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. Divina

    Dear Atty,
    I have been physically separated from my Indian husband since 2011. I left India because he forced me to leave him as I caught him cheating. Prior to that I am physically abused. After 5 years, Bandra Court from India sent me papers of his filing for divorce. A representative from the Hall of Justice came and sent me the papers. Now, my husband is not communicating with me.

    Can I file annulment or divorce?

    Please help me with this step.

    Thank You

    Reply
  2. Jestille

    Hi atty..im jestille.. Were almost 4years living in with my partner,who has been married before..and now we have two children..i really want to marry him..is it possible atty..? To marry him..? Now its been 4years since they separated..please p help me atty..thank you..

    Reply
    1. AttyFred Post author

      Jestille, please search the other articles in this Forum, including the article which says that for purposes of remarriage, the proper petition must be filed, granted by the court, and registered with the NSO.

  3. teresa

    hi atty can a married person re marry again? my brother married a married woman whom he did not know in the first place later that he knew that the woman he married is married before, can he file a petition to make his marriage be cancelled? and what are the things to do for filling? and how much is the cost? is it the same in annulment cost?

    Reply
  4. James

    Dear Atty,

    My marriage is now rocky, I am an OFW since 2008 and there are several times my spouse is spending our funds with no reasonable cause. on monthly basis i’m regularly sending money but shes not using it wisely. Several times when i go in vacation, i will find that she is in depth with loans, and there are times when the monthly bills are unpaid (electric, water, cable and internet).

    Can this be a reasonable ground to file an annulment.

    Regards,

    Reply
  5. Angel

    I really need help about my marriage I was separated for 15 years and had stop communicating with with my husband for 13 years ,in my marriage my parents don’t have any consent cuz I am from Davao my husband is in Luzon so when I got married my parents didn’t know and my marriage contract was signed by may ninong and ninang
    What am gonna do I want to marry a Pastor this year his a widdow I wanted to settle down and concentrate my life to engage in ministry but I was tied by the fact that my marriage was registered .please I need help

    Reply
  6. Angel

    Dear Atty.

    I really need help about my marriage I was separated for 15 years and had stop communicating with with my husband for 13 years ,in my marriage my parents don’t have any consent cuz I am from Davao my husband is in Luzon so when I got married my parents didn’t know and my marriage contract was signed by may ninong and ninang
    What am gonna do I want to marry a Pastor this year his a widdow I wanted to settle down and concentrate my life to engage in ministry but I was tied by the fact that my marriage was registered .please I need help

    Reply
  7. Cindy

    Hello and good day.. hihingi po sana ako ng advice me and my partner are living together for 5 years with 2 daughter. Kasal po sya sa dati nyang asawa. gusto po sana namin magpakasal kaso dahil po sa kasal pa sya sa dati nyang asawa. Meron po ba tayong mga abogado na libre para ma annul ang kasal nila

    Reply
  8. Chit D.

    Hi Atty.
    Is there a good chance for the annulment of a marriage when the husband found/discovered his wife cheating and had a relationship with another woman as a lesbian? Evidence such as letters and recording of the wife’s admittance as a lesbian since before the marriage is available.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  9. Candida

    Hi Atty. Fred,

    Nag file ang ex husband ko ng annulment at lumabas ang decision nung October 2014. Nitong July 2015 lang nya sa akin sinabi at hiningian ko sya ng kopya ng Final Decision.
    Ano po ang aking habol kung ako ay mayroong nakita na mga discrepancy dun sa kanyang statements lalo na po anggroud ng psychological incapacity kung saan pinatunayan na ang aking paguugali ay dahil sa ako ay walang kinalakihan na magulang samantalang buhay na buhay po ang aking both parents . Isa langpo iyan at marami pa pong mga gawa gawa ng istorya ang nakalakip dun sa kanya statement.

    Salamat,

    Candida

    Reply

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