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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Hi, I have been separated from my partner for like 8 years now and he has never did give anything to support his legal child with me. I wanna file a case and get reimbursed for the years that he did not give support. I need help. Thank you in advance.
1st yr college pa lang po ang anak ko and she just turned 18 last July. Ang tanong ko po ay kung may karapatan pa ba humingi/sustentuhan ng tatay ang anak namin?
Hi. Itatanong ko lng po kung ano ang dpt kung gwin kc km po ay hiwalay n ng asw ko pero wl pa po km pirmahan n hiwlay n km… Minsan ayw ny magbgay ng financial support s mga anak ny marami syang reklamo 3 po anak nmn at ns abroad po sy nag work… Meron syang anak s iba 1.ano po ang pwd ko ereklamo s kanya pr makakuha ng tamang sustento ang 3 anak ko.?
What if the father is not giving support eversince and he has signature in the birth certificate claiming the son. The son is using his surname also. He cannot work anymore because he got an accident and he cannot walk anymore. All i want is the surname of my son to be change and he is not supporting the child since birth but he doesnt want to give it to me. Can i file a case even on his situation? Or can i change the surname of my son to mine? Give me an advice please my son is 7 yrs old now and i want it begore i would get him any documents like passport etc
Good day po!
I really want some advise. a few years already my ex-girlfriend got pregnant but i’m not sure if really mine. merong chances na hindi sa akin pero she threatened me to abort the baby if I didn’t support them because her parent’s didn’t want the baby so I stop my college which is I regret until know to support them. so after the baby was born she didn’t even give my family name to the baby and when they seems to be ok to her parents she’s starting to flirt or chat with some men while I’m working and to the point she even hit me so I decided to broke up with her a few years ago but i continued to buy necessity for the baby but she and her family threatened me not go to there house so I have no choice but to stop. until recently when I’m starting to stand on my own right now from my own sikap and I’m planning to go back to school for next year she’s threatened me to imprison or file a case for not giving a financial support for the baby. FYI my ex-girlfriend has already a boy friend. I just really want some advise because I think that she’s using this law for her advantage or for her revenge and to pull me down.
Honestly my salary is minimum wage only which is enough to support my necessity and save some. No one is helping me even my parent’s because we just have enough to earn.Can I ask what should I do ?
Hi Atty.
Good morning. I am not sure if you would notice this but I’m hoping, I’m praying. I just wanna know if what we can do as the “Legal family” of my father. 4 years ago, my father had a mistress na nabuntis nya pero nagkahiwalay din sila nung mga 2 months pregrant yung babae. After 4 years of separation ng father and mother ko, my mother finally decided na bigyan ng chance yung father ko kasi po he’s been asking for it. Bilang anak, syempre gusto ko rin po mabuo ang family ko and this is the best opportunity sakin… samin. Kaya lang, tadhana nga naman po, biglang, nitong mga nakakaraang araw, kung kelan konting usap nalang ay makakauwi na sya, biglang may dumating na mga taga CIDG po sa bahay then hinahanap papa ko. wala po silang iniwan o pinakitang papel. (sa loob po ng 4 yrs na yun, di na talaga nakauwi si papa sa bahay) so di po nila nakuha si papa. na-confirm po ng mga konsehal sa brgy namin na taga CIDG nga then nalaman po namin na may warrant of arrest daw po si papa. Nafile yung case 2016 pa ( we have no idea). Yung kabit ni papa ung nag file. may pyansa naman daw po yung ganun.
Ano po ba ang pinaka magandang gawin namin?
Sorry po sa napakalaking abala pero tatanawin ko po tong napaka laking tulong at utang na loob.
Pasensya na po ulit. Salamat poand God bless.
Good day po atty,nais ko pong humingi nang advice , tungkol po sa anak ko, na nabuntis na 16yrs old at 30yr old po ang nakabuntis , naganak na po at ang anak ko baby girl, ngayon po ayawn g anak ko po na ipaipilyedo sa ama , kaya po sa apelyedo namain sinunod sa nya, nagyon pon agaglit ung lalaki kasi po bakit daw hindi pinaepilyedo sa kanya ? At pagh indi po raw bagubin ang epilyedo ng bata hindi po raw cyam ag susuporta sa bata dahil hindip o raw dala ang epilyedo nya, kahit po anong gagawink o po ayaw talaga nga nakk o ipaipelyedo sa kanya
Ano pong gagawin ko kapag yung dati ko pong kinakasama ay hindi nagbibigay ng sustento sa aming anak? Dahil daw wala syang trabaho kaya nga po hindi ko pinapapunta sa kanila ang aming anak.
The parents are not married , then the childs birth certificate is the mothers last name. My question is What cases should be filed if he/she does not support his/her child ?
Hi Attorney ang tanong ko po ay maari po ba humingi ng financial support ang anak ko na matagal inabandona ng kanyang ama (almost 21 years na) ? Hindi po kami kasal, bale nanakan lang po ako. Noong maliit pa ang bata ay humingi na ako ng financial support pero binalewala lang niya. Ngayon po ay nagtatanong na ang aking anak kung nasaan na ang ama niya at gusto niyang humingi ng suport dahil sa nag aaral pa rin siya. Medyo nalate na ang pag-aaral niya dahil sa hindi ko na kaya na siya ay pag aralin. Maari ko po bang obligahin ang ama ng anak ko na suportahan siya? Kahit po kusing ay wala po siya naibigay na panggastos sa anak ko habang ito ay lumalaki. alam ko po kung saan siya nakatira.