Monday,August6,2007

ExchangeRate
Closing:Aug.3,2007

Phisix
Closing:Aug.3,2007

Propertywoesinmarriage
ByAtty.RitaLindaV.Jimeno Theysaythatifitaintbroke,dontfixit.Thehomegrownlogictothis seemsclear,Imustsay.Andso,itperplexesmenoendwhytheframersof theFamilyCodechangedthepropertyrelationsofmarriedcouples.Before thepassingintolawoftheFamilyCode,whenacouplegotmarried,they wereautomaticallygovernedbytheconjugalpartnershipofgains.Theonly exceptionthenwaswhenthecouple,beforemarrying,wouldenterintoa prenuptialagreementidentifyingthepropertyrelationshiptheypreferred. Theirchoiceswouldbebeinggovernedbyacompleteseparationofproperty orabsolutecommunityofproperty,iftheydidnotwanttheconjugal partnershipofgains. Thedefaultmode,beforetheFamilyCodecameintobeinginAugust1988,or 19yearsago,wastheconjugalpartnershipofgains.Mostofusarefamiliar withaconjugalpartnership.(Infact,duringthereignoftheMarcoses,the phrase conjugaldictatorshipwascommonlyunderstood.)Conjugalassets arethecollectivityofeverythinggainedandearnedbyacoupleduringtheir marriage. Undertheconjugalpartnershipofgains,whenacouplemarried,everything theyownedpriortothemarriagewasclassifiedastheirseparateproperty. Theproperty,moneyorassetsownedbythehusband whichhebrought intothemarriagewascalledhiscapital.Theseparatepropertyandmoney broughtintothemarriagebythewifeaswellasallthosesheacquiredduring themarriagewascalledherparaphernalproperty. Everythingtheyestablishedorputuptogether fromthesweatoftheir labortotheincomefromtheirbusinessesorthefruitsoftheirseparate propertiescomprisedtheirconjugalproperties.Thenetsumofallthese becametheveritablepiethatthespouseswoulddividebetweentheminthe eventthattheyseparated.Theparaphernalpropertyofthewifeoratleast itsvaluewouldbereturnedtoherwhenthemarriageisdissolved.The husband scapitalwouldalsobereturnedifthepartnershipwouldhaveanet gainafteralltheconjugaldebtsandthesupportthatmusthavebeenset asidefortheirchildren,werepaidfor.Whateverwasleftwouldthenbe dividedbetweenthespouses. Now,undertheFamilyCode,whenamanandawomanmarry,everything theyeachownatthetimeofthecelebrationofthemarriageformspartof theirabsolutecommunityofproperty.Thisincludespropertyinheritedfrom one sparentsorancestors,andproperty,includingcash,acquiredbyone beforegettingmarried.TheframersoftheFamilyCodebelievedthatthis regimeofpropertyrelationswasmoreinkeepingwithFilipinocultureand valuesasitfosteredsharing. Therearedownsidestothis,however.Theoneswhomarriedunderthe FamilyCodearethosewhosaythattheirpropertyrelationshipsometimes becomesakeypointofdiscordorasourceofgraveinequity. Ihadaclientwhowastheonlyheirtothevastestateleftbyhisfather.His mother,aforeignerwhoreturnedtoherhomecountryafterherhusband s death,alsoputinhisnameeverythingsheownedinthePhilippineswhich sheacquiredandinheritedfromherhusband.Then,hemarriedawomanhe metcasuallyinaparty.Afteronlysixmonthsoflivingtogether,hefellinto depressionasheandhiswifedidnotgetalongwell.Theyhadnothingin commontoshareandsotheyquicklydriftedapart.Soonafterthewedding, shereturnedtoherpartying.Shedidnotcareaboutraisingafamilyand actingoutawife srole.Beforelongthemandiscoveredthatshewascarrying onanaffairwithanotherman. Hesoughtadeclarationofnullityoftheirmarriage.Whatshockedhimmore wasthediscoverythat thoughheandhiswifelivedasspousesforonlysix monthsand,infact,neverhadanychild,hehadtopartwithhalfoftheentire estatelefttohimbyhisfatherandmother.Whatbrokehimwasthethought thathisfatherbarelyhadtimeforhiminhisgrowingupyearstryingtobuild anempireforhim.Whenhewasgrown uphisdadtoldhimthatheregretted missinghisson sfirststepandhearinghisfirstwordsallbecausehewas busylayingoutabrightfutureforhim. Inasomewhatparallelcase,agirlwhowassoinlovewithherchildhood friend,aclassmatebackinhighschool,ranawayandmarriedhimbeforea minister.Shewouldnothavebeenabletomarryhimundernormal circumstancesbecauseherparentsvehementlydisapprovedofherchoice. Notonlydidherparentsnotliketheguysfamilyastheydidnotmoveinthe sameclassbutmorebecausetheguyseemedirresponsible.Andindeedhe was.Havingmarriedawealthygirl,theguydidnotattempttoliftafinger.His

busylayingoutabrightfutureforhim. Inasomewhatparallelcase,agirlwhowassoinlovewithherchildhood friend,aclassmatebackinhighschool,ranawayandmarriedhimbeforea minister.Shewouldnothavebeenabletomarryhimundernormal circumstancesbecauseherparentsvehementlydisapprovedofherchoice. Notonlydidherparentsnotliketheguysfamilyastheydidnotmoveinthe sameclassbutmorebecausetheguyseemedirresponsible.Andindeedhe was.Havingmarriedawealthygirl,theguydidnotattempttoliftafinger.His wifeworkedinherfamily sbusinesswhilehebummedaroundwithfriends andwomen.Havingfoundaneweconomicstatushedidnotusetoenjoy,he hungaroundcasinosanddatedbargirls,spendingthemoneyhiswealthy wifewouldregularlygivehim.Hiswifeeventuallywokeupfromhernightmare andmusteredthestrengthtoobtainajudicialdeclarationofnullityof marriage.Theguy,aftercausinghiswifemuchpainandgrief,waseven rewardedwithawindfall.Hegothalfofhiswifescashsavings,investments andpropertiesinherownnamewhichsheacquiredbeforemarriage. Thesestoriesareonlytwoofmanytalesofwoestheregimeofabsolute communityofpropertyhasspawned.Thereareotherprovisionsthatjustdo notmakesense. Bymakingtheregimeofabsolutecommunityofpropertyautomatically applicableuponmarriage(unlessthespouseshaveapre nuptialagreement) theframersoftheCodehopedtopromoteaspiritofsharingandgiving betweenspouses.Thereareoddprovisionsthatcontradictthisveryspirit, however.Considerthis.Everythingthatapersonownsatthetimeofthe weddinginstantlybecomespartofthecommunityofpropertiesbetween them,includinginheritedproperties.Yet,whentheyarealreadymarried, anythingacquiredbyeitheronethroughinheritanceorgratuitoustitle,such asdonation,shallbelongtothespouseinheritingorreceivingdonation exclusively.Eventhefruitsorprofitsofthesepropertiesshallexclusivelybe ownedbythespousewhoinheritedorreceivedthembygratuitoustitle.This couldthenbringabouttheinequitablesituationwhereaspouse automaticallysharesintheinheritanceoftheotherforthesheerluckthatthe inheritancewasreceivedbytheotherbeforemarriage.Yet,heneednot sharehisowninheritancewithhisspouseifhereceivesitafterthe celebrationofthemarriage. Thisisanareaworthlookingintobythelegislators.Nolawiscastinstone, afterall. Email:ritalindaj@gmail.com