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 attorney mai gusto lang po akong itanonh or hingi ako Ng advice.ano po ba ang dapat kung gawin upang mabawi ang aking anak sa tatay na nasa kanya ang full cutstoy o sole custody ng aking anak ,dahilan na wala akong trabaho kaya iginawad ng courty ang full custody ng anak ko sa tatay, at ngaun po ay pinapahirapan nya po ako at ipinagdadamot nya anak ko sa akin at ginagamit nya ang anak ko para makuha lahat ng gusto nya dahil alm nya po ang anak ko ang kahinaan ko as a mother,!
Hi po good day gusto ko lang po sana mag ask ng advice kasi po hiwalay po ako sa ex husband ko and regarding sa custody ng mga anak ko we signed an agreement sa barangay but now gusto ko ng mabawi ang mga anak ko dahil nagkakasakit sila madalas and gusto ko ako ang mag alaga sa kanila. May chance po ba na mabawi ko ang anak ko kahit po may iba na akong kinakasama ngayon? Thanks po
Hi atty. Paano po kumuha ng full custody?
Hindi po nakalagay ang tatay ng anak ko sa birth certificate nya. Ngayon po kasal na ko sa isang danish at iaaply ko na po sya ng visa dito sa bansa ng asawa ko para magkasama na kmi. Kaso kailangan ko pong iprove na ako lang may full custody sa kanya. Paano po kayo at saan ako makakakuha nun? Nandito pa rin ako sa bansa nya. Maaari po bang isa sa magulang ko ang kumuha nito? Maraming salamat po.
-Famela
Dear Atty,
Magandang hapon po, ako po si shaine ofw sa UAE. Meron po akong anak sa pinas 11yrs old na po, nasa pangangalaga po ng lola nia sa father side. Hindi po kami kasal ng tatay ng anak ko at may kanya kanya na rin po kaming pamilya. They are the one who took care of my child since he was 1 yrs old and 2 months ( due to circumtances )until now but im giving financial support since then, Now po gusto ko na po kunin ung anak ko but im pretty sure hindi ako ang pipiliin nia dahil hindi naman ako ung nakagisnan nia. And a typical child reaction. May laban po ba ako atty. kung iakyat ko ang kaso sa korte? I never abondoned my child since they took over the care of my child , we have communication and i always make sure that every birthday of my im always present. GUSTO KO NA PO MAKUHA UNG ANAK KO PO.
PLEASE ADVISE ATTY. YOUR REPLY IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
Hi Atty,
Meron po akong kapatid na lalaki, they are not in good terms ng kinakasama nya. Meron po silang dalawang anak na lalaki edad 14 at 13. Di po maganda ung pgsasama nila laging ng aaway, ung kapatid ko po ay ngwowork sa ibang lugar tpos ung mga bata kasama ng nanay nila. Minsan po d makasundo ng mga bata ung nanay nila kasi may ugali din, minsan nanakit at sinisiraan kming pamilya ng tatay nila. Alam po ng mga bata kung gaano namin sila kamahal at mas gusto nila makasama kmi kesa dun sa nanay nila. Ngayon po, pinalayas ng ina ung bata ung panganay, hinanapan po namin sya ng matuluyan. Ask ko lang po atty, kasi ung bata willing sumama sa tatay, indi pinili ung nanay nya. May karapatan ba syang mamaili na? Kasi nung mailapit namin sa isang judge, bakit sinabi nung judge na walang habol ung kapatid ko, tapos nung ngsalita ung kapaid ko na ‘pinalayas ng nanay nya’ ang sagot eh, mahaba dw ung proceso na igugol… Sa pgkakalam ko po talaga below 7 yrs old sa mother ung custody, ung pamangkin ko po ay 14 yrs old na. Pls Help
Good day atty
Paano po ba ang gagawin ko sa court decision na ang custody ng anak ko ay nasa ex ko. Annuled na po kami at phsychologically incapacitated ako which is yon ang reason kung bakit nawala sa akin ang custody. Pero kahit ganun ang desisyon ng korte patuloy pa rin ang magandang relasyon namin ng anak ko at ako po ang sumusuporta sa kanya financially mula noon hanggang sa kasalukuyan.
Ngayon po nakatira na po ako sa ibang bansa at gusto ng anak ko sumama sa akin at pumapayag naman ang ama nya kasi may ibang pamilya na rin ito.
Pwede po ba akong mag apela sa korte para sa joint custody kahit na 6 years na ang nakalipas ng magdesison ang korte? Gaano po katagal ang aabutin kung mag apela ko? Sana po mapayuhan nyo po ako.
Salamat po
Hello po Atty,
23 years old na po ako at mayroon po akong younger sister na 4 years old. Gusto ko po sana syang tumira sa akin dito sa ibang bansa at ako ang maging legal guardian nya. Wala na po kaming ina at ang papa na lang po namin ang nag-aalaga sa kanya. Ako rin po ang sumusuporta sa papa ko financially. Gusto rin po ng papa ko na ako ang mag aalaga sa kapatid ko para magkaroon ng magandang buhay. Kaso kaylangan ko pong amponin legally ang kapatid ko para madala ko sya dito sa ibang bansa. Hindi ko po kasi madala ang kapatid ko dito kung hindi legally adopted. Kaya kaylangan ko syang amponin legally.
Ano po ba ang proseso ng pag ampon ng nakababatang kapatid? papayag po ang papa ko na magbigay sya ng written consent. Gaano po katagal ang proseso?
Salamat po.
Good day! Atty.
Pinsan ko po ay lalaki myroon siyang live-in partner at tatlong anak pero lumayas po ang babaye at sumama po sa iba at nasa kanya ang mga bata. Ages po ng bata 7 years old, 6 years old at 4 years old. Can we file for legal custody? how long it’s take po matapos. Or any other options po.
Middle of May 2019 po lumayas ang babaye. Thank you! po!
Hi po attorney,
Tulungan nyo po ako, Andito ako ngaun sa Australia kasama ko po ung dalawang anak ko.tapos nag apply mo kami ng permanent resident dito ngaun, Kaso po hinihingan po ako ng “family court order of custody documents “. Hnd ko pO Alam Kong ano ibig sabihan nya. Wala pong fathers name ung mga birthday certificate nang mga anak ko.pls. Tulungan nyo po kami.
Ok thank u