Category Archives: Family Law

Last Will and Testament: Basic Discussion

The settlement of a person’s estate after his/her death, based on our experience, is potentially one of the more bitter litigations. It’s never good to see relatives fighting each other. Some persons, with the intent of controlling the disposition of his/her properties after his/her death (and hopefully prevent fighting among his/her heirs over the properties left), prepare a “last will and testament”. Let’s have a brief discussion on this matter. Continue reading

Venue of Petitions for Annulment or Declaration of Nullity

One of the recurring issues in this forum, perhaps primarily because of the apparent increase in interest of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in annulment, is the proper venue of petitions for annulment or declaration of nullity. To address this issue, let’s consider the following provisions of the Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable MarriagesContinue reading

Rule on declaration of absolute nullity of void mariages and annulment of voidable marriages

A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC

RE: PROPOSED RULE ON DECLARATION OF ABSOLUTE NULLITY OF VOID MARRIAGES AND ANNULMENT OF VOIDABLE MARRIAGES

R E S O L U T I O N

Acting on the letter of the Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Rules of Court submitting for this Court’s consideration and approval the Proposed Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages, the Court Resolved to APPROVE the same. Continue reading

Prohibition against Mail-Order Brides

You may be aware of the existence of mail-order brides, although you may not be aware that this is an “industry.” According to a study (The “Mail-Order” Bride Industry and its Impact on U.S. Immigration), funded through the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service: Continue reading

Rule on DNA Evidence (A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC; full text)

(The use of DNA in cases gained popularity in recent years. It is used not only in criminal cases, but also in paternity disputes. This month, the Supreme Court issued the Rule on DNA Evidence, through A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC, 2 October 2007. The full text of the Rule on DNA Evidence is reproduced below.) Continue reading

Conjugal Partnership of Gains: Property Relations in Marriage

We previously noted that we are breaking down the discussion on the property relations of the spouses during marriage, as follows: (1) Prenuptial agreements and introduction to property relations between husband and wife; (2) The system of absolute community; (3) Conjugal partnership of gains; (4) Complete separation of property; (5) Donations by reason of marriage; and (6) Comparison of the various types of property relations between spouses. This post is Part 3.
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System of Absolute Community: Property Relations in Marriage

We previously noted that we are breaking down the discussion on the property relations of the spouses during marriage, as follows: (1) Prenuptial agreements and introduction to property relations between husband and wife; (2) The system of absolute community; (3) Conjugal partnership of gains; (4) Complete separation of property; (5) Donations by reason of marriage; and (6) Comparison of the various types of property relations between spouses. This post is Part 2.

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Travel Clearance Required for Travel of Minors Abroad

Before we proceed with the series on the property relations between spouses, let’s take a break and discuss the requirements for minors traveling abroad or outside the Philippines. The official document required is a travel clearance, which is a document issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to a Filipino child (below 18 years of age) traveling abroad alone or with someone other than his/her parents. Continue reading

Marriage Settlement (Prenuptial Agreement) and Introduction to Property Relations in Marriage

What are the differences between absolute community, conjugal partnership of gains, and complete separation of property? Somebody asked this question some time ago, but we were not able to immediately post a discussion on this matter due to heavy law office work. This is also the same reason why we are constrained to break down the discussion into six parts, as follows: (1) Prenuptial agreements and introduction to property relations between husband and wife; (2) The system of absolute community; (3) Conjugal partnership of gains; (4) Complete separation of property; (5) Donations by reason of marriage; and (6) Comparison of the various types of property relations between spouses.

There are related topics alredy discussed, such as the property relations between a man and a woman living together without being married. For this part (Part I), let’s talk about prenuptial agreements and a brief introduction on the property relations between husband and wife.

Can the future spouses agree on the property relations during marriage?

Yes. A man and a woman who are planning to get married may enter into a contract defining or providing for their property relations during marriage. This is called a prenuptial agreement” or “marriage settlement.”

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