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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Hi, Atty.
Ano po ang pwde kong gawin sa baby ko as her father.
Yung ex-live-in partner ko kasi may bago nang bf at kung saan saan nila dinadala yung anak ko.
wala po ba akong karapatan pra makuha yung bata dhil s 3y/o palang sya?
gusto ko din makasama yung anak ko. baka ksi someday ibang tatay na kilalanin nya.
PS: hindi po kami kasal.
Thanks po.
Hello po ang prob ko po Ay May anak me dalawa sa pinas at lage po nagkakasakit sa ina nila. D po kame kasal at matagal na kme naghiwalay almost a yrs napo. Gsto ko po makuha mga anak ko kasi lage nagkakasakit mga anak ko sa ina nila sa tondo baseco manila. Ano po kayang dpat magagawa ko para makuha Ko po dlawang anak ko. Salamat po.
Gud afternoon po, ask q LNG po , UNG Tama qong gwin,, ofw po aq for 3yrs na nghiwalay kmi Ng tatay Ng MGA anak q 1yr ago n po, Hindi po kmi kasal, 8&5 yrs old MGA anak q, ngaun po SA abroad aq ulit, pero bago pa po aq umalis last year, nki page usap n po aq SA family Ng ex q n SA side q MGA bata pag pasukan na, pumayag cla pero dpo NLA tinupad, gusto q mkuha mga anak q anodapt q gwin, tnx po
Good day po Atty. Gusto ko pong isangguni kung may laban po kami sa custody ng pamangkin ko. Anak sya ng ate ko namatay si ate 2 days after nya manganak sa Kanya. Hindi kasal si ate sa ama ng bata na isang foreigner. Na acknowledge po ng ama ang bata na anak nya sya ang nakapirma sa birth certificate ng bata pero si ate hindi nakapirma dahil di agad na asikaso ng hospital yung birtcertificate ng bata noong nabubuhay pa si ate.
Ibinilin ni ate sa amin na ang bata ay huwag naming pababayaan dahil babalik uli pa si ate sa ibang bansa ngunit binawian naman ito ng buhay sa hospital.
Nagpunta ang ama ng bata dito sa Pinas noong nakaburol na si ate.
Nagpapadala naman ng sustento para sa bata noong una ngunit di katagalan pahirapan pa kung magpadala at hindi pa sapat sa pangangailangan ng bata. Sa tuwing sa sabihin ng kapatid ko na gatas ng bata at bakuna ay sasabihin lamang nyang next week hindi na ubos ang next week. Nasa 1 and 3 months na ngayon ang bata. At 7 monthsary ng hindi nagpapadala. Ngayon ay gusto na nyang kunin ang bata sa amin at inuutos nyang pagawan na namin ng passport para makuha na nya ito. Ipinadala na dito sa Pinas ang bago nyang girlfriend ni filipina na kukunin nga daw ng ama ang bata. Nagkaroon ng videoing na kinakausap ng ama ang bata at naninigirilyo pa ito. Gusto nila makuha ang bata dahil mayaman daw ang pamilya ng ama ng bata at maibibigay nya sa bata ang lahat ng pangangailangan nito. Maibibigay din namin ang pangangailangan ng bata hindi lang namin sila kasing yaman ngunit sa pagmamahal bilang kanyang kadugo kami ng Nanay ko mga kapatid nag aalaga sa bata at ako at ng aking asawa ang sumosuporta sa bata kahit hindi pa ito inaabandona nya ang bata.
Napaka sakit sa part namin na kukunin nalang nya ang bata sa amin na ibinuwis ng ate ko ang kanyang buhay para sa bata na hindi naman ito naghirap. Kung kukunin nya bata parang kaming namatayan ng dalawang beses.
Yung ama ay isang alcoholic, smoker, party goer at womanizer ito ay ayun din sa gf nya ngayon.
Atty. may habol po ba kami sa custody ng pamangkin namin? Anu po ang dapat naming gawin? Maraming salamat po!
Im a mother of three kids but my husband and mother in law didn´t want to give my youngest child to me, were married for 9 years, I don´t know what to do, I have a stable job and he have a job too for almost a month only, my youngest child is only 4 years old, I want my three kids and i dont know how or what to do.
Sir magttanong lang po ung asawa ko nkkipaghiwalay na sakin marami kmi hindi nagkasunduin at nki alam ang pamilya nya.. ngyon maspinili nya makasama ang pamilya kaysa maayos po ung sarili nming pamilya..maari ko po bang gamitin pra mapapunta sakin ang bata 8yrs na po ang anak nmin? Salamat po
Please help me, pinalayas ako sa bahay ng parents ko pero ayaw nila ipasama saken ang anak ko na 1 year old pa lang, paano ko po makukuha ang Baby ko ?
Good day sr.
magtatanong lang poh sana ilang buwan ba matapos ang sole custody.
thanks poh sr.
Hi Attorney,
Me and my ex are about to separate and we have a 10 year old son. My son wants to go with me but the mom said “she’ll file legal actions against me” if I take my son with me. I’m confident that I am fit to be a parent to my son. Do I have to be the one to prove that I am fit or is she the one to prove that I am not?
Good day Atty. Gusto ko lang po malaman kung paano po magkakaroon ng right ang isang lesbian sa anak ng dati nya kinakasama. Iniwan po kasi nung Nanay yun bata sa kanya mula nang 9 months old pa lang po ito. So lahat lahat po sya na nagalaga at lahat ng needs ng bata binigay na rin nya hanggan sa pagbibinyag sa bata hanggan nagschooling na ito 6 years old na yun bata ngayon year na ito. Pareho po silang magkasama sa trabaho. Ngayon po naghiwalay na sila kasi may iba na nakarelasyon un Nanay ng bata na leabian din po at nagkaroon ng issue sa workplace nila na involve yun friends nya. Ngayon nagtext sa kanya na kukuhanin na nya ang bata. Willing naman po syang ibigay ang bata right ng Mother yun ang gusto lang po nya sana magkaroon sya ng visting rights sa bata o kaya mahiram ito sa kanya pag may mga special occasion sa kanila.