You thought you’ve found your perfect match. You thought your marriage is bound to last forever, or, at the very least, until the last breath. You’ve thought wrong, you say, and you now think of seeking legal remedy to end your marriage. Here are “steps” or suggestions in deciding whether to step out of the ring or not (for the court procedure, see Procedure in Annulment of Marriage and Declaration of Nullity of Marriage):
1. Make sure it is the last resort. As stated in a previous post, love and marriage are supposed to be forever. Try all options, like counseling, to make it work. If there’s no progress, weigh your options. On the other side of the scale is the reality that getting into another relationship or marriage, while the first marital bond is still existing, is a sure way of courting criminal liability (adultery, concubinage, bigamy). A subsequent petition for declaration of nullity/annulment of marriage is not a defense in the criminal action.
2. Realize that it will cost you. Getting out of marriage is sometimes more expensive than getting into one. Expenses include the fees for your lawyer or counsel, filing fees, professional fees for the psychiatrist or psychologist (if the ground is psychological incapacity), etc.
3. Discuss the custody of children, visitation rights, property arrangements and support. Custody over children and separation of properties in annulment are among the most bitter issues in annulment. As much as possible, discuss and agree on these matters beforehand.
4. Make sure to invoke a valid ground. Marriage is an inviolable social institution and any doubt is resolved in its favor. Hence, make sure there’s sufficient basis to go through the procedure discussed below.
5. Prescriptive period. Make sure that the petition is filed within the time provided under the law. There are separate rules for counting of the prescriptive period for each ground. [See Prescriptive Periods for Annulment of Marriage]
The procedure is provided under the Rules on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages. [See Procedure in Annulment of Marriage and Declaration of Nullity of Marriage]
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Good day Atty.Fred,
Ako po ay kasal sa simbahan noong 2005 parang parents arrangement po ang nangyari, at hndi nga ngtagal pgssma namin ksi poh iniwan ko cxa 1month LNG poh kmi ng sama at wala poh kmi naging anak cmula noon wala n poh kmi komunakasyon hanggang ngayon 2017 at isa po ako ngayon ofw,balak ko po sana n mag file annulled ano po ba ang una Kong gwin kpg mg file habang andito poh AQ s abroad. Salamat sa pg basa at god bless poh
Hello po atty.,
Atty. Tanong tanong ko lng po may posible po ba ma. Annul ung kasal nang pensan ko sa asawa nya 12 years na po cla hiwalay. Pero may ibang fmily na po cya.
Good day, almost seven years na kaming hiwalay ng asawa ko, sakatunayan may kanya kanya na kaming bagong familya ngaun, na una sa nag asawa at may anak na din sila at aq ren may isang aanak na ren aq sa bago kung asawa, pero mas matanda ng tatlong taon ang anak nya. Madali lang ba ang prosiso ng annulment namen.
Good day , 15 years na po kami hiwalay ng asawa ko, ask ko lang po kung pwede ko idemanda ang asawa ko , na grant na pala ang annulment ng kasal namin na hindi ko alam ,noong 2005 at iba po ang address ko sa summon. Thank u
hi po. 11 years na po akong hiwalay, dahil sumama sa ibang babae asawa ko now may 2 kids na cya. and nag sasama sila nung babae. Wala po cyang sustento sa akin kahit mag kano. Nais ko po sanang mag file ng anulment dahil di naman na kami mag asawa.
Paano po ba ako mag sisimula. Wala rin po akong ganun kalaking pera may makakatulong po ba sa akin. sino po pwede kong lapitan.
I was force to marry her because we thought she was pregnant. with 1child 3yrs being together and 1yr w/o communication I wanted to annul our marriage. Anung ground po ba pwedi e file, at ilang yrs po knowing she will not sign any papers or agreement. Please send details sa email ko po at saan ako mka hanap ng attorney pra sa case na ganito. Salamat ng marami.
my lived in partner is married but the said marriage took place without complying the proper requirements. weve been together for years and already have a child but unfortunately, that time when we were on a long distance relationship, he flerted with this girl and that girl got pregnant. because he wanted to fix things up, he went to the girl’s province but after three days, the girl’s parents set up a civil wedding where he cant control since he came there alone. what is the best way to do to attest that the marriage is void since they didnt comply with the proper process as well as the civil wedding took place after three days he went there.
Hi attorney good day
Nais Ko pong itanong kung paano e process ang annulment namin kasi nasa abroad sya. Ang sabi nya ipadala Ko lang sa kanya ang dapat nyang permahan. Malaki din ba gagastosin Ko niyan kasi payag naman kaming dalawa na mghiwalay na. May 1 anak lang kami attorney. Bahay lang ang meron kami,wla ibang ari-arian.
Salamat sa pagsagot Atty.
After the Judgement (Decision Granted) what will be the next procedure to get the marriage certificate with annotations that states the nullify of marriage? and annulment decree? Thanks
Gusto ko ng hiwalayan asawa ko.. babaero at iniwan na kami. Ako ang nagpapaaral sa mga anak ko at wala na akong balak balikan pa ung taong tatay ng mga anak ko sa papel lang. andito ako sa abroad at hindi ko alam kung nasan na ung taong un.