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,
My ex and I agreed to separate. It has been more than a year since January 2018 that we have mutually agreed to separate. My ex has filed for annulment via Public Attorney’s Office. However, the annulment case has not gone to court due to financial constraints. Only an initial consultation between me and my ex was brought on by the Makati PAO.
We both still live in the same residence. The residence is a 3-storey condo type home. My ex and daughter lives on the 3rd floor. I have moved out of the 3rd floor unit as early as March 2018 and moved to the 2nd floor unit.
I found out that my wife WILL BE secretly moving out my daughter. Moreover, I found out from my daughter (and have recorded the conversation) that they will live with this man and this man’s daughter. My wife has seem to be integrating or immersing my daughter to this man’s life since December 2018. There were a number of times that they have went out. My wife does not disclose and lied as to who will be my daughter in contact with and that this man will be in the presence of my daughter.
What recourse do I have to prevent them from moving given that my ex is being secretive about it? Will Art 211 of the Family Code work on this scenario?
My partner left me a few days after ko umalis ng pinas. We have a daughter now 5 months. A few days after leaving me, may boyfriend na siya. Aftee around a month, i came home sa inuupahan naming bahay to surprise her pero ako yung nasurprise na nasa kwarto siya kasama yung lalake with my daughter. Naka lock pa pinto at patay ilaw. Ngayon nandun na sila sa parents niya. Ayaw ng parents niya na magkaron siya ng bagong relationship dahil hindi naaalagaan ng maayos yung anak namin. Sila pa mismo nagmemessage sakin na hindi nga nagagampanan ng maayos yung pagiging nanay niya at anak dahil nga dun sa lalake. May karapatan ba ko na makuha ko anak ko? Pano po gagawin ko na ngayon nasa barko na ulit ako?
Hi atty,
i Just want to know what are the process and procedures on stepfather adopting illegitimate child (my child) who was acknowledged by his biological father. my ex and me was never married. i’m married now to the step father of the child but my child is still names after his biological father. i want to know if my husband now can adopt him and change his surname to his without the fathers consent. plus, biological father was never there for the child. he’s has Intemperament issues as well. we’re Filipino citizens residing in Dubai.
please help.
thank you
I need an advice for my brother he is a legal father and also he is the one who supporting there family he have there own house but his gf take away the baby and staying with her parents and she don’t even have a job to support the baby and just relaying to her parents. Is my brother have the right to take the baby with him ???
Good morning po!
Pls advise me po. Ask q lng po kung ang ina po ba ay may kinakasama ng ibang lalake, pero ang tunay na asawa nia ay wla nman, maari po bang isama nia ang knyang mga anak na edad 16 at 9 parehong babae na mamuhay kasama ung kinakasama nia sa kasalukuyan? Gusto po ng tunay na ama ng mga bata na mapunta sa knya ang mga anak dahil na rin sa pag aalala na mapahamak ang knyang mga anak sa kinakasama ng ina nila. May karapatan po ba ang kanilang ama pra sa costudy? Salamat po, gbu!
Atty, magandang araw po.
Sana matulungan nyo po ako. I have a live in partner for almost 7 years at meron kaming anak na babaye. We seperated kasi she cheated on me twice sa magka ibang lalake. My daughter was a witness sa kung anu ang ginawa nya. My daughter at that time was turning 7 years old at pinili nya ako over sa mama nya. And now she is turning 8 this year. Ang pinangangambahan ko is. Baka maghabol yung ex ko sa anak ko. Which I am afraid that it’ll happen. At ayaw talaga ng daughter ko sumama sa mama nya. She was traumatized kasi about sa nangyari. During those times kasi na nagloko ex ko yung anak q nagsuffer. Hindi nya man lang mahatid sa school at kailangan ko pang pilitin para lang mahatid yung anak namin. At d nya pa nahatiran ng panglunch yung anak namin.
At ngaun kasal na cya sa iba at me anak na rin. Me chansa po ba na sa akin nalang yung full custody ng daughter ko?
Atty. Magandang araw po. hinge po sana aku ng advice sa custody po ng anak ku, bale po since birth po aku na ung nag aalaga sa anak until 2yrs old po sya that time po share kami ng ex live in partner ku sa mga gastosin and that time din po nag hahanap p aku ng work exactly 2yrs old na anak ku nung nakabalik aku sa abroad naiuwi ku po ung anak ku sa province kc wala po mag aalaga sa side ng ex live in partner ku and nung mga 2mos. p lng po aku sa work na diagnose po sa ASD or Autism sprectrum disorder ung anak ku since then po aku na lahat na gastos mga therapy lahat2x po and by that time na nasa province na anak ku ni singko po di nagbibigay ung ex ku up until na 4yrs old na ang bata. as a father po ng anak ku anu po b pwede ku gawin atty. na para mag stay nlng po sa akin anak ku. should i wait mag 7yrs old ang bata as per our law is concern and file po ng case para sa custody.
good day atty..
tanong ko lang po sana kung malakas ba chance ko na mkuha custody ng anak ko..lalaki po ako hindi kami kasal ng ex live-in-partner ko at parehas na kami may sariling pamilya. ang akin lang babae po kase ang anak ko at may asawa na syang lalaki(kasal po sila) nakatira sila sa lugar na kilalang maraming drug addict at di maganda enviroment dun.. tpos wla po siyang trabaho pero ang asawa nya meron.. meron din naman po akong trabaho at may tindahan din po kami ng kinakasama ko ngayon..mag 7 years old na p ang anak ko this coming july 11, at tinutulungan din po kami ng family ko financially yun lang po.. maraming salamat po atty..
yuki
Atty pls help me po gusto ko ng umuwing pilipinas.. Papadalhan po ako ng pamilya ko ng ticket may kinakasama ako dito sa portugal pero di kami kasal meron po kaming anak 1year old . German passport po ang anak ko same kami ng ginagamit na apelyedo sa passport pero fil passport holder ako. Sa pinas po ako nanganak . Pwede ko po bang itravel ang anak ko pauwi samin sa pinas? Di namn po asawa ko nagastos samin. Pamilya ko rin po nagpapadala sakin sana po matulungan nyo ako. Maraming salamat.
Magandang araw po. Ako po si alex, may anak po ako na 3yrs old at buntis po ako ngayon ng 6months. Dati po kasi may nakafling ako na lalaki pero hindi pa po ako nun buntis. at isang beses po na nagkita kami pero never po may ngyari, umabot po ang relationship namin ng 3months. pero nung nahuli po ako ng asawa ko na kakontakan ko yung boy, itinigil ko po agad. Ngayon po ang asawa ko naman po ang nagloko at pinabayaan kami ng 2months na wala sya niha-niho. Kahit po mga panggastos sa panganay namin at sa pinagbubuntis ko pinabayaan nya po. Ngayon po ay binahay nya na yung kabit nya at sabi po nila na buntis daw po yung kabit ng asawa ko. Ngayon po ay nilalaban ko ppo sa barangay yung sustento na dapat sa mga anak ko at yung naiutang ko po sa kapitbhay namin na pera nung panahon na inabanduna nya na kami. Sa ngayon po tinatakot nila ako na ilalaban daw po nya custody sa panganay namin. Hindi ko po kasi pinapakita sa asawa ko yung anak ko kasi po ayoko na i-expose nya yung anak ko sa kabit nya. Hindi ko naman po pinagdadamot sa mga byenan ko ang anak ko. Tanong ko po kung may laban po ba sya sa custody? O malalaban ko po ba yung 2months na naiutang ko para mapunan yung pag aabanduna nya samin. Sana po matulungan nyo ko, at any opinion po kung magkano dapat ko hingiin na sustento para sa 3yrs old ko na anak at sa pinagbubuntis ko.