Costs in Annulment Cases in the Philippines

There are a lot of questions posted in this Forum as to the cost or fee for an annulment procedure. The standard reply is: it depends. We could not possibly speak for the standard fees charged by all lawyers and the costs would normally go up if the case drags on as a result of contingencies (as when hearings are postponed for various reasons). It would also depend on the ground or grounds for annulment or declaration of nullity.

I have to write this post because there’s a report that the Supreme Court is considering an accreditation system for psychiatrists and psychologists who examine couples seeking to annul their marriages. The report and testimony of psychiatrists and psychologists are needed should a petitioner seek a declaration of nullity based on Article 36 of the Family Code (Psychological Incapacity).

The Inquirer news report reads in part:

The move, according to lawyer Nimfa Cuesta-Vilches, assistant court administrator, is meant to regulate the fees of doctors and medical experts following complaints from litigants that their services have become costly.

“Before, the fee was around P10,000 to P15,000 per case. Now, the fees ranged from P20,000 to more than P30,000,” she said.

xxx

“Psychiatrists appeared to have agreed to charge the uniform rate of P30,000 that many clients could not afford,” a lawyer said.

An accreditation system would prevent them from turning their services into a business that would be detrimental to the cause of poor litigants.

I presume that the need for accreditation will be the subject of a study by the Supreme Court should it pursue this move. In the meantime, let’s hear what you have to say about this move.

See also: Procedure in Annulment and Declaration of Nullity of Marriage; Steps / Procedure in Legal Separation Cases and Process of Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce Decree; also, Annulment, Divorce and Legal Separation in the Philippines: Questions and Answers (Part I and Part II).

Atty.Fred

52 thoughts on “Costs in Annulment Cases in the Philippines

  1. rhodericktagaruma

    Hi atty,

    Can the 1st Asst. City Prosecutor sign and file an Information? The Information was signed as OIC City Prosecutor because the City Prosecutor was absent on that day, allegedly.

    Will the 1st Asst. City Prosecutor immediately become an OIC upon absence for one day of the City Prosecutor to empower him to sign and file an Information.

    Are there guidelines by the DOJ on this situation (absence of City Prosecutor and filing of criminal information).

    Thank you and more power.

    Reply
  2. curiousmind

    Hi Atty. Fred,

    My friend is undergoing an annulment process. What happens if the respondent received the summon but did not made any response to it? What will happen to the annulment process?Will it expedite the process? or the case will be dismissed? pls help.Thanks!

    Reply
  3. honboc

    hi atty…your site was really helpful..may gusto lang po akong itanong, my bf is married and he filed an annulment, but her wife doesn’t want to cooperate, what happen to the annulment, does the case will be dismissed?pls help..tnx

    Reply
  4. crazy_a

    hi atty… my bf is married to a rocky relationship for several years now. and he like to seek annulment for it in a hope we could marry after. is their a chance for annulment? tnx

    Reply
  5. zionm31

    Hi Atty, I am a US citizen married in the Philippines. My now ex-wife filed and was granted a divorce in Hawaii. I now want to marry a filipina but bring her over as my fiancee to the US. Is there anything I would need to submit in the Philippines before I try and bring my fiancee to the US.

    Reply
  6. lenn_valen0970

    good day po…i just wanted to ask…how much will it cost me if i file for annulment…can u give me at least an estimate for the things that i need to pay?…with regards to the annulment process…please help me…thank u very much…

    Reply
  7. nathalie

    Good Evening Atty,

    I wud like to ask if my marriage is legal. My birth certificate has a discripancy. My gender is male and it hasnt been corrected b4 i got married.
    Tnx and more power.

    Reply
  8. charlie

    gudpm ATTY.

    21 yrs old lang ako nung ako ay nagpakasal sa babaeng nabuntisan ko at force na pakasalan sya para mapanagutan ko ang bata kahit tutol ako dito lahat ng witnesses ay nasa side ng babae ng nagpakasal my parents consent as in wala sa judge nganap ang kasalan wala ako nagawa kundi hayaan na an nagyari.
    Dahil nga sa di nmin pinagkakasunduan lage kami nagaaway at 1 yr and 2 mos na kami hiwalay ngayon.
    8 yrs old na baby girl nmin d ako nagkulang sa support ng pangangailagan ng anak namin.
    gusto ko na tuluyan ng mahiwalay tlaga sa kanya sa papel ano ano po ba mga dapat grounds? at possible nba ako magpakasal kahit hindi pa ako totally annuled? magging valid ba pagkinasal ako ng d pa tapos ang annulment case ko?
    tnx more power..

    Reply
  9. nadialrak

    im a filipino here in japan. I was married to a filipono two years ago…that i learned that he only used me to have visa but disappeared after few weeks of marriage… now i want to file an annulment and i dont know what ground could i use… please help me

    Reply

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