang po ang anak ko na maging magkaibigan na lamang daw sila at gusto kunin yung mga bata,na simulat sapul sakin nila pinaubaya ni walang suporta at kinattakot ko po yung 3 yrs old na apo ko maselan dahil my atopic dermatitis na lagi kong inaagapan dahil nagsusugat yun pong ina kc ng mga ito my anak din na 2 sa una mga boys nmn po ,ang mga apo ko mga girls,diko po kc nkitaan na mother material yung babae at di po sila kasalng anak ko,ang tanong ko lamang po ay kung my karapatan po bang kmi ay tumanggi na ibigay sa kanya ang mga apo ko na simulat sapul ako pona lola ang nag alaga,lahat din pong document ng bata nasa amin,..sana po ay matulungan po ninyo ako
I am a mother of a five year old kid. The father of my son is legally married with someone else. I have been separated with the father of my kid since September of 2014. The father is now living with her legal wife and daughter. Over the months, the father never made any attempt to see, support nor to reach out. Now, the father is demanding for visitation rights. Note, my son is using the last name of the father. Because of what happened, I don’t want the father to be granted of the visitation rights. Here are my questions:
1) What should I do, or what evidences can I present for the visitation rights of the father not be granted?
2) Based on my situation above, is there a any possibility that the visitation rights will be granted?