Civil Law Reviewer
Art. 19. Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith.
Art. 20. Every person who, contrary to law, wilfully or negligently causes damage to another, shall indemnify the latter for the same. Art. 21. Any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.
1. The principle of abuse of rights is based upon the famous maxim suum jus summa injuria (the abuse of right is the greatest possible wrong).
In order to be actionable, the following elements must be present: (1) There is a legal right or duty;
(2) which is exercised in bad faith; and
(3) for the sole intent of prejudicing or injuring another. (ALBENSON ENTERPRISES CORP.
vs. CA)
2. Distinguish the coverage of Article 20 and 21
Article 20 speaks of the general sanction for all other provisions of law which do not especially provide for their own sanction. Thus, anyone who, whether willfully or negligently, in the exercise of his legal right or duty, causes damage to another, shall indemnify his victim for injuries suffered thereby.
Article 21 deals with acts contra bonus mores, and has the following elements: 1) There is an act which is legal; 2) but which is contrary to morals, good custom, public order, or public policy; 3) and it is done with intent to injure.
3. While it is true that a person who is aggrieved may have recourse against the person or entity responsible, still if a person has not been damaged in any way by another’s act, the former has no cause of action against the latter. Thus, a warehouse operator who has not been damaged by the act of an entity in taking delivery of certain goods from the warehouse thru an alleged forged permit has no right to go after said entity. Only those who have suffered loss because of such “misdelivery’’ have the right to complain. (See Consolidated Terminals, Inc. v. Artex Development Co., Inc., L-25748, Mar. 10, 1975).
4. If someone be damaged, he does not necessarily have the right to be indemnified. It is essential that some right of his be impaired.
Albetz Investments, Inc. v. Court of Appeals
FACTS: Having won a case in a fi nal and executory judgment, the winning party, in having the judgment executed, did not give the occupants of a house (sought
to be demolished) suffi cient time to remove their personal belongings. Are said occupants entitled to damages?
HELD: Since no reasonable time was given, and the belongings were damaged, the demolition of the house may be said to have been carried out in a manner not consistent with justice and good faith, as required by Art. 19 of the Civil Code. Damages may therefore be awarded in view of this abuse of aright.
Phil. Nat. Bank v. CA, et al.
The refusal of a bank to approve the lease of sugar quotas simply because of a P200 difference in the rental is contrary to Art. 19 of the Civil Code, particularly when it is considered that hardly anybody was willing to lease at the higher rate and that as a consequence of said refusal, a bank client suffered.
Bar Questions:
1. A, a married man, and B, an unmarried woman, entered into a written agreement to marry each other when A becomes a widower. After becoming a widower, A married another woman. Can B sue A for breach of promise?
ANSWER: No, insofar as moral damages are concerned. (See above discussion.) Moreover, to engage in such a promise during the lifetime of another’s spouse would be contrary to good morals and good customs, and the agreement, even on that ground alone, must be considered void. [NOTE: Had there been carnal knowledge, the matter would even be worse. Thus, it has been held that a promise of marriage founded on carnal intercourse has an unlawful
consideration, and no suit on such promise can possibly prosper. (Inson v. Belzunce, 32 Phil. 342; Dalistan v. Armas, 32 Phil. 648).
2. In an action based on a breach of promise to marry, what rights has the aggrieved party in cases:
(a) When there has been carnal knowledge? (b) When there has been NO carnal knowledge? ANSWER:
(a) When there has been carnal knowledge, the aggrieved party may:
1) ask the other to recognize the child, should there be one, and give support to said child.
2) sue for moral damages, if there be criminal or moral seduction, but not if the intercourse was due to mutual lust. (Hermosisima v. Court of Appeals, L-14628, Sep. 30, 1960) (In other words, if the CAUSE be the promise to marry, and the EFFECT be the carnal knowledge, there is a chance that there was criminal or moral seduction, hence, recovery of moral damages will prosper. If it be the other way around, there can be no recovery of moral damages, because here mutual lust has intervened). However, moral damages may be recovered by the girl if the man, in his effort to make the girl withdraw a suit for support of the child, deliberately calls the attention of the girl’s employer to her condition as an unwed mother — a maneuver causing her mental anguish and even physical illness and suffering. (Ledesma Silva, et al. v. Peralta, L-13114, Nov. 25, 1960).
3) sue for ACTUAL damages, should there be any, such as the expenses for the wedding preparations. (See Domalagan v. Bolifer, 33 Phil. 471).
(b) When there has been NO carnal knowledge, there may be an action for actual and moral damages under certain conditions, as when there has been a deliberate desire to inflict loss or injury, or when there has been an evident abuse of a right. Thus, a man who deliberately fails to appear at the altar during the scheduled wedding simply because it was his intention to embarrass or humiliate the girl no doubt inflicts irreparable injury to her honor and reputation, wounds her feelings, and leads the way for her possible social ostracism. The girl in such a case can recover not only actual but also moral and exemplary damages. (See Victorino v. Nora, CA 13158-R, Oct. 26,
1955).
Art. 14. Penal laws and those of public security and safety shall be obligatory upon all who live or sojourn in the Philippine territory, subject to the principles of public international law and to treaty stipulations.
G.R.: Penal law follows the theory of territoriality and generality regardless of nationality.
EXC.:
1. Principles of Public International Law on diplomatic immunity. 2. Presence of treaty stipulations.
Exterritoriality – territorial jurisdiction of one state forms an extension of the territory of another state.
Example: Embassy
Extraterritoriality – exemption by virtue of treaty stipulation. Example: Ambassador
Schneckenburger vs. Moran, 31 July 1936
Facts: Petitioner was duly accredited honorary consul of Uruguay at Manila. He was charged in the CFI of Manila with the crime of falsification of a private document. He objected to the jurisdiction of the court on the ground that both under the constitutions of U.S. and the Philippines, the court below had no jurisdiction to try him.
Issue: W/N a consul is immune from suit.
Held: A consul is not entitled to the privileges and immunities of an ambassador or minister but is subject to the laws and regulations of the country to which he is accredited. A consul is not exempt from criminal prosecution for violations of the laws of the country where he resides.
Art. 15. Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad.
Philippine laws relating to family rights and duties are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad.For example, Article 68 of the Family Code provides that “the husband and wife are obliged to live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support.” Suppose, Maria and Jose, Filipino couple, are residing in Switzerland. Assuming that under Swiss laws, the spouses are not obliged to support each other, may Jose refuse to support Maria? ANSWER: NO. Since they are Filipino citizens, they are still governed by the Family Code even though they are living abroad. Under the Family Code, the spouses are obliged to support each other.
2. Status and Condition
Philippine laws relating to status and condition are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad.
Divorce Between Filipinos, Not Valid: Philippine law does not provide for absolute divorce; hence, our courts cannot grant it. A marriage between two Filipinos cannot be dissolved even by a divorce obtained abroad, because of Articles 15 and 17 of the Civil Code.
Van Dorn vs. Romillo, Jr. 139 SCRA 139 (1985)
FACTS: Alice Reyes, a Filipino citizen was married in Hongkong to Richard Upton, a U.S. citizen, but established their residence in the Philippines and begot two children. The couple acquired conjugal properties in the Philippines.
The couple went to Nevada to obtain a divorce. Thereafter, Alice Reyes remarried with Theodore Van Dorn. Richard Upton filed a suit against Alice Reyes Van Dorn for an accounting of their conjugal property and for a declaration that he should manage said property. Alice Van Dorn moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that the cause of action was barred by the judgment in the divorce proceedings in Nevada. In said divorce proceeding, Upton acknowledged that he and Alice had no community property. Upton contended that the divorce decree issued by the Nevada Court is contrary to the public policy and has no legal validity in the Philippines because the Nevada Court proceedings divested the jurisdiction of the Philippine courts. The Supreme Court ruled that the divorce decree is valid insofar as Upton is concerned. The Court explained:
“There is no question as to the validity of that Nevada divorce in any of the States of the United States. The decree is binding on private respondent as an American citizen. For instance, private respondent cannot sue petitioner, as her husband, in any State of the Union. What he is contending in this case is that the divorce is not valid and binding in this jurisdiction, the same being contrary to local law and public policy. It is true that owing to the nationality principle embodied in Article 15 of the Civil Code, only Philippine nationals are covered by the policy against absolute divorces the same being considered contrary to our concept of public policy and morality. However, aliens may obtain divorces abroad, which may be recognized in the Philippines, provided they are valid according to their national law. In this case, the divorce in Nevada released private respondent from the marriage from the standards of American law, under which divorces dissolves the marriage. xxx
xxx xxx xxx
Thus, pursuant to his national law, private respondent is no longer the husband of petitioner. He would have no standing to sue in the case below as petitioner’s husband entitled to exercise control over conjugal assets. As he is bound by the Decision of his own
country’s Court, which validly exercise jurisdiction over him, and whose decision he does not repudiate, he is estopped by his own representation before said Court from asserting his right over the alleged conjugal property.
To maintain, as private respondent does, that, under our laws, petitioner has to be considered still married to private respondent and still subject to a wife’s obligations under Article 109, of the Civil Code cannot be just. Petitioner should not be obliged to live together with, observe respect and fidelity, and render support to private respondent. The latter should not continue to be one of the heirs with possible rights to conjugal property. She should not be discriminated against in her own country if the ends of justice
are to be served.
Art. 16. Real property as well as personal property is subject to the law of the country where it is stipulated.
However, intestate and testamentary successions, both with respect to the order of succession and to the amount of successional rights and to the intrinsic validity of testamentary provisions, shall be regulated by the national law of the person whose succession is under consideration, whatever may be the nature of the property and regardless of the country wherein said property may be found.
General Rule: Lex rei sitae
Exception: Intestate and testamentary succession: (a) Order of succession
(b) Amount of successional right (c) Intrinsic validity of will (Art. 16) (d) Legal capacity to succeed
Bellis vs. Bellis 20 SCRA 358
FACTS: Amos G. Bellis was a citizen and resident of Texas at the time of his death. Before he died, he had made two wills, one disposing of his Texas properties, the other disposing of his Philippine properties. In both wills, his recognized illegitimate children were not given anything. Texas has no conflict rules governing successional rights. Furthermore, under Texas law, there are no compulsory heirs and therefore no legitimes. The illegitimate children opposed the wills on the ground that they have been deprived of their legitimes to which they should be entitled, if Philippine law were to apply.
RULING: Said children are not entitled to their legitimes for under Texas Law (which is the national law of the deceased), there are no legitimes. The renvoi doctrine cannot be applied. Said doctrine is usually pertinent where the decedent is a national of one country, and a domiciliary of another. A provision in a foreigner’s will to the effect that his properties shall be distributed in accordance with Philippine law and not with his national law, is illegal and void for his national law, in this regard, cannot be ignored.
Illustrative Problem
“A,” an American citizen, executed a will in Canada leaving his property located in the Philippines to “B,” his friend. What law shall govern (1) “A’s” capacity to execute the will, (2) the formality of execution, (3) the capacity of “B” to inherit from “A,” (4) the intrinsic validity of the testamentary provision?
ANSWER:
(1) A’s capacity to execute the will is governed by his national law.
(2) The laws of Canada shall govern the formalities of the execution of the will. (3) The national law of the decedent (A) shall govern B’s capacity to succeed. (4) The national law of the decedent (A) shall govern the intrinsic validity of the testamentary provisions.
Art. 17. The forms and solemnities of contracts, wills, and other public instruments shall be governed by the laws of the country in which they are executed.
When the acts referred to are executed before the diplomatic or consular officials of the Republic of the Philippines in a foreign country, the solemnities established by Philippine laws shall be observed in their execution.
Prohibitive laws concerning persons, their acts or property, and those which have, for their object, public order, public policy and good customs shall not be rendered ineffective by laws or judgments promulgated, or by determinations or conventions agreed upon in a foreign country.
1. Formalities or Extrinsic Validity
Under the first paragraph of Article 17, the forms and solemnities of contracts, wills and other public instruments are governed by the laws of the country in which they are executed under the principle of “lex loci celebrationis.”
2. Intrinsic Validity of Contracts
The intrinsic validity of a contract is governed by the proper law of the contract or “lex contractus,” which may either be the law of the place voluntarily agreed upon by the contracting parties (“lex loci
voluntatis”) or the law of the place intended by them expressly or impliedly (“lex loci intentionis”).
3. Intrinsic Validity of Wills
The intrinsic validity of the provisions of a will, however, shall be governed by the national law of the decedent.
4. Illustrative Problem
Juan, a Filipino citizen, enters into an ordinary contract with Joe, an American citizen. The contract was executed in Canada. What law shall govern: (1) formal validity of the contract? (2) the legal capacities of the parties to enter into such contract? (3) the intrinsic validity of the contract?
ANSWER:
(1) Canadian law, under the principle of lex loci celebrationis. (2) Their respective national laws.
(3) The proper law of the contract (lex contractus), which may either be the law of the place voluntarily agreed upon by the contracting parties (lex loci
voluntatis) or the law of the place intended by them expressly or impliedly (lex loci intentionis).
BAR Questions:
Appilicable Laws; laws governing contracts (1992)
X and Y entered into a contract in Australia, whereby it was agreed that X would build a commercial building for Y in the Philippines, and in payment for the construction, Y will transfer and convey his cattle ranch located in the United States in favor of X. What law would govern: a) The validity of the contract? b) The performance of the contract? c) The consideration of the contract?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
(a) The validity of the contract will be governed by Australian law, because the validity refers to the element of the making of the contract in this case.
(b) The performance will be governed by the law of the Philippines where the contract is to be performed.
(c) The consideration will be governed by the law of the United States where the ranch is located.
Applicable Laws; Arts 15, 16 & 17 (1998)
Juan is a Filipino citizen residing in Tokyo, Japan. State what laws govern: 1 His capacity to contract marriage in Japan, [ 1%]
2 His successional rights as regards his deceased Filipino father's property in Texas, U.S.A. [1%]
3 The extrinsic validity of the last will and testament which Juan executed while sojourning in Switzerland. [2%]
4 The intrinsic validity of said will. (1%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
1. Juan's capacity to contract marriage is governed by Philippine law -i.e., the Family Code -pursuant
to Art.15, Civil Code, which provides that our laws relating to, among others, legal capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines even though living abroad.
2. By way of exception to the general rule of lex rei sitae prescribed by the first paragraph of Art. 16. Civil Code, a person's successional rights are governed by the national law of the decedent (2nd par.. Art. 16). Since Juan's deceased father was a Filipino citizen, Philippine law governs Juan's
successional rights.
3. The extrinsic validity of Juan's will is governed by (a) Swiss law, it being the law where the will was made (Art. 17. 1st par. Civil Code), or (b) Philippine law, by implication from the provisions of Art. 816, Civil Code, which allows even an alien who is abroad to make a will in conformity with our Civil Code.
4. The intrinsic validity of his will is governed by Philippine law, it being his national law. (Art. 16, Civil Code)
Applicable Laws; Arts 15, 16, 17 (2002)
Felipe and Felisa, both Filipino citizens, were married in Malolos, Bulacan on June 1, 1950. In 1960 Felipe went to the United States, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1975. In 1980 they obtained a divorce from Felisa, who was duly notified of the proceedings. The divorce decree became final under
California Law. Coming back to the Philippines in 1982, Felipe married Sagundina, a Filipino Citizen. In 2001, Filipe, then domiciled in Los Angeles, California, died, leaving one child by Felisa, and another one by Sagundina. He left a will which he left his estate to Sagundina and his two children and nothing to Felisa. Sagundina files a petition for the probate of Felipe’s will. Felisa questions the intrinsic validity of the will, arguing that her marriage to Felipe subsisted despite the divorce obtained by Felipe because said divorce is not recognized in the Philippines. For this reason, she claims that the properties and that Sagundina has no successional rights.
A. Is the divorce secured by Felipe in California recognizable and valid in the Philippines? How does it affect Felipe’s marriage to Felisa? Explain. (2%).
B. What law governs the formalities of the will? Explain. (1%)
C. Will Philippine law govern the intrinsic validity of the will? Explain. (2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
A. (1.) The divorce secured by Felipe in California is recognizable and valid in the Philippines because he was no longer a Filipino at that time he secured it, Aliens may obtain divorces abroad which may be recognized in the Philippines provided that they are valid according to their national law (Van Dorn V. Romillo, Jr., 139 SCRA 139 [1985]).
(2). With respect to Felipe the divorce is valid, but with respect to Felisa it is not. The divorce will not capacitate Felisa to remarry because she and Felipe were
both Filipinos at the time of their marriage. However, in DOJ Opinion No. 134 series of 1993, Felisa is allowed to remarry because the injustice sought to be corrected by Article 26 also obtains in her case.
B. The foreigner who executes his will in the Philippines may observed the formalities described in:
1. The Law of the country of which he is a citizen under Article 817 of the New Civil Code, or
2. the law of the Philippines being the law of the place of execution under Article 17 of the New Civil Code.
C. Philippine law will not govern the intrinsic validity of the will. Article 16 of the New Civil Code provides that intrinsic validity of testamentary provisions shall be governed by the National Law of the person whose succession is under consideration. California law will govern the intrinsic validity
of the will.
Art. 37. Juridical capacity, which is the fitness to be the subject of legal relations, is inherent in every natural person and is lost only through death. Capacity to act, which is the power to do acts with legal effect, is acquired and may be lost.
Art. 40. Birth determines personality; but the conceived child shall be considered born for all purposes that are favorable to it, provided it be born later with the conditions specified in the following article.
Art. 41. For civil purposes, the fetus is considered born if it is alive at the time it is completely delivered from the mother's womb. However, if the fetus had an intra-uterine life of less than seven months, it is not deemed born if it dies within twenty-four hours after its complete delivery from the maternal womb.
1. Definition of ‘Juridical Capacity’ — the fitness to be the subject of legal relations.
2. Definition of ‘Capacity to Act’ — the power to do acts with legal effect. 3. Differences Between ‘Juridical Capacity’ and ‘Capacity to Act’
Juridical Capacity Capacity to Act
(a) Passive (a) Active
(b) Inherent (b) Merely acquired
(c) Lost only through death (c) Lost through death and may be restricted by
other causes
(d) Can exist without capacity to act (d) Exists always with juridical capacity
Personality does not begin at birth; it begins at conception. This personality at conception is called presumptive personality. It is, of course, essential that birth should occur later, otherwise the fetus will be considered as never having possessed legal personality.
From, of course, another viewpoint, we may say that personality (actual personality) really commences at birth, for conception may in certain cases, be already considered birth.
5. Two Kinds of Children
(a) Ordinary — with an intra-uterine life of at least seven months. (Mere birth is sufficient here.)
(b) Extraordinary — if the intra-uterine life be less than seven months. (Here the child must have lived for at least 24 hours)
Bar Questions:
Juridical Capacity vs. Capacity to Act (1996) Distinguish juridical capacity from capacity to act SUGGESTED ANSWER:
JURIDICAL CAPACITY is the fitness to be the subject of legal relations while CAPACITY TO ACT is the power or to do acts with legal effect. The former is inherent in every natural person and is lost only through death while the latter is merely acquired and may be lost even before death (Art. 37, NCC).
Juridical Capacity; Natural Persons (1999)
Elated that her sister who had been married for five years was pregnant for the first time, Alma donated 100,000.00 to the unborn child. Unfortunately, the baby died one hour after delivery. May Alma recover the P100.000.00 that she had donated to said baby before it was born considering that the baby died? Stated otherwise, is the donation valid and binding? Explain. (5%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
The donation is valid and binding, being an act favorable to the unborn child, but only if the baby had an intra-uterine life of not less than seven months and provided there was due acceptance of the donation by the proper person representing said child. If the child had less than seven months of intra-uterine life, it is not deemed born since it died less than 24 hours following its delivery, in which ease the donation never became effective since the donee never became a person, birth being determinative of personality.
Art. 363. In all questions on the care, custody, education and property of children the latter's welfare shall be paramount. No mother shall be separated from her child under seven years of age, unless the court finds compelling reasons for such measure.
1. “The general rule is recommended in order to avoid many a tragedy where a mother has seen her baby torn away from her. No man can sound the deep sorrows of a mother who is deprived of her child of tender age. The exception allowed by the rule as to be for “compelling reasons’’ for the good of the child;
those cases must indeed be rare, if the mother’s heart is not to be unduly hurt. If she has erred, as in cases of adultery, the penalty of imprisonment and the (relative) divorce decree will ordinarily be sufficient punishment for her. Moreover, her moral dereliction will not have any effect upon the baby who is as yet unable to understand the situation.’’ (Report of the Code Commission, p. 12). Bar Questions:
Parental Authority; Child under 7 years of age (2006)
Under Article 213 of the Family Code, no child under 7 years of age shall be separated from the mother unless the court finds compelling reasons to order otherwise.
(1) Explain the rationale of this provision. (2.5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
The rationale of the 2nd paragraph of Article 213 of the Family Code is to avoid the tragedy of a mother who sees her baby torn away from her. It is said that the maternal affection and care during the early years of the child are generally needed by the child more than paternal care (Hontiveros v. IAC, G.R. No. 64982, October 23, 1984). The general rule is that a child below 7 years old shall not be separated from his mother due to his basic need for her loving care (Espiritu v. C.A., G.R. No. 115640, March 15,1995).
(2) Give at least 3 examples of "compelling reasons" which justify the taking away from the mother's custody of her child under 7 years of age. (2.5%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER: 1. The mother is insane;
2. The mother is sick with a disease that is communicable and might endanger the health and life of the child;
3. The mother has been maltreating the child; 4. The mother is engaged in prostitution;
5. The mother is engaged in adulterous relationship; 6. The mother is a drug addict;
7. The mother is a habitual drunk or an alcoholic; Family Code
Art. 1. Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code.
Distinguished From Ordinary Contract
Marriage is a contract sui generis, differing in notable respects from ordinary contracts. It is a contract of peculiar character and subject to peculiar principles,
being usually accorded more dignity than ordinary contracts, and the rules applicable to ordinary contracts are not ordinarily applicable to marriage contracts because of the nature of marriage relation and for reasons of public policy. The following are the distinctions between marriage and an ordinary contract:
(a) The marriage contract cannot be revoked, dissolved or otherwise terminated by the parties, but only by the sovereign power of the state;
(b) The nature, consequences and incidents of marriage are governed by law and not subject to agreement; while in ordinary contract, the parties are free to establish such clauses, terms and conditions provided the same are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order or public policy;
(c) Only two persons of opposite sex may enter into a contract of marriage, and but one such contract may exist at the same time; while ordinary contracts may be entered into by any number of persons, whether of the same or different sex; (d) Marriage is not just a contract; it is likewise a social institution.
Doctrine: Semper praesumitur pro matrimonio — Always presume marriage. Proof of Marriage (Trinidad vs. Court of Appeals, et. Al)
(a) testimony of a witness to the matrimony;
(b) the couple’s public and open cohabitation as husband and wife after the alleged wedlock;
(c) the birth and baptismal certificate of children born during such union; and (d) the mention of such nuptial in subsequent documents.
Adong vs. Cheong Seng Gee
Persons dwelling together in apparent matrimony are presumed, in the absence of counter-presumption or evidence special to the case, to be in fact married. The reason is that such is the common order of society, and if the parties were not what they thus hold themselves out as being, they would be living in the constant violation of decency and of law. A presumption established by our Code of Civil Procedure is ‘that a man and a woman deporting themselves as husband and wife have entered into a lawful contract of marriage.’
Art. 2. No marriage shall be valid, unless these essential requisites are present:
(1) Legal capacity of the contracting parties who must be a male and a female; and
(2) Consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer. Art. 3. The formal requisites of marriage are:
(1) Authority of the solemnizing officer;
(2) A valid marriage license except in the cases provided for in Chapter 2 of this Title; and
(3) A marriage ceremony which takes place with the appearance of the contracting parties before the solemnizing officer and their personal declaration that they take each other as husband and wife in the presence of not less than two witnesses of legal age.
Art. 4. The absence of any of the essential or formal requisites shall render the marriage void ab initio, except as stated in Article 35(2). A defect in any of the essential requisites shall render the marriage voidable as provided in Article 45. An irregularity in the formal requisites shall not affect the validity of the marriage but the party or parties responsible for the irregularity shall be civilly, criminally and administratively liable.
Bar Question (1999):
Q: What is the status of the following marriages and why?
a) A marriage between two 19-year olds without parental consent b) A marriage between two 21-year olds without parental advice
c) A marriage between two Filipino first cousins in Spain where such marriage is valid
d) A marriage between two Filipinos in Hong Kong before a notary public
e) A marriage solemnized by a town mayor three towns away from his jurisdiction
Suggested Answer:
a) The marriage is voidable. Under the law, if a party to a marriage is already eighteen years old but below twenty-one, his or her consent is not sufficient; the parents or guardians must, in addition, give their consent.
b) The marriage is valid. The absence of parental advice is only an irregularity as it affects the issuance of the marriage license. Thus, the validity of the marriage is not affected; however, the Civil Registrar who issued the marriage license notwithstanding the absence of such parental advice or prior to the three-month suspension period will be liable civilly, criminally or administratively.
c) The marriage is void because of public policy. Under Article 38(1), marriage between collateral blood relatives, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to fourth civil degree are void ab initio by reason of public policy. In this case, the marriage is between Filipino citizens who are first cousins which are related up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity. Though the marriage between first cousins are
valid in Spain still under Article 15 of the New Civil Code personal laws are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though they are living abroad. d) The marriage will be valid only if the marriage before a notary public is valid in Hong Kong and provided the marriage does not fall under the prohibited marriages in Art. 26
e) The marriage is void. This involves an absence, not mere irregularity of a formal requisite, which is the authority of the solemnizing officer. The case of Navarro vs Dumagtoy is a mere obiter dicta and does not set a valid precedent. Art. 7. Marriage may be solemnized by:
(1) Any incumbent member of the judiciary within the court’s jurisdiction;
(2) Any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect duly authorized by his church or religious sect and registered with the civil registrar general, acting within the limits of the written authority granted him by his church or religious sect and provided that at least one of the contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officer’s church or religious sect;
(3) Any ship captain or airplane chief only in the cases mentioned in Article 31;
(4) Any military commander of a unit to which a chaplain is assigned, in the absence of the latter, during a military operation, likewise only in the cases mentioned in Article 32; or
(5) Any consul-general, consul or vice-consul in the case provided in Article 10.
Note: Mayors are included by R.A. 7160
Judges and Mayors have the authority to solemnize marriages only “within their jurisdiction.”
Marriage in Good Faith
The absence of authority of the solemnizing officer shall render the marriage void from the beginning except if the marriage is contracted “with either or both parties believing in good faith that the solemnizing officer had the legal authority to do so.”
Bar Question:
If a judge solemnized a marriage outside of his territorial jurisdiction, may the marriage be nonetheless considered as valid because either or both of the contracting parties believed in good faith that the judge had the legal authority to solemnize the marriage?
Suggested Answer:
The marriage is void ab initio if the good faith of the parties consists in their mistaken belief that a judge has the authority to solemnize marriages outside of his court’s jurisdiction. This is clearly a case of ignorance of law for which the parties may not be excused following the rule in Article 3 of the New Civil Code that “ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith.”
Alternative Answer:
If their good faith, however, consists in their mistaken belief that the solemnizer is a judge of the locality where the marriage is celebrated, then good faith may be invoked in this case since this is a clear case of ignorance of fact and can, therefore, be a basis of good faith.
Art. 26. All marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be valid in this country, except those prohibited under Articles 35(1), (4), (5) and (6), 36, 37 and 38. (17a) Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law. (As amended by Executive Order 227)
Following the principle of lex loci celebrationis, “all marriages solemnized outside the Philippines, in accordance with the laws in force in the country where they were solemnized, and valid there as such, shall also be valid in this country.” Historical Background
During the Spanish Occupation, only relative divorce (a mensa et thoro) was allowed in the Philippines under the Las Siete Partidas. During the American Occupation, Act No. 2710, otherwise known as the Divorce Law, was enacted by the Philippine Legislature. E.O. 141 repealed Act No. 2710 and the same permitted absolute divorce on eleven liberal grounds.
The draft of the new Civil Code submitted by the Code Commission provided for both absolute and relative divorce. During the discussion of the Code in the Congress, absolute divorce was eventually eliminated and the phrase “relative divorce” was changed to “legal separation.” Under existing laws, therefore, the rule is that divorce is not recognized as valid in the Philippines. However, in the situation contemplated in Article 26 of the Family Code, and only in that instance, the effect of divorce, which is the severance of the marriage ties, is allowed to benefit the Filipino spouse who is thereby given capacity to remarry under Philippine law.
The reckoning point is not the citizenship of the parties at the time of the celebration of the marriage, but their citizenship at the time a valid divorce is obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating the latter to remarry.
Bar Question (2005):
In 1985, Sonny and Lulu, both Filipino citizens, were married in the Philippines. In 1987, they separated and Sonny went to Canada where he obtained a divorce in the same year. He then married another Filipina Auring in Canada on January 1, 1988. They had two sons, James and John. In 1990, after failing to hear from Sonny, Lulu married Tirso, by whom she had a daughter Verna. In 1991, Sonny visited the Philippines where he succumbed to heart attack.
1) Discuss the effect of the divorce obtained by Sonny in Canada. 2) Explain the status of the marriage between Sonny and Auring. 3) Explain the status of the marriage between Lulu and Tirso 4) Explain the respective filiation of James, John and Verna 5) Who are the heirs of Sonny? Explain
Suggested Answer:
1) The divorce is valid. In the case of Republic v. Orbecido III, 472 SCRA 114, the Supreme Court held that taking into consideration the legislative intent and applying the rule of reason, par. 2 of Article 26 should be interpreted to include cases involving parties who are at the time of the celebration of the marriage were Filipino Citizens, but later on, one of them becomes naturalized as a foreign citizen and obtains a divorce decree. In such case, the Filipino spouse should likewise be allowed to remarry as if the other party were a foreigner at the time of the solemnization of the marriage, for the rule otherwise would be sanction to absurdity and injustice. The reckoning point is not the citizenship of the parties at the time of the celebration of the marriage, but their citizenship at the time a valid divorce is obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating the latter to remarry.
2) Since the decree of divorce obtained by Lulu and Sonny in Canada is valid and now recognized in the Philippines, the marriage of Sonny and Auring is therefore, valid. The Supreme Court held that the intent of par 2 Article 26 is to avoid the absurd situation where the Filipino spouse remains married to the alien spouse who after obtaining a divorce decree is no longer married to a Filipino spouse. Where the interpretation of a statute according to its exact and literal import would lead to mischievous results or contravene the clear purpose of the legislature, it should be construed according to its spirit and reason, disregarding as far as necessary the letter of the law. A statute may therefore be extended to cases not within the literal meaning of its terms, so long as they come within its spirit or intent.
3) The marriage of Lulu and Tirso is also valid. The Supreme Court held that if we are to give meaning to the legislative intent to avoid the absurd situation where the Filipino spouse remains married to the alien spouse who, after obtaining a divorce is no longer married to the Filipino spouse, then the instant case must be deemed as coming within the contemplation of par 2 Article 26 of the NCC. 4) James, John and Verna are legitimate children since their parents are validly married. Under Article 164 of the Family Code, children born or conceived during the marriage of the parents are legitimate.
5) Sonny’s heirs include Auring, John and James. Article 887 of the New Civil Code provides for the compulsory heirs of the deceased are among others, his widow and his legitimate children.
Marriages Exempted from the License Requirement (Art. 27-34)
The following marriages are exempt from the requirement of procuring a marriage license:
(1) in cases where either or both of the contracting parties are at the point of death by the ship captain or airplane chief while in transit (even during stopovers) or by the military commander within the zone of military operations in case of assigned chaplain’s absence;
(2) if the residence of either party is so located that there is no means of transportation to enable such party to appear personally before the local civil registrar;
(3) marriages among Muslims or among members of ethnic cultural communities provided the same are solemnized according to their customs, rites or practices; (4) marriages of a man and a woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years and without any legal impediment to marry each other.
Niñal vs. Bayadog
The “nature of a perfect union that is valid under the law but rendered imperfect only by the absence of the marriage contract” and “characterized by exclusivity — meaning no third party was involved at anytime within the 5 years and continuity — that is unbroken.”
Void Marriages
(1) Those contracted by any party below eighteen years of age even with the consent of parents or guardians;
(2) Those solemnized by any person not legally authorized to perform marriages unless such marriages were contracted with either or both parties believing in
(3) Those solemnized without license, except those covered by the preceding Chapter;
(4) Those bigamous or polygamous marriages not failing under Article 41;
(5) Those contracted through mistake of one contracting party as to the identity of the other; and
(6) Those subsequent marriages that are void under Article 53. (Art 35)
(7) Those marriages with parties who were psychologically incapacitated. (Art. 36)
(8) Those Incestuous marriages between ascendants and descendants of any degree or between brothers and sisters, whether of the full or half blood. (Art. 37)
(9) Those void by reason of public policy. (Art. 38)
a) Between collateral blood relatives, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to the fourth civil degree;
b) Between step-parents and step-children; c) Between parents-in-law and children-in-law;
d) Between the adopting parent and the adopted child;
e) Between the surviving spouse of the adopting parent and the adopted child;
f) Between the surviving spouse of the adopted child and the adopter; g) Between an adopted child and a legitimate child of the adopter; h) Between adopted children of the same adopter; and
i) Between parties where one, with the intention to marry the other, killed that other person’s spouse, or his or her own spouse
Lex Nationalis – Nationality Principle: In a mixed marriage where the Filipino is 18 years old but the foreigner is below 17 years of age. The status of the marriage depends if the national law of the foreigner recognizes 17 year old persons to be capacitated to marry, then their marriage is valid, otherwise it is void.
Art. 36. A marriage contracted by any party who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations of marriage, shall likewise be void even if such incapacity becomes manifest only after its solemnization. (As amended by Executive Order 227)
Characteristics of Psychological Incapacity
1. Juridical antecedence – must be rooted in the history of the party antedating the marriage, although overt manifestations may arise only after such marriage.
2. Gravity – grave enough to bring about the disability of the party to assume the essental marital obligations.
Guidelines for Art 36
(1) The burden of proof to show the nullity of the marriage belongs to the plaintiff.
(2)Must specifically allege the complete facts showing that either or both parties were psychologically incapacitated from complying with the essential marital obligations of marriage at the time of the celebration of marriage even if such incapacity becomes manifest only after its celebration.
(3)The incapacity must be proven to be existing at the time before the marriage.
(4)Such incapacity must also be shown to be medically or clinically permanent or incurable.
(5)Such illness must be grave enough to bring about the disability of the party to assume essential obligations of marriage.
(6)Such non-complied marital obligation(s) must also be stated in the petition, proven by evidence and included in the text of the decision
(7)Interpretations given by the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, while not controlling or decisive, should be given respect in our courts. (Republic of the Philippines vs. Court of Appeals and Molina)
Leouel Santos vs. Court of Appeals 240 SCRA 20 (1995) (En Banc) FACTS: Leouel and Julia got married. The couple lived with Julia’s parents. In 1987, Julia gave birth to a baby boy. Soon thereafter, the couple started quarrelling over a number of things. In 1988, Julia finally left for the United States of America to work as a nurse despite Leouel’s pleas to so dissuade her. Seven months after her departure, Julia called Leouel for the first time by long distance telephone. She promised to return home upon the expiration of her contract in July 1989. She never did. When Leouel got a chance to visit the United States, where he underwent a training program under the auspices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines sometime in 1990, he desperately tried to locate, or to somehow get in touch with Julia but all his efforts were of no avail. Having failed to get Julia to somehow come home, Leouel filed with the Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental a complaint for “Voiding of marriage Under Art. 36 of the Family Code.”
HELD: Denied. His alleged psychological illness was traced only to said period and not to the inception of the marriage. Equally important, there is no evidence showing that his condition is incurable. Article 36 of the Code has not been meant to comprehend all such possible cases of psychoses. The factual settings in the case at bench, in no measure at all, can come close to the standards required to decree a nullity of marriage. Undeniably and understandably, Leouel stands aggrieved, even desperate, in his present situation. Regrettably, neither law nor society itself can always provide all the specific answers to every individual problem.
Bar Question (2002):
A. Give a brief definition or explanation of the term “psychological incapacity” as a ground for the declaration of nullity of marriage
B. If existing at the inception of marriage, would the state of being of unsound mind or the concealment of drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, homosexuality or lesbianism be considered indicia of psychological incapacity? Explain.
C. If drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, lesbianism or homosexuality should occur only during the marriage, would these constitute grounds for a declaration of nullity, or for legal separation, or would they render the marriage voidable? Suggested Answer:
A. “Psychological Incapacity” is a mental disorder of the most serious type showing the incapability of one or both spouses to comply the essential marital obligations of love, respect cohabitation, mutual help and support, trust and commitment. It must be characterized by juridical antecedence, gravity and incurability and its root causes must be clinically identified or examined. (Santos v. CA 240 SCRA 20, G.R. No. 112019, January 4, 1995)
B. In the case of Santos v. CA (240 SCRA 20, 1995), the Supreme Court held that being of unsound mind, drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, lesbianism or homosexuality may be indicia of psychological incapacity, depending on the degree of severity of the disorder, however, the concealment of drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, lesbianism or homosexuality is a ground for annulment of marriage.
C. In accordance with law, if drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, lesbianism or homosexuality should occur only during the marriage, they will not constitute as grounds for declaration of nullity or for rendering the marriage voidable but they constitute as grounds for legal separation.
Art. 40. The absolute nullity of a previous marriage may be invoked for purposes of remarriage on the basis solely of a final judgment declaring such previous marriage void.
“A judicial declaration of nullity of a previous marriage is necessary before a subsequent one can be legally contracted”375 and that “one who enters into a subsequent marriage without first obtaining such judicial declaration is guilty of bigamy.”
Domingo vs. Court of Appeals 226 SCRA 572 (1993)
FACTS: In 1976, Delia Soledad Domingo and Roberto Domingo were married. Unknown to Delia, Roberto had a previous marriage with one Emerlinda dela Paz in 1969. She came to know of the prior marriage only sometime in 1983 when Emerlinda dela Paz sued them for bigamy.
In 1991, Delia filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig entitled “Declaration of Nullity of Marriage and Separation of Property” against Roberto. But Roberto contends that since the marriage is void ab initio, the petition for the declaration of its nullity is superfluous and unnecessary. Furthermore, under his own interpretation of Article 40 of the Family Code, he submits that a petition for declaration of absolute nullity of marriage is required only for purposes of remarriage. Since the petition contains no allegation of Delia’s intention to remarry, said petition should, therefore, be dismissed.
HELD: Judge Diy stated that the word “only” in Art 40 refers to “final judgment.” Justice Puno suggested that they say “on the basis only of a final judgment.” Undoubtedly, one can conceive of other instances where a party might well invoke the absolute nullity of a previous marriage for purposes other than remarriage, such as in case of an action for liquidation, partition, distribution and separation of property between the erstwhile spouses, as well as an action for the custody and support of their common children and the delivery of the latter’s presumptive legitimes. In such cases, evidence needs must be adduced, testimonial or documentary, to prove the existence of grounds rendering such a previous marriage an absolute nullity. These need not be limited solely to an earlier final judgment of a court declaring such previous marriage void.
Art. 41. A marriage contracted by any person during the subsistence of a previous marriage shall be null and void, unless before the celebration of the subsequent marriage, the prior spouse had been absent for four consecutive years and the spouse present had a well-founded belief that the absent spouse was already dead. In case of disappearance where there is danger of death under the circumstances set forth in the provisions of Article 391 of the Civil Code, an absence of only two years shall be sufficient. For the purpose of contracting the subsequent marriage under the preceding paragraph, the spouse present must institute a summary proceeding as provided in this Code for the declaration of presumptive death of the absentee, without prejudice to the effect of reappearance of the absent spouse.
Art. 42. The subsequent marriage referred to in the preceding Article shall be automatically terminated by the recording of the affidavit of reappearance of the absent spouse, unless there is a judgment annulling the previous marriage or declaring it void ab initio. A sworn statement of the fact and circumstances of reappearance shall be recorded in the civil registry of the residence of the parties to the subsequent marriage at the instance of any interested person, with due notice to the spouses of the subsequent marriage and without prejudice to the fact of reappearance being judicially determined in case such fact is disputed.
Generally, any marriage contracted by any person during the subsistence of a previous marriage shall be null and void.
XPN: Under Article 41 of the Family Code, a subsequent bigamous marriage may exceptionally be considered valid if the following conditions concur:
(a) The prior spouse of the contracting party must have been absent for four consecutive years, or two years where there is danger of death under the circumstances stated in Article 391 of the Civil Code at the time of disappearance;
(b) The spouse present has a well-founded belief that the absent spouse is already dead; and
(c) There is a judicial declaration of presumptive death of the absentee for which purpose the spouse present can institute a summary proceeding in court to ask for that declaration.
Requisites for the issuance of a judicial declaration of presumptive death (Republic vs. Nolasco)
(a) That the absent spouse has been missing for four consecutive years, or two consecutive years if the disappearance occurred where there is danger of death under the circumstances laid down in Article 391, Civil Code;
(b) That the present spouse wishes to remarry;
(c) That the present spouse has a well-founded belief that the absentee spouse is dead; and
(d) That the present spouse files a summary proceeding for the declaration of presumptive death of the absentee.
Strict Standard Test- The investigation to find the absentee spouse must be adequate to engender well-founded belief that said spouse is already dead. There must be some information leading to such a conclusion. This Court has been consistent in its strict application of Article 41 of the Family Code. So a strict scrutiny must be placed to protect state, present spouse (possibility of bigamy), and sanctity of marriage.
Bar Question:
May a marriage be terminated extrajudicially? Suggested Answer:
Yes. The recording of the affidavit of reappearance of the absent spouse in the civil registry of the residence of the parties to the subsequent marriage shall automatically terminate the terminable bigamous marriage unless there is a judgment annulling the previous marriage or declaring it void ab initio. (Art. 42) In Art 42, FC, no judicial proceeding to annul a subsequent marriage contracted under Art. 41 is necessary. Also, the termination of the subsequent marriage by affidavit provided for in Art. 42 does not preclude the filing of an action in court
to prove the reappearance of the absentee and obtain a declaration of dissolution or termination of the subsequent marriage.
Bar Question (2008:
Ana Rivera had a husband, a Filipino citizen like her, who was among the passengers on board a commercial jet plane which crashed in the Atlantic Ocean ten (10) years earlier and had never been heard of ever since. Believing that her husband had died, Ana married Adolf Cruz Staedler, a divorced German national born of a German father and a Filipino mother residing in Stuttgart. To avoid being required to submit the required certificate of capacity to marry from the German Embassy in Manila, Adolf stated in the application for marriage license stating that Adolf was a Filipino, the couple got married in a ceremony officiated by the Parish Priest of Calamba, Laguna in a beach in Nasugbu, Batangas, as the local parish priest refused to solemnize marriage except in his church. Is the marriage valid? Explain fully.
Suggested Answer :
The issue hinges on whether or not the missing husband was dead or alive at the time of the second marriage. If the missing husband was in fact dead at the time the second marriage was celebrated, the second marriage was valid. Actual death of a spouse dissolves the marriage ipso facto whether or not the surviving spouse had knowledge of such fact. A declaration of presumptive death even if obtained will not make the marriage voidable because presumptive death will not prevail over the fact of death. If the missing husband was in fact alive when the second marriage was celebrated, the second marriage was void ab initio because of a prior subsisting marriage. Had Ana obtained a declaration of presumptive death, the second
In both cases, the fact that the German misrepresented his citizenship to avoid having to present his Certificate of Legal Capacity, or the holding of the ceremony outside the church or beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the solemnizing officer, are all irregularities which do not affect the validity of the marriage.
Art. 45. A marriage may be annulled for any of the following causes, existing at the time of the marriage:
(1) That the party in whose behalf it is sought to have the marriage annulled was eighteen years of age or over but below twenty-one, and the marriage was solemnized without the consent of the parents, guardian or person having substitute parental authority over the party, in that order, unless after attaining the age of twenty-one, such party freely cohabited with the other and both lived together as husband and wife;
(2) That either party was of unsound mind, unless such party after coming to reason, freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;
(3) That the consent of either party was obtained by fraud, unless such party afterwards, with full knowledge of the facts constituting the fraud, freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife;
(4) That the consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue influence, unless the same having disappeared or ceased, such party thereafter freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife
(5) That either party was physically incapable of consummating the marriage with the other, and such incapacity continues and appears to be incurable; or
(6) That either party was afflicted with a sexually-transmissible disease found to be serious and appears to be incurable.
Characteristics of Voidable Marriages
(1) It is valid until otherwise declared by the court;
(2) In a voidable marriage, the defect which serves as ground for annulment must be in existence at the time of the celebration of the marriage;
(3) A voidable marriage cannot be assailed collaterally except in a direct proceeding;
(4) A voidable marriage can be assailed only during the lifetime of the parties and not after death of either, in which case the parties and their offspring will be left as if the marriage had been perfectly valid;
(5) Only the parties to a voidable marriage can assail it; (6) The action for annulment is subject to prescription;
(7) The defect in a voidable marriage is generally subject to ratification except for the grounds mentioned in paragraphs (5) and (6) of Article 45, which are not subject to ratification.
Subject to Ratification
A marriage that is annullable is subject to ratification or confirmation.
(1) the contract should be tainted with a vice which is susceptible of being cured; (2) the confirmation or ratification should be effected by the person who is entitled to do so under the law;
(3) it should be effected with knowledge of the vice or defect of the contract; and (4) the cause of the nullity or defect should have already disappeared.
Under what conditions, respectively, may drug addiction be a ground, if at all, for the declaration of nullity of marriage, annulment of marriage, and legal separation?
Suggested Answer:
1. Declaration of nullity of marriage: a. The drug addiction must amount to psychological incapacity to comply with the essential obligations of marriage; b. It must be antecedent (existing at the time of marriage), grave and incurable: 2. Annulment of marriage: a. The drug addiction must be concealed; b. It must exist at the time of marriage; c. There should be no cohabitation with full knowledge of the drug addiction; d. The case is filed within five (5) years from discovery.
3. Legal separation: a. There should be no condonation or consent to the drug addiction; b. The action must be filed within five (5) years from the occurrence of the cause. c. Drug addiction arises during the marriage and not at the time of marriage.
Art. 54. Children conceived or born before the judgment of annulment or absolute nullity of the marriage under Article 36 has become final and executory shall be considered legitimate. Children conceived or born of the subsequent marriage under Article 53 shall likewise be legitimate.
Status of Children
Since a voidable marriage is considered valid prior to the judgment of annulment, children conceived or born before the judgment of annulment has become final and executory are considered legitimate. Children born of void marriages are considered illegitimate except those born of void marriages under Articles 36 and 53 of the Family Code, which are exceptionally considered legitimate. Thus, if the marriage is judicially declared an absolute nullity, the Family Court shall order the local civil registrar to issue an amended birth certificate indicating the new civil status of the children affected, except in the case of children under Articles 36 and 53 of the Family Code.
Legal Separation; grounds (Art. 55) PALFAC SILA:
1. Repeated Physical violence or grossly abusive conduct against petitioner, common child, child of petitioner;
2. Attempt to corrupt or induce petitioner, common child, child of petitioner to engage in prostitution, or connivance in such corruption or inducement;
3. Attempt by respondent against Life of petitioner;
5. Drug Addiction or habitual alcoholism of respondent; Note: It must exist after celebration of marriage
6. Physical violence or moral pressure to Compel petitioner to change religious or political affiliation;
7. Bigamous marriage Subsequently contracted by respondent in the Philippines or abroad
8. Sexual Infidelity or perversion;
9. Lesbianism/homosexuality of respondent; Note: It must exist after celebration of marriage
10. Abandonment of petitioner by respondent without justifiable cause for more than 1 year.
Distinguished Legal Separation from annulment and absolute divorce Legal separation is to be distinguished from annulment and absolute divorce in that in the former, the marriage bond is not severed; whereas, in annulment and absolute divorce, the marriage bond is severed or terminated, thus allowing the parties thereto to remarry. The cause giving rise to legal separation must necessarily exist only after the celebration of the marriage. This is likewise true in the case of absolute divorce. In annulment, however, the grounds thereof must necessarily exist at the time of the marriage.
Bar Question:
Lucita left the conjugal dwelling and filed a petition for legal separation due to the physical violence, threats, intimidation and grossly abusive conduct she had suffered at the hands of Wiliam, her husband. William denied such and claimed that since it was Lucita who had left the conjugal abode, then the decree of legal separation should not be granted, following Art.56 (4) of the FC which provides that legal separation shall be denied when both parties have given ground for legal separation. Should legal separation be denied on the basis of William’s claim of mutual guilt?
Suggested Answer:
No. Art. 56 (4) of the FC does not apply since the abandonment that is a ground for legal separation is abandonment without justifiable cause for more than one year. In this case, Lucita left William due to his abusive conduct. Such act does not constitute the abandonment contemplated in the said provision. Since this is so, there is no mutual guilt between them as there is only one erring spouse. (Ong Eng Kiam v. CA, GR No. 153206, Oct. 23, 2006)
Art. 68. The husband and wife are obliged to live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support. Q: May the performance of essential marital obligations be compelled by court?
A: GR: Performance of EMO under Art. 68 cannot be compelled by court because it will be a violation of personal liberty. XPN: Giving support (Arroyo v. Arroyo, G.R. No. L‐17014, Aug. 11, 1921)
Art. 84. If the future spouses agree upon a regime other than the absolute community of property, they cannot donate to each other in their marriage settlements more than one-fifth of their present property. Any excess shall be considered void. Donations of future property shall be governed by the provisions on testamentary succession and the formalities of wills
While ordinary donations cannot comprehend future property, donations propter nuptias of future property between future spouses are not prohibited. However, such donations shall be governed by the provisions on testamentary succession and the formalities of wills.48 In other words, donations propter nuptias of future property between future spouses are in the nature of donations mortis causa, which are effective only upon the death of the donor spouse.
Bar Question (1996):
On the occasion of Digna’s marriage to George, her father gave her a donation propter nuptias of a car. Subsequently, the marriage was annulled because of the psychological immaturity of George. May Digna’s father revoke the donation and get back the car? Explain.
Suggested Answer: No, Digna’s father may not revoke the donation because Digna was not in bad faith, applying Article 86 (3) of the Family Code.
Liability of property of spouses Art. 94. The absolute community of property shall be liable for:
Art. 121. The conjugal partnership shall be liable for:
(1) The support of the spouses, their common children, and legitimate children of either spouse; however, the support of illegitimate children shall be governed by the provisions of this Code on Support;
(1) The support of the spouses, their common children, and the legitimate children of either spouse; however, the support of illegitimate children shall be governed by the provisions of this Code on Support;
(2) All debts and obligations contracted during the marriage by the designated administrator-spouse for the benefit of the community, or by both spouses, or by one spouse with the consent of the other;
(2) All debts and obligations contracted during the marriage by the designated administrator-spouse for the benefit of the conjugal partnership of gains, or by both spouses or by one of them with the consent of the other;
(3) Debts and obligations contracted by either spouse without the consent of the other to the extent that the family may have been benefited;
(3) Debts and obligations contracted by either spouse without the consent of the other to the extent that the family may have been benefited;
(4) All taxes, liens, charges and expenses, including major or minor
(4) All taxes, liens, charges, and expenses, including major or minor
