“I was 20 years old when I got married, but my parents didn’t know that I was married. Is my marriage valid?” This is one of the discussions or questions, submitted through the comments in various posts, which centers on the validity of marriage without the knowledge or consent of parents. This is a general discussion on parental consent and parental advice.
PARENTAL CONSENT VS. PARENTAL ADVICE
“Parental consent” and “parental advice” are different legal concepts and CANNOT be used interchangeably. The “parental consent” or “parental advice”, as the case may be, is required during the application for a marriage license.
- Parental consent is required when either or both of the contracting parties are between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21).
- Parental advice, on the other hand, is required if either or both of the contracting parties is/are between the age of twenty-one (21) and twenty-five (25).
PARENTAL CONSENT: EFFECT OF ABSENCE
The marriage is voidable, subject to the filing of a petition for annulment. In other words, the marriage is valid until annulled. There are two limitations:
- 1. It could be filed only on behalf of the party who is between 18 and 21 at the time of marriage. [See Grounds for Annulment of Marriage]
- 2. The petition could no longer be filed after the concerned party reaches 21 and freely cohabited with the other, and both lived together as husband and wife. The marriage is considered ratified if no petition is timely filed. [See Prescription of Actions]
PARENTAL CONSENT IF CHILD BELOW 18
The marriage of a person below 18 years of age, even with the consent of the parents, are void ab initio (void from the very beginning). Capacity to marry of both parties is an essential requisite of marriage, the absence of which renders the marriage null and void. [See Grounds for Declaration of Nullity]
PARENTAL CONSENT: EFFECT OF ABSENCE
The validity of the marriage is not affected. If the parties do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three (3) months following the completion of the publication of the application. If the marriage license is issued before the lapse of this period, then the responsible parties shall be civilly, criminally and administratively liable.
PARENTAL CONSENT: HOW GIVEN
The applicants shall exhibit to the local civil registrar, during the application for a marriage license, the consent to their marriage by their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned. The consent may be: (1) manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper local civil registrar; or (2) in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official authorized by law to administer oaths.
PARENTAL ADVICE AND MARRIAGE LICENSE
A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought, together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.
Parental advice or consent is required in the issuance of a marriage license. The local registrar may choose not to issue a marriage license for lack of parental consent. A marriage solemnized without a valid marriage license is void from the beginning (unless it falls under the exceptions). It doesn’t matter if the parents gave their consent. [See Marriages Exempt from Marriage License Requirement]
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If you can’t find the answers here, please refer to Part I, Part II, Part III or other related posts. You can check the Related Posts at the bottom of each post. You can also use the Search function (also in the right sidebar).
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Hi Atty.
Good evening!
I have a friend who has a girlfriend and pregnant that time when they are both 17 years old, the parents of his girlfriend insist him to marry her without his parent consent. He just brought by the gf’s parents to cityhall or church but he told them that he will never sign and dont want to get married yet without his parent concent and he told them to wait until they reach 18 years of age. A few days or weeks passed by my friend and his gf fought together with the gf’s father, so he decided to come back to his parents and tell them to check in NSO (National Statistics Office) if it was really filed and then they found out that it was filed without his parents concent and they are both 17 years of age.
I just want to ask if my friend can get their marriage be null and void due to falsification of documents such as 17 years old shall not be married unless with the concent of the parents and his parents doesnt provide sign and letter a letter of concent and was not advised that their son will got married?
Let me know the possible action to be provided soon because they are not seeing and not living each other for more than 14 years.
Thank you so much,
i was only 17 yrs old when i got married that was june 3 1999, and my partner was 24 yrs old dat time.i just want to ask if our marriage is valid.? because i was seperated for almost 8 yrs. Can i get married again? this question is always bothering me..i was young that time that is why i didn know whats happening.i only knew is that im getting married.aside frm that i was not yet prepared of what will happen afterwards pls i need to know whats the real status of marriage….
What if ung lalaki po sinampahan ng seduction abduction ng family ng babae then naglabas ng warrant galing sa trial court at nakapag bill ung lalaki,tapos po nag tanan ung kinasuhan at ung babae (kusa po sumama ung babae na 17 yrs old) at nagpakasal po sila sa probinsya without consent ng family nung babae kasi hindi nila alam but the time na nalaman ng papa ng babae nagsampa po siya ng kaso questioning the married of her 17 yrs old daughter without knowing and giving their consent is this still valid attorney? Thankyou po
good day po. me and my bf are planning to have a secret marriage. im alrealy 23 and my bf is 28. need pa po ba ng parent consent? Still studying po ako. pano po yung apelyido pag grumaduate ako. valid parin po ba ang apelyido ko ng pagkadalaga kapag? thanks for the response po.
Hi po..nabuntis at nagkaanak po ako at the age of 17 at dahil dun ikinasal po ako nung 2007 s edad n 18yrs old pero wlang parents consent or parents advise..ang pumirma po bilang guidance ko during that time ay yung kmag anak yta yun nung napangasawa ko….pero di ko po siya kaanu ano…valid po b ang kasal ko nun??? Nung time po n nagsasama na kami bilang mag asawa ay sinasaktan nia ako sa tuwing mag aaway kami…meron nga po minsan na binato niya sa akin yung “binangon” (salitang ilonggo) tawag nila sa malaki at mabigat n kutsilyo na ginagamit pangputol ng malaking kahoy..buti nalang nkailag ako kaya yung “binangon” eh bumaon sa may pinto at hindi sa akin…minsan sinasakal niya rin ako sa leeg pg pinipigilan ko siya umalis ng bahay pag gabi dahil natatakot ako maiwan na 2 lang kami ng anak ko na noon ay sanggol palang…..ang mga yun ay nangyari nung nasa probinsiya pa nila kami…at nang makabalik na kami sa lugar ko dun nman madalas siya naglalasing at sinasaktan pa rin ako pag lasing na…..yung peklat na bunga ng pagbato niya ng pala sa akin ay hanggang ngayon andito pa…sa bandang gilid ng kaliwang mata ko…..nambababae din siya…..at ang huling away namin ay nung hindi ako pumayag na magpasiping dahil meron siya nilagay na hikaw sa kanyang ari……yung araw din n yun ay umalis siya at di na bumalik ulit……mahigit 5yrs na ang nakakaraan…..at ang 2kong anak sa kanya ay magisa kong itinataguyod…..sa ngayun may bago n ko kinakasama at ganun din nman siya nakita ko lang sa fb….ang tanong ko po….ang mga nabanggit ko po ba ay pwedeng magpawalang bisa sa kasal namin???hihintayin ko po ang inyong tugon…mraming salamat po…..
Dear Atty,
I married at 25 while my exhusband is on his 24 when we got into civil marriage. Is our marriage valid if the affixed parental advice is not his biological parents and just asked for his uncle and aunt to sign it since his parents do not agree with our marriage?
Also we are now separated for 4.5 years without any knowledge of his whereabouts. Can i file an annulment now or is it automatic annulment since both of us never attempted to contact each other ever since?
Good day atty, I got marriage at the age 16 years old, January 8 1988 date of our marriage, my husband and i are separated 14years ago, both of as have own family now, can I file void marriage? ‘coz I’m under age that time
I am 23 years old,I’m planning to get married on april or may this year,, I learned that i have to ask my parents for a parent advice, they are both aware on my plan and they are not against with it.my problem now is my father cannot provide me such for he is in abroad and too far from the embassy. what can you suggest for alternative? can my mother provide me advice alone?
hello, what if one of my parents could not attend because she is working abroad. May we be able to proceed our civil wedding?
If parental consent is needed, this is done by an Affidavit of Parental Consent.
good day sir and maam
im 22 years old and my boyfriend is Chinese
do i need parental consent or advice but my mother already died and i doesn’t know is my father
who can give me a parental advice or consent