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]
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hello po,
Would like to ask kung anu pong pwedeng gawin may anak po ako 7 years old girl na nasa pangangalaga ng kanyang ina pero ndi ako bnugyan ng rights para ma acknowledge yung bata sa birth certificate all she want is magbigay ako ng suporta without seeing, without talking to my daughter khit thru phone lang.
Meron po ba akong habol sa anak ko?
Hi atty. ano po pwede kong gawin para mavisited ko anak ko na nasa puder ng fader nya? 7years old na po siya at until now pinagdadamutan sakin ung bata..
hi atty. may question po ako.may sis ako n may 4 n ansk sa unang asawa at ksal. sis ko po ay ofw sa dubai . ngppdala po sya ng pera sa asawa nung ngssama p sila ksond marunong ang asawang lalaki pro inom at pg aaddict lng.pinasa nya sa nanay ko ang responsibilidad kia nmatay nanay ko. d mn lng sya gumawa ng paraan pra ayusin mga anak nya puro barkada. after sometime ngkaroon ng bf ang sis ko at ngka anak sila. nawalan n k c sya ng gana sa asawa nya eh. nung nghiwalay sila nsa iisang barangay lng sila nktira pro d mn lng masustentuhan ng ama ung mga anak nya.ngaun ng paalam ung tatay n kukinin o hihiramin ung 12 y,o n babaeng anak pra umattnd ng ksal sa batangas. ayaw ng ina o ng sister ko kia ngalit ung tatay at mmsakit mga sinbi s kptid ko at isusumpa dw nya anak nya sa bf nya ngayon. kia nppyag n rin ung kptid ko n iphiram ung anak n babae sa ama. ng aalala lng po ako kc nga iresponsable sya png ama dalagita p nmam n amg pmngkin ko, at ngttka lng ako kc d mn lng nya amuhin unhpg isang anak nyang lalaki
Special child po yung anak namin dahilan para hindi makapagtrabaho yung ina. Pano po ang custody kung maghihiwalay ang mag asawa? Dahil po ba walang trabaho and ina, sa ama na mapupunta and bata?
Gud p’m atty, gusto ko po mag hinge ng advice sayo,sana matulunga. Mo ako.. May anak po ako 6 months old,hiwalay po kami ng tatay nya 2 months ago.. Nung nag usap kami ksama mga officials as a witness, gusto ko po sana sa poder ko ang anak ko.. Kasi ito ay maliit palang,at nag dissisyon po ako mag apply abroad para maka tulong ako sa parents ko pra sa gatas at kailanganin ng anak ko,at iwan ang anak ko sa nanay ko. At sinabi q anytime pwede syang dalawin ng tatay nya at tulugan sa bahay. Pero di po pumayag ang dating asawa ko at byanan.. Kasi bakit daw iwanan ko sa nanay ko ang bata may tatay naman ito… Gusto nila 15 days ang bata sa kanila 15 days din sa amin. Perro wala akung trust sa tatay nya kasi may bisyo ito. At sa byanan ko naman may dalawang apo syang alagaan. Kaya gusto q sana sa poder ng mga magulang ko ang anak ko, pero di po sila pumayag okey lang daw pag di ako aalis abroad. Tama po ba ang ginagawa nila atty? May right ba ako na kahit wala ako sa poder ng mga magulang ko ang anak ko at dalawin nlng nila ito? Plz i really need your help!.thank you..
Hello Atty,
My marriage was annulled ,as i found out I was a second wife, and that my husband was already married.However we have one child who is now 12 years old, and lives with my ex’s sister as my ex has 3 more children from another girl who he has since married.I also remarried a foreigner and we live between Philippines and Europe’s it possible for the court to award my son to me to live as he is not living with his father?
The child is saying ,he wants to stay with the father, but I strongly believe this is to stop me filing a case for custody in the Court.
Atty kung 7 years old n b may karapatan n b mamili ang bata.o sa nanay p rin po ba
Hi po,
Ask ko lng po , kasi ung brother nsa Australia ksama nya anak ung isa 17 yr old plang, pra po maging permaneny resident ung anak nya hinihingian po sila ng custody arrangement under 18 below such as court order..panu po ung process nito anu po dapat gwing ng wife nya na nandto sa philippines? Sino po mgfifile ung wife o ung brother ko..in good terms nman po sila.
good evening po.. may anak po kmi ng asawa ko at nkipag hiwalay po skin gusto ko po sana ako mag alaga sa anak ko pag umalis papunta ng abroad ang asawa ko kaya lng po ang gusto nia sa mga magulang ng asawa ko iiwan ang bata .. at ngayon po wala po xa trabaho ng papadala po ako ng sustento sa anak ko.. 2 years old po anak ko
Hi Atty.,
I am 32 years old already, I was adopted when I was about a days old due to my biological parents condition, my biological parents gave me to my supposedly Auntie (her sister). My adoptive parents gave me everything I need from love, care, education and even material things although we are not that fortunate. They become more than a parents to me, my brothers never treat me I’m not their sister, after so many years, now that I am making good fortune and now settled in US, my biological mother wants me back and do all the harassment she can do to us, even treat us that she will put my adoptive mom to jail for falsification of public documents, which I think my birth certificate which I am registered legitimately. My mom ask them if I have birth certificate since I need to go to school to study, but they cannot provide so they get one for me and make it a late registration. What we can do to stop this harassment and move on with our lives.