REQUIREMENTS FOR PETITION FOR
RECOGNITION OF DIVORCE DECREE
Process
1) A divorce decree obtained abroad needs to be recognized in a Philippine court through filing of a petition.
2) The recognition will capacitate the Filipino husband/wife to remarry.
3) A divorce decree in Japan is one that is issued by a Japanese court or one that is registered in the family registry.
4) The average time frame of a court case is at least one year. The exact period cannot be determined with certainty, since it is the court that handles the schedule of hearings. The time spent by the judge in issuing the decision is entirely up to him or her. The most that the lawyer can do is request for early resolution of the case; the court case will be filed in the place where the marriage is registered. 5) It is ideal that the client can personally appear before the
judge. If this is not possible, she/he must have a duly authorized representative to appear on his/her behalf.
Documents
1) Marriage certificate issued by NSO (now known as PSA) PSA Advisory on Marriages (commonly known as CENOMAR/CEMAR);
2) Certified copy of Japanese Divorce Decree (in original Japanese text, with DFA/Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
3) English translation of divorce decree (with DFA/Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
4) Certified Copy of Notification of Divorce (in original Japanese text, with DFA/Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
5) English Translation of Notification of Divorce (with DFA/ Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
6) Copy of Divorce Law of Japan (in original Japanese text, with DFA/Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
7) English Translation of Divorce Law of Japan (with DFA/Phil. Embassy Red Ribbon);
8) Special Power of Attorney (format will be provided) in favor of a relative, signed by client, notarized by Philippine Embassy/Consulate in Japan (if client cannot appear in court hearing);
9) Copy of Valid Philippine Passport; and
10) Documentary proof that the client is habitually staying in Japan (Residence Card/Entry Permit)
Steps
Below are some stages/steps (about 8) related to the petition for official recognition of foreign divorce decree in Philippine courts. The estimated cost and time period each step may take are listed to give the applicants a clear idea of the whole process.
Step 1. Personal or Skype consultation between client and lawyer: The Lawyer makes preliminary assessment of client's legal problem, proposes a solution, lays down what services will be rendered; Explains terms and modes of payment; Sends a formal contract to the client for his/her consideration. Client sets up appointment for consultation with lawyer (directly or through email, Skype, line, others); Consultation fee will be deducted from the package price if the client proceeds with signing the engagement. This step may cost P3000 and may take a week. Step 2. Formal signing of the contract; Both client receives a signed copy of contract; Client tenders payment (may be made in cash, cheque or bank/wired transfer) Lawyer issues acknowledgment receipt for payment received; Client turns over all documents required for the case; Lawyer may assist in obtaining NSO/PSA documents if client is unable to do so from
Japan;
Lawyer prepares the petition, will consult with client while the draft is being finalized; Lawyer files the petition in the appropriate court. (The 1 year average timeframe begins from this point). Step 2 may take 1-2 months (depending on availability of documents and communication between lawyer and client). Initial payment covers 30% of payment for legal fees; P10,000 for necessary expenses . This stage may cost P40,000 (P37,000 with the deduction of consultation fee in step 1).
Step 3. Case is raffled to the appropriate branch Court that will order the publication of the petition in a newspaper Court will issue a notice setting the date of first hearing. Copies will be served to involved agencies (Civil Registrar, PSA, City Prosecutor, Office of Solicitor General, any registered oppositor). This stage may take a month.
Step 4 TRIAL PROPER. First hearing (will require attendance of client or his/her representative). This step will involve proving that all formal requirements for the case have been completed (publication, service, etcetera) and drafting of judicial affidavits, preparation of witnesses for testimony (client/petitioner, officers who certified authenticity of documents, etcetera).
Hearing schedule depends mostly on the court calendar. It is possible that the hearing can be scheduled once every month. An average of 3-4 hearings can be expected and may take from 3-5 months.
Appearance fee rates can range from P3,000 if in Metro Manila to P10,000 if outside of Manila.
Step 5. After all hearings are concluded and all documents presented are formally submitted, the case shall be submitted for resolution. This may take 3-6 months. Metro Manila courts would have a heavier caseload and will affect the length of time until decision is issued.
Step 6. Once the decision is issued, Lawyer will request that all court documents (decision, certificate of finality) be issued and certified and registered with Civil Registrar (Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Authenticity will be issued). Then, the
Record of Marriage Certificate with Civil Registrar will be annotated. All documents obtained by the lawyer will be forwarded/endorsed to the NSO/PSA for recording. This step may take about 1-2 months. This is a requirement before the NSO/PSA requirements.
Step 7. Request NSO to issue marriage certificate and Advisory of Marriage with annotation of judicial recognition of foreign divorce which may take about a month.
Step 8. Bring to DFA documents for authentication (red ribbon). The rest of the documents (Philippine Court Order NSO/PSA Marriage Certificate (with annotation) NSO/PSA Advisory of Marriages (with annotation) will be sent by courier or post (fees shall depend on weight, choice of courier/postal service). This step will take about a week. Authentication services at the DFA (P1,500 per document) and the lawyer may send all documents by courier or post upon client's request mail.
Based on the above information, all the steps may take, give or take, from about 11 months and 2 weeks to 17 months and 2 weeks based on the above information. The costs may also range from about P123,500 to P156,500 but the costs may be less or more, may vary, depending on documents needed, schedules of court hearings, etcetera. The clients, however, can request their lawyer to inform them about what documents are needed and the costs, including the number of court hearings. They can use the above guidelines for payment transactions.
Judicial Recognition of Foreign
Divorce
There is no divorce in the Philippines, but when a divorce is validly obtained abroad by an alien spouse from his or her Filipino spouse, the Filipino spouse shall have the capacity to remarry under Philippine law. However, the divorce obtained abroad must be passed upon judicially by a Philippine court to prove its validity before the Filipino spouse can remarry under Philippine law.
The decision of the Philippine Court shall become the basis for the annotation of civil registry documents.
foreign-issued divorce decree with the Office of the Civil Registrar General in the Philippines:
1 The foreign divorce decree must be judicially enforced or confirmed in the Philippines by filing the proper civil action at the Regional Trial Court in the Philippines (RTC-Phil).
2 The court decision shall be registered in the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where the concerned RTC-Phil functions.
3 The registered document shall be submitted to the Local Civil Registrar where the marriage is registered. If the marriage was registered overseas, the registered document shall be submitted to the City Civil Registry Office at the Manila City Hall (CCRO Manila). 4 The following documents shall be submitted to CCRO Manila in
annotating a civil registry document:
a Original or Certified True Copy of the foreign judgment or order duly registered at the City Civil Registry Office at the Manila City Hall (CCRO Manila).
b Original or Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Finality of the decision of Regional Trial Court (RTC-Phil).
c Certificate of Registration of the decision of Regional Trial Court (RTC-Phil) at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) where the concerned RTC-Phil functions.
5 After the annotation at the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCRO), the annotated documents and its requirements must be submitted to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General (OCRG) in Manila.
NOTE: All documents sourced or obtained in Japan and intended for
use and submission to Philippine authorities must undergo consular authentication at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo or the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka through verification of the seal and signature of a duly appointed official of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Gaimusho).
More information about the legal procedures or hiring the services of a lawyer in the Philippines may be obtained from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) or the Public Attorneys’ Office (PAO) in Manila.
