Through all the family cases that we have handled, we have come to accept, without discounting the contrary, the sad fact that bad blood exists between the opposing parties (e.g., estranged spouses in annulment/separation/property cases, siblings and relatives in estate proceedings). In particular, with respect to custody-support cases over children, it is easily understandable that custody is one of the more contested issues. However, the issue on child support should not be as complicated.
It should not be as complicated, but reality makes it so. Articles 195 and 196 of the Family Code enumerate the persons who are under obligation to support each other:
- (1) The spouses;
- (2) Legitimate ascendants and descendants;
- (3) Parents and their legitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter;
- (4) Parents and their illegitimate children and the legitimate and illegitimate children of the latter;
- (5) Legitimate brothers and sisters, whether of full or half-blood; and
- (6) Brothers and sisters not legitimately related, whether of the full or half-blood, except only when the need for support of the brother or sister, being of age, is due to a cause imputable to the claimant’s fault or negligence.
On the other hand, the amount of support should be in proportion to the resources or means of the giver and the necessities of the recipient, pursuant to Articles 194, 201 and 202 of the Family Code:
Art. 194. Support comprises everything indispensable for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education and transportation, in keeping with the financial capacity of the family.
The education of the person entitled to be supported referred to in the preceding paragraph shall include his schooling or training for some profession, trade or vocation, even beyond the age of majority. Transportation shall include expenses in going to and from school, or to and from place of work.
Art. 201. The amount of support, in the cases referred to in Articles 195 and 196, shall be in proportion to the resources or means of the giver and to the necessities of the recipient.
Art. 202. Support in the cases referred to in the preceding article shall be reduced or increased proportionately, according to the reduction or increase of the necessities of the recipient and the resources or means of the person obliged to furnish the same.
If you are a parent, it is safe to assume that you would want the best for your child and you wouldn’t hesitate to provide adequate support. However, it’s unfortunate that when it comes to support for the common children (whether legitimate or illegitimate), so many fathers still fail (or worse, simply refuse) to provide adequate support. Whatever the reason is, and regardless of whether or not these reasons are correct, the problem became pervasive, so much so that Congress saw it fit to “criminalize” (only against fathers) the withholding of support in certain instances. Not everyone knows that this is covered under Republic Act No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004“. [See Laws on Child Support in the Philippines]
Not everyone also knows that R.A. 9262 provides for criminal sactions or penalties for failure to provide support or withholding custody, in certain cases. Well, now you know.
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Hello Sir,maybe you can help me. I am married to a filipina living the Philippines. We have two boys 4 and 14 months. Our expenses each month never exceed 40k php. The actual living expenses total less than 20k. I proposed paying support of 20k a month. Plus I will carry all of them,mother included on my Pacifc Cross and PhilHealth. She is demanding over 60k. She is capable of working, but admittedly is too lazy to work. (Her words,not mine) Is it not partially the responsibility of the mother to contribute to the financial needs of our children? I think 20k plus medical coverage is very generous. Will the court hold me in violation of insufficient support if I refuse her demands? Am I obligated to provide her a lavish lifestyle, one that we never enjoyed, even if I have the means?
hello po atty.tanong lg po ako sa situation ko isa akong seaman sa ngayon nasa process ako ng annulment at gusto ng asawa ko 50% support sa anak namin na sa edad13 na sa ngayon.so tanong ko lang anong ibig sabihin ng 50% na support?kng basehan sa contract namin sa poea saan un kukunin?sa basic pay namin lg kunin ang 50% o sa kabuohan ng sahod namin sa contrata.naghihintay ng sagot nyo atty sa problema ko.ty po and more power…
Hello Atty. I want to pursue financial and parental support from the father of my child who happened to be my ex-fiance. How do I go about doing it? Would appreciate your thoughts.
I’m am 26 year old now. married in 5 years to Philippine Army. we have daughter which is turning to 4 years old, annulment now is on process. I’m not worried with that. My concern is about the allotment for our daughter because my daughter started to go school l enrolled my daughter in good quality school since she’s the only child. how can l get enough salary if he is full of salary loans. no exact amount On And Off support every month 1000,pesos a month, every loans and benefits from the government we are not include like: Bonuses
Do l still have rights to complaint against him? Until our marriage is not yet annulled?
mgandang araw po.pkitago n lng po ko sa column nyo at nais ko po sana humingi ng advice.
may asawa po ako 7years kming kasal pero walang anak. hanggang nwalan n ako ng pag asa. ngtatrabaho po ako sa ibang bansa at nkakilala ng iba nbuntis po ako don ko lng nalaman n di pla ako ang may problema. sinubukan po nming mgsama alang alang sa bata pag uwi nmin sa pilipinas.sinabihan at pinangakuhan na magsama pra may kilalaning ama ang anak iwan ko lng ang asawa ko. msyado akong nabrain washed ng lalaki n to dahil sa mabulaklak nyang pananalita nging sunud sunuran ako sa kanya. iniwan ko ang asawa ko at ngsama kmi ng patago. after 3 years wla ako nging balita o komunikasyon sa asawa ko. nagawa ko rin mangaliwa sa kadahilanang walang trabaho at kwalan ng communication sa knya last n tawag ko babae sumagot sa phone nya at todo ang pagtanggi nya. ngsama uli kmi sa iisang barko ang laklaking nkabuntis sa akin at don ko nkita totoo nyang ugali. minsan nya pinagtangkaan kunin ang buhay ko ng nalasing sya at pinagseselosan ang pictures na nkita sa hard drive ko ng asawa ko. mtagal ko ng di nbubuksan un ng biglang pinakita skin. laking gulat ko na ginawang issue un pra suntukin at pagtatadyakan ako. nktakbo lng ako kya di ako napuruhan. sa loob ng ilang taong pagsasama nmin ilang babae n rin ang nging issue ng pagkakalabuan nmin pero tinanggap ko n lng lhat un at ngbulag bulagan pra sa anak nmin. nkauwi n cia last month sa pilipinas at nkhanap uli ng babae at pinost p sa fb nya. masakit sa loob ko n mkitang may kinasama bigla at pinag uusapan kmi sa barko dhil sa pinost nya dahil ang pkilala nya dito mag asawa kmi. tiniis ko n lng anuman sabihin nila nandito ako at ng extend ng contract pra masustehan ang anak ko dahil ilang buwan n cia di ngbibigay ng suporta kya npilitan akong mgtrabaho p na dapat sabay ang uwi nmin.
pinagkasunduan nmin pagkapanganak ko sa bata na isunod sa last name nung dalaga ako kya wala sya middle name. di ko rin pwede gamitin ang apelyedo bg asawa ko o apelyedo ng ama ng anak ko baka gamitin sa korte someday against sa
amin at parehas di makaalis uli ng bansa. nais ko po sana na sampahan sya ng kaso sa pagsira ng buhay ko at tuluyang mkuha ko ang full custody ng bata. nsa amin ang bata pero ngpapakita sya at ngpopost p ng mga pictures ng anak ko at pinapakita sa mga fb friends nya na good father image sya.ayoko lng iexpose ang anak ko sa di nman totoo.lumalaki n rin ang bata at sooner mag aaral n at ayoko dalhin nya name nya na walang middle name bka mhirapan sya someday sa pag apply ng trabaho o passport.
ano po ba kaya ko isampang kaso sa ama ng anak ko. di suportang pinansyal ang habol ko dhil wala nman sya kakanan non ngaun at kung meron man pagbalik nya sobrang liit at nghahanap p ng interest sa pinadala nya.madalas puro promises lng na mgpapadala ang nangyayari. nakwento din nya skin na gumagamit sya ng pinagbabawal n gamot at ngbenta dati. huling gamit nya last year bago sumampa ng barko ewan ko lng po ngaung umuwi sya kung gumamit ulit.
nais ko sna na harapin lahat ng charges ko habang nasa pinas sya.in a month baka makaalis ulit at mabalewala ang kaso na to.
pwede ko bang mgfile ng restraining order sa poea pra di mkalabas ng bansa?
gusto ko n rin ayusin ng buhay ko at mkausap ko ang asawa ko at aaminin ang lahat tatanggapin ko n lng kung anong kaso din isasampa sa skin kung di kyang tanggapin ang sitwasyon ko. ang pinaka importante sa skin ngaun ay mging malaya sa mga kasinungalingan at mamuhay ng normal ksama ng anak ko. please help me atty. kung anong legal n hakbang ang gagawin ko.
GUD EVENING PO, I’M A TEACHER MY EX HUSBAND WAS A SEAMAN NAGHIWALAY PO KAMI LAST YEAR AT MAY ANAK PO KAMING 2 LALAKE. MULA PO NG IKASAL KAMI NUNG 2001 AY TUMATANGGAP PO AKO NG 15,000 AB PO SA BARKO ANG MR KO AT NG MAGKA ANAK KAMI ANG ALLOTMENT KO PO AY BETWEEN 20K -25K AT SOLO PO NIYANG GINAGASTOS ANG ON BOARD NIYA. MULA PO NG KASALIN KAMI NUNG 2001 KAHIT MAY ANAK NA KAMI BASTAT HNDI SIYA NAKASAKAY SA BARKO AY WALA SIYANG SUSTENTO INIAASA PO NIYA SA AKIN ANG LAHAT NG GASTOS DAHIL ISA PO AKONG GURO. NANG MAGHIWALAY PO KAMI LAST YEAR DUMADATING ANG ALLOTMENT NYA AY SA KANYANG KAPATID AT INAABUTAN LNG PO AKO NG15K WALA NA PO SIYANG IBANG IBINIBIGAY KAHIT MAGKASAKIT ANG ANAK NAMIN. ASK KO LNG PO TAMA PO BA NA WALA SIYANG SUSTENTO PAG NAKA BABA NG BARKO AT SAPAT PO BA ANG 15K. MY 2 SONS ARE AGES 8Y.O AND MY YOUNGEST IS 3Y.O.
Good day attorney..my husband left us last march 2017 to be with his other woman..since then he never gave anything to our kids..we are also married..can someone help me how to file a case for this?
Good pm atty,
i have a previous relationship, we are not married, we have two child, now 8 and 7 year old. i have a job at wala po siyang trabaho. umalis po siya sa puder ko dala ang mga bata pumunta ng davao 5 years go na mula ng umalis siya dala mga bata at di na muling bumalik sa puder ko habang ako ay nagtatrabaho dito sa cebu at nagpapadala ng sustento sa mga bata, siya naman po ay walang pinagkakakitaan kundi umaasa lamang sa padala ko. two months after nilang umalis sa puder ko sinabi niya na wala na daw kami, so mga bata nalang daw dapat asikasohin namin. we agreed on that naman po.
after five years, about 4 months now my nkilala po ako na babae at kami po ay magpapakasal na. nung nalaman ng ex ko na may bago na akong karelasyon, ginugulo niya po ako, sa social media at sa trabaho ko po, sinisiraan ako, sinabi ko po na hindi po ako magpapadala ng support sa mga bata kung hindi siya titigil, hindi po siya tumigil at maging hanggang nggyaon ay nangguguo pa rin siya. pati sa bago kung karelasyon ay nangugulo din siya. 2 months na po ako di nakapagpadala ng support sa mga bata attorney.
tama po ba ginawa ko? ano po ba dapat na gawin ko at maging ng bago kong karelasyon? can I file for child custody po kay wala naman po siyang trabaho.
hope to hear from you po…thanks
Hi gud day ask ko LNG proseso pano magdemanda ng financial support d PO kc sapat na ibgy Sa anak ko e 500 or 1000 malaki PO sahod nia ako PO at Sa gobyerno ngtatrabho at maliit and sweldo page nagbbgay CIA minsan ipapaabot nia Sa kaanak nia at pagsasalitaan pa ng d maganda ang anak ko.sana PO matulungan nio PO ako
I am married to a man who previously has a live-in partner and they have a child. I would like to ask if on how much the mother of his child can demand on him.My husband income is not really enough to support our family, i am a working mom and we are helping each other (my husband) to provide our daily needs. Is the the mom of his illegitimate child can demand up to 50% of his income? Or to what extent that a mother of her child can demand? It is base on his gross income or it is base on my husband’s net income. Hope you can help.