Villafuerte Law Office

Villafuerte Law Office Atty. Dominic Olaer Villafuerte Private Lawyer | Notary Public |
Villafuerte Law Office-Manila PH

21/02/2026

WHAT IS A PETITION FOR DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF MARRIAGE?

A Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage is a court case asking the court to declare a marriage void from the beginning under the Family Code. One ground is psychological incapacity (Article 36 of the Family Code) – when, at the time of the marriage, a spouse was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations, even if it became apparent only later.

“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.” - Family Code of the Philippines

Disclaimer: For general information only; not legal advice. No lawyer-client relationship is created by this post.

20/02/2026

WHAT IS A PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN DIVORCE (PH)?

A Petition for Recognition of Foreign Divorce is a court case asking a Philippine court to recognize a divorce decree obtained abroad, so it can have legal effect in the Philippines and allow proper annotation/update of civil registry/PSA records.

A foreign divorce does not automatically change your civil status in Philippine records. Once recognized, the Filipino spouse in a Filipino–foreigner marriage may be capacitated to remarry under Article 26(2) of the Family Code.

“Where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad … the Filipino spouse shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law.” - Family Code of the Philippines

Courts generally require proof of the foreign divorce and the foreign law allowing it, and recognition is distinct from (and may require compliance with) the rules on civil registry corrections. - Johansen v. Office of the Civil Registrar General (2021)

General information only; not legal advice. No lawyer-client relationship is created by this post. For advice on your specific situation, consult a lawyer privately.

Standing behind the iconic Manila City Hall during one of my hearings in Manila. I never imagined that one day I would b...
07/02/2026

Standing behind the iconic Manila City Hall during one of my hearings in Manila. I never imagined that one day I would be here. Grateful for the chances and opportunities, humbled by the journey, and hoping we can all reach our own milestones.

Address

Manila
1008

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Villafuerte Law Office posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Villafuerte Law Office:

Shortcuts

Share

Category