PERSONS AND FAMILY RELATIONS

A.

I.

B.
Policy of protection and government support
to family. (Art. 2 Sec. 12, 1987 Constitution)

INTRODUCTION TO THE CIVIL CODE

The Family (Art. 15, 1987 Constitution)

A. Effect and application of laws. (Art. 15 and 17)

(1-18 CC)

C.
Equal Protection. (Art. 2, Sec. 14: Article 2,
Section 1, 1987 Constitution)

Case: Tanada vs. Tuvera, 146 SCRA 446

B. Human Relations. (Art. 19, 20, 21 and 26)

IV.

Case: Albenson Enterprise vs. CA, 217 SCRA 16

A.
Definition and Nature of Marriage (Art. 1,
Family Code)

II.
A.

PERSONS
Civil Personality

i.

Civil Personality

1.

General Provisions (Art. 37, CC)

a.

Juridical capacity

b.

Capacity to act

MARRIAGE

Breach of Promise to Marry (Arts. 19-21. 2176, CC)

Cases: Wassmer vs. Velez, 12 SCRA 648
Tanjanco vs. CA, 18 SCRA 994
De Jesus vs. Syquia, 58 Phil 866
Gashem Shookat Baksh vs. CA, 219 SCRA 115
Constantino vs. Mendez, 209 SCRA 18
In Re Santiago, 70 Phil 66
Selanova vs. Mendoza, 64 SCRA 69

bi. Restrictions on capacity to act (Art. 38)

bii. Circumstances modifying capacity to act (Art.
39)

B.

Requisites of Marriage.
a.

Cases: Standard Oil Co. vs. Arenas, 19 Phil. 363

Mercado vs. Espiritu, 37 Phil. 215
Bambalan vs. Maramba, 51 Phil. 417
Braganza vs. Villa Abrille, 105 Phil. 456
2.

b.
Extinguishment of civil personality
(Art. 42, CC)
c.

Survivorship (Art.43, CC)

Case: Geluz vs. CA, 2 SCRA 8

ii.

Juridical Persons
a.

Enumeration (Art. 44, CC)

b.

Governing laws (Art. 45, 47, CC)

c.

Rights and obligations (Art. 46, CC)

Citizenship and Domicile

Case: Romualdez-Marcos v. COMELEC, 248

SCRA 300
III. THE CONSTITUTION AND THE
REGULATION OF FAMILY RELATIONS

Legal capacity: male and female

1.
Persons who may contract
marriage (Art. 5, 21)

Natural Persons
a.
Commencement of civil personality
(Art. 40, CC)

3.

i.

Essential (Art. 2)

2.
Impediments to contracting
marriage (Art. 37, 38)
ii.

Consent freely given

Case: People vs. Santiago, 61 Phil. 68

b.

Formal (Art. 3)

i. Authority of solemnizing officer (Art. 7, 10, 31,

32, 35 (2)
Case: Navarro vs. Domagtoy, 129 SCRA 259
ii. License
1.

General rule: required

a.

Issuance (Art. 9, 24)

b.
Marriages between Filipino
citizens abroad (Art. 10)
c.
Contents of application
(Art.11)
d.
Documents required for
issuance (Art.12)
e.
Additional requirement if party
previously married (Art. 13)

f.

Parental consent (Art. 14, 16)

g.

Parental advice (Art. 15, 16)

h.

Publication (Art. 17)

i.

In case of alleged impediment (Art. 18)

j.
k.
l.

Fees (Art.19)
Validity (Art.20)
Certificate of capacity (Art. 21)

Case: People vs. Janssen, 54 Phil 176

2.
Marriages exempt from license requirement
a.

F.
26)

Case: Tenchavez vs. Escano, 15 SCRA 25

Pilapil vs. Ibay-Somera 174 SCRA 653 (1989)
Llorente vs. CA G.R. 124371, 23 November 2000
V.

Void marriages

a.

Grounds
i.
Minority (Art.35.1)
ii.
No authority of solemnizing officer
(Art.35.2)
Exception: good faith of one party

In articulo mortis (Art. 27, 29, 30, 31, 32)

iii.
No license (Art. 35.3)
Exception: marriages exempt from license
requirement (Art. 27-34)
Cases: Republic vs. CA, 236 SCRA 257
Ninal Bayadog, supra
iv.
Bigamous/polygamous (Art.35.4)
Exception: absence of prior spouse (Art.41)

Form (Art.6)

Note: Marriage certificate (Art. 22, 23)

2.

Case: Republic vs. CA, supra

v.
Mistake of identity (Art. 35.5)

Venue (Art. 8)

vi.
Non-compliance with recording
requirements ( Art. 35.6, 40,52, 53)

Cases: Martinez v. Tan, 12 Phil 731

Madrilejo v. De Leon, 55 Phil 1

vii.
Psychological incapacity (Art.36)
Cases: Republic vs. Nolasca, 220 SCRA
20
Republic vs.Matias-Dagdag, G.R. No.
109975
Republic, Santos vs. Bedia-Santos, 240
SCRA 20
Chi-Ming Tsoi vs. CA, 266 SCRA 324
Marcos vs. Marcos, G.R. No. 136490
Antonio vs. Reyes, G.R. No. 155880
Perez-Ferraris vs. Ferraris, G.R. No.
162368
Bier vs. Bier, G.R. No. 173294
Te vs. Te, G.R. No. 161793
viii.
Incest (Art. 37)

Balogbog v. CA, 259 SCRA 269

C.
Effect of non-compliance with requisites.
(Art. 4, Family Code)
a.

Absence of an essential requisite: void

b.

Absence of a formal requisite: void

Exception: good faith (Art. 35.2)

c.
Defect in an essential requisite: voidable
(Art.45)
d.
Irregularity in a formal requisite:

ix.

Liablibility of person responsible for irregularity

(Sec. 38, Act No. 3613)

a.

General rule: lex loci celebrationis

b.
Exceptions: Minority, bigamy/polygamy,
mistake of identity, psychological incapacity, incest,
public policy, same sex

Public policy (Art. 38)

x.
Catch-all: absence of any essential
or formal requisite (Art.4)

D.
Presumption of Marriage. (Art. 220, CC; Sec.
3 (aa), Rule 131, ROC)
Cases: Trinidad vs. CA, 289 SCRA 188
Vda. De Jacob v. CA, 312 SCRA 772*
E.
Marriage solemnized outside the Philippines.
(Art. 26)

VOID AND VOIDABLE MARRIAGES

A.

b.
Remote locations (Art.28, 29, 30)
c.
Among ethnic groups (Art.33)
d.
Cohabitation for 5 years (Art.34)
Case: Cosca vs. Palaypayon, 237 SCRA
Manzano vs. Sanchez, AM no. MTJ00-1329, March
8, 2001
iii.
Ceremony
1.

Divorce of a Filipino by an alien spouse. (Art.

b.
Prescriptive period of action/defense for
declaration of absolute nullity (Art. 39 as amended
by E.O 227 and by RA 8533)
c.

Judicial declaration of nullity (Art. 40)

Cases: Domingo vs. CA 226 SCRA 572

Wiegel vs. Sempio-Diy 143 SCRA 499
Valdes vs. RTC, 260 SCRA 221
Nicdao Carino vs. Yee Carino, G.R. No. 132529
Mercado vs. Mercado, G.R. No. 137110

d.
Bigamous marriage when prior spouse has
been absent (Art.41)
i.
General rule on bigamous marriages (Art.
35.4)
ii.

c.
Application of Arts. 43.2, 43.3, 43.4, 43.5 and
Art. 44 to marriages declared void ab ignition or
annulled by final judgment under Art. 40 and 45
d.

Delivery of presumptive legitimes (Art. 51)

e.

Recording requirement (Art. 52)

f.

Effects on children (Art. 54)

g.
VI.

Name and surname (Art.371)

LEGAL SEPARATION

A.

Grounds (Art. 55)

Waiting period

iii.
Waiting period under extraordinary
circumstances (Art. 391, CC)
iv.

Declaration of presumptive death

v.

Reappearance of prior spouse (Art. 42)

vi.
Effect of termination of subsequent marriage
(Art. 43)
vii.
Effect if both spouses of subsequent
marriage in bad faith (Art.44)
Case: Nicdao Carino vs. Yee Carino, supra

Cases: Gandionco vs. Penaranda, 155 SCRA 725

Dela Cruz vs. Dela Cruz, 22 SCRA 333
Partosa-Jo vs. CA, 216 SCRA 692
B.
Defenses (Art. 56)
Cases: People vs. Sansano, 59 Phil. 73

Mercado vs. Mercado, supra

B.

Voidable marriages

a.

Grounds

i.
45.1)

No parental consent where required (Art.

ii.
iii.
iv.
45.4)

Unsound mind (Art.45.2)

Fraud (Art.45.3)
Force, intimidation, undue influence (Art.

v.
Impotence (Art. 45.5)
Cases: Jimenez vs. Canizares
Menciano vs. San Jose
vi.
Serious incurable sexually transmissible
disease (Art.45.6)
vii.
Catch-all: Defect in any essential
requisite (Art.4)

Ocampo vs. Florenciano 107 Phil. 35

Brown vs. Yambao, 102 Phil. 168
Bugayong vs. Ginez 100 Phil. 620
Matubis vs. Parexedes, 109 Phil. 620
C.
Prescriptive Period (Art. 57)
D.

Other requirements

a.

Steps towards reconciliation (Art. 58)

b.

Safeguards against collusion (Art. 60)

Cases: Ocampo vs. Florenciano 107 Phil. 35

Somosa-Ramos vs. Vamenta, 46 SCRA 11
Contreras vs. Macaraeg, 33 SCRA 222
E.
Consequence of filing of petitions for legal
separation
a.

Entitlement to live separately (Art. 61)

Cases: Aquino vs. Delizo, 109 Phil 21

Anaya vs. Palaroan, 36 SCRA 97
Buccat vs. Mangonon de Buccat, 72 Phil 19
Ruiz vs. Atienza 40 O.G. 1903

b.
Administration of absolute
community/conjugal partnership property (Art. 61)

Ocampo vs. Florenciano, supra

Contreras vs. Macaraig, 33 SCRA 222
Somosa-Ramos vs. Vamenta, 46 SCRA 11
b.
Persons entitled to file action for annulment
(Art. 47)

Cases:De la Vina vs. Villareal, 41 Phil 13

Reyes vs. Ines-Luciano, 88 SCRA 803
Lapuz-Sy vs Eufemio, 43 SCRA 177
F.
Effects of decree

c.

a.

Custody and support (Art. 62 and 49)

Separate bed and board (Art. 63.1)

c.

Prescriptive periods (Art. 47)

d.

Ratification (Art. 45.1, 45.2, 45.3)

b.
Dissolution and liquidation of community
property (Art. 63.2 and 43.2)

C.

Common provisions: Effects

c.

Custody (Arts. 63.3 and 213)

a.

Safeguards against collusion (Art. 48)

d.

Effects on succession (Art. 63.4)

b.
Support and custody during pendency of
action (Art.49)

e.
Revocation of donations/insurance benefit
(Art.64)
1.
Manner of revoking

2.
f.

Prescriptive period
Name and surname (Art. 372, CC)

Cases: Matute vs. Macadalo, 99 Phil 340

Laperal vs. Republic, 6 SCRA 357
Banez vs. Banez, 23 January 2003

1.

General provisions (Art. 88-90)

2.
Community Property and Exclusions (Arts.
91-92)
3.

Charges and obligations (Art. 94-95)

4.

Administration and enjoyment (Art. 96)

Macadangdang vs. CA, 108 SCRA 314

G. Reconciliation

5.

Disposition and Waivers (Art. 89, 77, 97-98)

a.

Joint manifestation (Art. 65)

6.

Liquidation (Art. 102-104)

b.

Consequences (Art. 66)

c.

Option to revive property regime (Art. 67)

Cases: Onas vs. Javillo 59 Phil 733

Vda. De Delizo vs. Delizo 69 SCRA 216
D.
Conjugal Partnership of Gains

VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
A.

Personal obligation of spouses (Art. 68)

B.

Fixing of family domicile. (Art. 69)

C.
Joint responsibility of Support (Art. 70,
compare with Art. 11 of CC; Art. 199-200)
D.
Household management. (Art. 71, compare
with Art. 115 of CC)
E.
Exercise of Profession (Art. 73, compare with
Art. 117, CC)
(See RA 7192, Women in Development & NationBuilding Act)
F.
Use of Surname (Art. 370, 373, 377, 378,
CC)
(see RA 9048- Change of Name)
G. Relief (Art. 72)
Cases: Gotia vs. Campos Rueda 35 Phil 252
Lacson vs. Jose Lacson 24 SCRA
Tenchavez vs. Escano 17 SCRA 674
Ty vs. CA, Nov. 27 2000
Lilius vs. Manila Road Co 59 Phil 758
Narag vs. Narag 291 SCRA 451
Dadivas vs. Villanueva 52 Phil 952
Atilano vs. Chua Ching Beng 103 Phil 255
Del Rosario vs. Del Rosario 46 OG 611
Silva vs. Peralta 110 Phil 57
Arroyo vs. Vasquez de Arroyo 42 Phil 54
Perez vs. Perez 109 Phil 657
(See also RA 9262, Anti-Violence against Women
and Children Act)
VIII.
PROPERTY RELATIONS
A.
General Provisions, Marriage Settlements
(Art. 74-81)
B.

Donations Proper Nuptials (Art. 82-87)

(Compare with Ordinary Donations, Art. 752-782,

Tittle 3, Book 3 of CC)
C.

Absolute Community of Property

1.

General provisions (105-108)

2.

Exclusive property (109-115)

Cases: Rodriguez vs. De la Cruz 8 Phil 665

Peoples Bank and Trust Co. vs. Register of Deeds,
60 Phil 167
Philippine Sugar Estates vs. Poizat 48 Phil 536
Castro vs. Miat, Feb. 11, 2003
3.
Conjugal Partnership Property (Arts. 116120)
Cases: Jocson vs. CA 170 SCRA 333
Francisco vs. CA 299 SCRA 188
Zulueta vs. Pan Am 49 SCRA 1
Mendoza vs. Reyes 124 SCRA 154
4.
Charges and Obligations (art. 121-123)
Cases: Javier vs. Osmena 34 Phil 336
Perez vs. Lantin 23 SCRA 637
DBP vs. Adil 161 SCRA 307
Ayala Investment vs. Ching 286 SCRA 273 (1998)
Carlos vs. Abelardo April 9, 2002
5.

Administration (Art. 124-125)

Cases: Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon 120

SCRA 268
Tintigan vs. Tintigan 100 SCRA 619
Guiang vs. CA 291 SCRA 372
Relucio vs. Lopez 373 SCRA 578
Jader-Manalo vs. Camaisa 374 SCRA 498
6.

Dissolution (Art. 126-128)

7.

Liquidation (Art. 129-133)

Case: Santero vs. CFI of Cavite 153 SCRA 728

E.
Separation of Property and Administration of
Common Property by One Spouse

h.
Exemption from attachment, exception to the
rules (Art. 205, 208)

1.

i.

Judicial Separation (Art. 134-135)

Support by third persons (Art. 206-207)

Cases: Garcia vs. Manzano 103 Phil 798

Cases: De Asis vs. Ca, 303 SCRA 176

Partosa-Jo vs. CA 216 SCRA 692

Lim vs. Lim G.R. No. 163209, October 30, 2009

De la Cruz vs. De la Cruz 22 SCRA 333

3.

Funerals (Art. 305-310, CC)

2.

B.

The Family Home

Voluntary Separation (Art. 136)

Cases: Bernas 14 SCRA 327

Cases: Siari Valley Estates vs. Lucasan 97 Phil 987

Lacson vs. San Jose 24 SCRA 837

Modequillo vs. Breva 185 SCRA 766

3.
Liquidation and Dissolution of Property (Art.
137 142)

Taneo vs. CA 304 SCRA 308

4.
Sole Administration of other spouses
property ( Art. 142)

X.
A.

PATERNITY AND FILIATION

Kinds of filiations. (Art. 163)

Cases: Perido vs. Perido 63 SCRA 97

F.

Regime of Separate Property (Art. 143-146)

Liyao vs. Liyao March 7, 2002

G. Property Regimes of Unions without Marriage

(Art147-148)

B.

Legitimate Children. (Art. 146)

Cases: Agapatay vs. Palang 276 SCRA 340

1.

Impugning legitimacy

Yaptinchay vs. Torres 28 SCRA 489

Cases: Andal vs. Macaraig 89 Phil 165

Vda. De Conseguera vs. GSIS 27 SCRA 315

Jao vs. CA 152 SCRA 359

Valdes vs. RTC

Macadangdang vs. CA 100 SCRA 73

Carino vs. Carino

Chua Keng Giap vs. TAC 166 SCRA 451

IX.
A.

THE FAMILY
Members of a Family

Republic vs. Labrador 305 SCRA 438

1.

Nature (Art. 149-151; Art. 2035 CC)

Cases: Mendoza vs. CA 19 SCRA 756

Mendoza vs. Bionson 80 SCRA 82
Guerrero vs. RTC 229 SCRA 274
Hontiveros vs. RTC 309 SCRA 340 (1999)
2.

Support (Art. 195-208)

a.

Support (Art. 194)

b.
Persons obliged to give support (Art.195-196)
c.
Order of liability (Art.199)
d.
Properties liable for support (Art.197)
e.
Support pendent lite (Art.198, 203)
f.
Division and order in case of joint obligation
(Art. 200)
g.
Amount, demandability, manner of fulfillment,
adjustments (Art. 201-204, 208)

People vs. Tumimpad 235 SCRA 483

Benitez-Badua vs. CA 299 SCRA 468
Lumain de Aparicho vs. Paraguay 150 SCRA 279
2.

How to prove filiations

Cases: Constantino vs. Mendez 209 SCRA 18

Mendoza vs. CA 201 SCRA 675
Heirs of R. Banas vs. Heirs of B. Banas 134 SCRA
260
Uyguanco vs. CA 178 SCRA 684
Mariategui vs. CA 205 SCRA 675
Acebedo vs. Arquero March 11, 2003
3.

Action to claim legitimacy

4.

Rights to legitimate children

Cases: Republic vs. CA 300 SCRA 1998

a.

Who may adopt (Sec. 7)

De Asis vs. CA 303 SCRA 176

b.

Who may be adopted (Sec. 8)

C.

Illegitimate Children.

c.

Required consents (Sec. 9)

1.

Proof of filiations (Art. 175)

Cases: In re Adoption of Edwin Villa 21 SCRA 399

Cases: Leuterio vs. CA 197 SCRA 369

Republic vs. Toledano and Spouses Clave 233

SCRA 9

Uyguanco vs. CA
Republic vs. Miller 306 SCRA 183
Aruego vs. Ca 254 SCRA 150
5.

Procedures (Sec. 10, 11, 12, 15)

Jison vs. CA 286 SCRA 495

Cases: Lazatin vs. Campos 92 SCAR 250
Alberto vs. CA 232 SCRA 745
Santos vs. Aranzanso 16 SCRA 344
2.

Rights of illegitimate children

DSWD vs. Belen 275 SCRA 645

RA 9255, amending Art. 176

6.

Decree of adoption (Sec. 13, 14)

a.

Effect on parental authority (Sec. 16)

b.

Legitimacy (Sec. 17)

RA 8972, Solo Parents Welfare Act

Cases: David vs. CA 250 SCRA 82
People vs. Namaya 246 SCRA 646
Mossesgeld vs. CA 300 SCRA 464

c.
Succession (Sec.18)
Cases: Tamargo vs. CA SCRA 518

Republic vs. Abadilla 302 SCRA 358

Sayson vs. CA 205 SCRA 321

Republic vs. Vicencio 300 SCRA 138

Republic vs. Wong 209 SCRA 189

Gan vs. Reyes May 28, 2002

Republic vs. Hernandez 253 SCRA 509

Tonog vs. Ca Feb. 7, 2002

7.

Rescission (Sec. 19, 20)

D.

Legitimated Children. (Art. 177-182)

8.

Violations and penalties (Sec. 21, 22)

Cases: De los Santos vs. Luciano 60 Phil 328

9.

Miscellaneous (Sec. 1, 23-28)

Ramirez vs. Gmur 42 Phil 855

B.

Inter-Country Adoption

XI.
A.

RA 8043, Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 and its

IRR

ADOPTION
Domestic Adoption

(RA 8552 and its IRR, Procedural Rules on

Adoption, AM No. 02-6-02-SC)

Hague Convention on Protection of Children and

Cooperation in respect of Inter-Country Adoption

(RA 9523, An Act Requiring the Certification of the

DSWD to Declare a Child Legally Available for
Adoption as a Pre-requisite for Adoption
Proceedings)

XII.
A.

1.

Cases: Dempsey vs. RTC 164 SCRA 384

Policies (Sec. 2)

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF PARENTS

General Provisions (Art. 209-215)

(See RA 8972 (Solo Parents Welfare Act)

Case: Republic vs. CA, Bobiles 205 SCRA 356

Santos vs. CA 242 SCRA 407

2.

Definition of terms (Sec. 3)

Cang vs. CA 296 SCRA 128

3.

Pre-adoption services (Sec. 4, 5, 6)

David vs. CA 250 SCRA 82

4.

Eligibility

Espiritu vs. CA 242 SCRA 362 (1995)

Perez vs. CA 255 SCRA 661 (1996)

Case:

Chua vs. Cabangbang 27 SCRA 791

B.
Substitute and Special Parental Authority (Art.
216-219)

Abiera vs. Orin 8 Phil 193

Cortes vs. Castillo 41 Phil 466

Cases: Palisoc vs. Brillantes 41 SCRA 548

E.

Summary Procedures (Art. 249-252)

Amadora vs. CA 160 SCRA 315

(See RA 8369 Family Courts Act of 1997)
St. Mary;s Academy vs. Carpitanos Jan. 23, 2000
F.

Rights of Parents

Vancil vs. Belmes 358 SCRA 707

Cases: Silva vs. CA and Gonzales 275 SCRA 604
C.

Effects of Parental Authority (Art. 220-226)

London vs. BCC October 10, 2002

Cases: Cabanas vs. Pilapil 58 SCRA 94

XIII.

RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CHILDREN

Libi vs. IAC 214 SCRA 816

Arts. 356-364, 375-376, CC
Lindain vs. CA 212 SCRA 725
Art. 129(a), 211, par. 2, 213, 226, FC
People vs. Silvano 309 SCRA 362
Arts. 3 and 4, P.D. 603
D.
Suspension or Termination of Parental
Authority (Art. 225-235)
(See Sec. 5-10, 27-28, 31-c, RA 7610 Anti-Child
Abuse Act)