THE FAMILY CODE OF THE

PHILIPPINES
SIGNED IN TO LAW ON JULY 6, 1987
EFFECTIVITY DATE ON AUGUST 3, 1988

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 209

MARRIAGE

Article 1. Marriage is a special contract of

permanentunionbetweenamanandawoman
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
duringthemarriagewithinthelimitsprovided
bythisCode.

ART.2.NOMARRIAGESHALLBEVALID,
UNLESSTHESEESSENTIAL REQUISITES
AREPRESENT:
(1)LEGAL CAPACITY OFTHE
CONTRACTING
PARTIESWHOMUSTBEAMALEANDA
FEMALE;AND

(2)CONSENT FREELY GIVEN INTHE

PRESENCEOFTHESOLEMNIZING
OFFICER.

ART.3.THEFORMAL REQUISITES OF
MARRIAGEARE:
(1)AUTHORITY OFTHESOLEMNIZING
OFFICER;
(2)AVALID MARRIAGE LICENSE EXCEPTIN
THECASESPROVIDEDFORINCHAPTER2OF
THISTITLE;AND
(3)AMARRIAGE CEREMONY WHICHTAKES
PLACEWITHTHEAPPEARANCEOFTHE
CONTRACTINGPARTIESBEFORETHE
SOLEMNIZINGOFFICERANDTHEIRPERSONAL
DECLARATIONTHATTHEYTAKEEACHOTHER
ASHUSBANDANDWIFEINTHEPRESENCEOF
NOTLESSTHANTWOWITNESSESOFLEGAL
AGE.

ART.4.THEABSENCEOFANYOFTHE
ESSENTIALORFORMALREQUISITESSHALL
RENDERTHEMARRIAGEVOIDAB INITIO,
EXCEPTASSTATEDINARTICLE35(2).
ADEFECTINANYOFTHEESSENTIAL
REQUISITESSHALLNOTAFFECTTHE
VALIDITYOFTHEMARRIAGEBUTTHE
PARTYORPARTIESRESPONSIBLEFORTHE
IRREGULARITYSHALLBECIVILLY,
CRIMINALLYANDADMINISTRATIVELY
LIABLE.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
Art.68.Thehusbandandwifeareobligedtolive

together, observe mutual love, respect and

fidelity,andrendermutualhelpandsupport.
Art. 70. The spouses are jointly responsible for
thesupportofthefamily.
Art. 71. The management of the household shall
betherightandthedutyofbothspouses.
Art.73.Eitherspousemayexerciseanylegitimate
profession, occupation, business or activity
withouttheconsentoftheother.

THE FAMILY AS AN INSTITUTION

Art.149.Thefamily,beingthefoundationofthenation,isabasicsocial

institutionwhichpublicpolicycherishesandprotects.Consequently,
familyrelationsaregovernedbylawandnocustom,practiceor
agreementdestructiveofthefamilyshallberecognizedorgiveneffect.
Art.150.Familyrelationsincludethose:

(1)Betweenhusbandandwife;
(2)Betweenparentsandchildren;
(3)Amongbrothersandsisters,whetherofthe
fullorhalf-blood.
Art.151.Nosuitbetweenmembersofthesamefamilyshallprosperunless

itshouldappearfromtheverifiedcomplaintorpetitionthatearnest
effortstowardacompromisehavebeenmade,butthatthesamehave
failed.Ifitisshownthatnosucheffortswereinfactmade,thesamecase
mustbedismissed.

RIGHTS OF LEGITIMATE CHILDREN

Art.174.Legitimatechildrenshallhavetheright:
(1)Tobearthesurnamesofthefatherandthe
mother,inconformitywiththeprovisionsofthe
CivilCodeonSurnames;
(2)Toreceivesupportfromtheirparents,their
ascendants,andinpropercases,theirbrothersand
sisters,inconformitywiththeprovisionsofthis
CodeonSupport;and
(3)Tobeentitledtothelegitimateandother
successionalrightsgrantedtothembythe
CivilCode.

SUPPORT
Art.194.Supportcompriseseverything

indispensableforsustenance,dwelling,clothing,
medicalattendance,educationandtransportation,
inkeepingwiththefinancialcapacityofthefamily.
Theeducationofthepersonentitledtobesupported
referredtointheprecedingparagraphshallinclude
hisschoolingortrainingforsomeprofession,trade
orvocation,evenbeyondtheageofmajority.
Transportationshallincludeexpensesingoingto
andfromschool,ortoandfromplaceofwork.

CONT.

Art.195.Subjecttotheprovisionsofthesucceeding
articles,thefollowingareobligedtosupporteach
othertothewholeextentsetforthinthepreceding
article:

(1)Thespouses;
(2)Legitimateascendantsanddescendants;
(3)Parentsandtheirlegitimatechildrenandthe
legitimateandillegitimatechildrenofthelatter;
(4)Parentsandtheirillegitimatechildrenandthe
legitimateandillegitimatechildrenofthelatter;and
(5)Legitimatebrothersandsisters,whetheroffullor
half-blood

PARENTAL AUTHORITY
Art.209.Pursuanttothenaturalrightanddutyofparentsoverthe

personandpropertyoftheirunemancipatedchildren,parental
authorityandresponsibilityshallincludethe caring for and
rearingthemforcivicconsciousnessandefficiencyandthe
developmentoftheirmoral,mentalandphysicalcharacterandwellbeing.
Art.210.Parentalauthorityandresponsibilitymaynotberenounced
ortransferredexceptinthecasesauthorizedbylaw.
Art.211.Thefatherandthemothershalljointlyexerciseparental
authorityoverthepersonsoftheircommonchildren.Incaseof
disagreement,thefather'sdecisionshallprevail,unlessthereisa
judicialordertothecontrary.
Childrenshallalwaysobserverespect and reverence towards
theirparentsandareobliged to obey themaslongasthechildren
areunderparentalauthority.

EFFECT OF PARENTAL AUTHORITY UPON THE

PERSONS OF THE CHILDREN

Art.220.Theparentsandthoseexercisingparentalauthority
shallhavewiththerespecttotheirunemancipatedchildrenon
wardsthefollowingrightsandduties:
(1)Tokeepthemintheircompany,tosupport,educateand
instructthembyrightpreceptandgoodexample,andto
providefortheirupbringinginkeepingwiththeirmeans;
(2)Togivethemloveandaffection,adviceandcounsel,
companionshipandunderstanding;
(3)Toprovidethemwithmoralandspiritualguidance,
inculcateinthemhonesty,integrity,self-discipline,selfreliance,industryandthrift,stimulatetheirinterestincivic
affairs,andinspireinthemcompliancewiththedutiesof
citizenship;

CONT.

(4)tofurnishthemwithgoodandwholesomeeducational
materials,supervisetheiractivities,recreationand
associationwithothers,protectthemfrombad
company,andpreventthemfromacquiringhabits
detrimentaltotheirhealth,studiesandmorals;
(5)torepresenttheminallmattersaffectingtheirinterests;
(6)todemandfromthemrespectandobedience;
(7)toimposedisciplineonthemasmayberequiredunder
thecircumstances;and
(8)toperformsuchotherdutiesasareimposedbylawupon
parentsandguardians.
Art.221.Parentsandotherpersonsexercisingparentalauthority
shallbecivilly liable fortheinjuriesanddamagescausedbythe
actsoromissionsoftheirunemancipatedchildrenlivingintheir
companyandundertheirparentalauthoritysubjecttothe
appropriatedefensesprovidedbylaw.

PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE

I. System of Absolute Community

Art.91.UnlessotherwiseprovidedinthisChapterorinthemarriage
settlements,thecommunitypropertyshallconsistofalltheproperty
ownedbythespousesatthetimeofthecelebrationofthemarriage
oracquiredthereafter.(197a)
Art.92.Thefollowingshallbeexcludedfromthecommunityproperty:
(1)Propertyacquiredduringthemarriagebygratuitoustitleby
eitherspouse,andthefruitsaswellastheincomethereof,ifany,
unlessitisexpresslyprovidedbythedonor,testatororgrantorthat
theyshallformpartofthecommunityproperty;
(2)Propertyforpersonalandexclusiveuseofeitherspouse.
However,jewelryshallformpartofthecommunityproperty;
(3)Propertyacquiredbeforethemarriagebyeitherspousewhohas
legitimatedescendantsbyaformermarriage,andthefruitsaswellas
theincome,ifany,ofsuchproperty.

PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN

HUSBAND AND WIFE
II. Conjugal Partnership of Gains
Art.105.Incasethefuturespousesagreeinthemarriage
settlementsthattheregimeofconjugalpartnershipgains
shallgoverntheirpropertyrelationsduringmarriage,the
provisionsinthisChaptershallbeofsupplementary
application.
Art.106.Undertheregimeofconjugalpartnershipofgains,
thehusbandandwifeplaceinacommonfundtheproceeds,
products,fruitsandincomefromtheirseparateproperties
andthoseacquiredbyeitherorbothspousesthroughtheir
effortsorbychance,and,upondissolutionofthemarriageor
ofthepartnership,thenetgainsorbenefitsobtainedby
eitherorbothspousesshallbedividedequallybetween
them,unlessotherwiseagreedinthemarriagesettlements.

CONT.

Art.116.Allpropertyacquiredduringthemarriage,
whethertheacquisitionappearstohavebeenmade,
contractedorregisteredinthenameofoneorboth
spouses,ispresumedtobeconjugalunlessthe
contraryisproved.

PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN

HUSBAND AND WIFE
III. Regime of Separation of Property
Art.143.Shouldthefuturespousesagreeinthemarriage
settlementsthattheirpropertyrelationsduringmarriageshall
begovernedbytheregimeofseparationofproperty,the
provisionsofthisChaptershallbesuppletory.
Art.145.Eachspouseshallown,disposeof,possess,administer
andenjoyhisorherownseparateestate,withoutneedofthe
consentoftheother.Toeachspouseshallbelongallearnings
fromhisorherprofession,businessorindustryandallfruits,
natural,industrialorcivil,dueorreceivedduringthemarriage
fromhisorherseparateproperty.
Art.146.Bothspousesshallbearthefamilyexpensesin
proportiontotheirincome,or,incaseofinsufficiencyordefault
thereof,tothecurrentmarketvalueoftheirseparateproperties

PROPERTY REGIME OF UNIONS WITHOUT MARRIAGE

Art.147.Whenamanandawomanwhoarecapacitated to
marry eachother,liveexclusivelywitheachotherashusband
andwifewithout the benefit of marriage or under a void
marriage,theirwagesandsalariesshallbeownedbythemin
equal shares andthepropertyacquiredbybothofthem
throughtheirworkorindustryshallbegovernedbytheruleson
co-ownership.
Intheabsenceofprooftothecontrary,propertiesacquiredwhile
theylivedtogethershallbepresumedtohavebeenobtainedby
theirjoint efforts,workorindustry,andshallbeownedby
theminequalshares.ForpurposesofthisArticle,apartywho
didnotparticipateintheacquisitionbytheotherpartyofany
propertyshallbedeemedtohavecontributedjointlyinthe
acquisitionthereofiftheformer'seffortsconsistedinthecare
andmaintenanceofthefamilyandofthehousehold.

CONT.

Neitherpartycanencumberordisposebyactsintervivos
ofhisorhershareinthepropertyacquiredduring
cohabitationandownedincommon,withouttheconsent
oftheother,untilaftertheterminationoftheir
cohabitation.
Whenonlyoneofthepartiestoavoidmarriageisingood
faith,theshareofthepartyinbadfaithinthecoownershipshallbeforfeitedinfavoroftheircommon
children.Incaseofdefaultoforwaiverbyanyorallofthe
commonchildrenortheirdescendants,eachvacantshare
shallbelongtotherespectivesurvivingdescendants.In
theabsenceofdescendants,suchshareshallbelongtothe
innocentparty.Inallcases,theforfeitureshalltakeplace
uponterminationofthecohabitation.

CONT.

Art.148.Incasesofcohabitationnotfallingunderthepreceding
Article,onlythepropertiesacquiredbybothoftheparties
throughtheiractual joint contribution of money,property,
orindustryshallbeownedbythemincommoninproportionto
theirrespectivecontributions.Intheabsenceofprooftothe
contrary,theircontributionsandcorrespondingsharesare
presumedtobeequal.Thesameruleandpresumptionshall
applytojointdepositsofmoneyandevidencesofcredit.
Ifoneofthepartiesisvalidlymarriedtoanother,hisorher
shareintheco-ownership shall accrue to the absolute
community or conjugal partnershipexisting in such
valid marriage. Ifthepartywhoactedinbadfaithisnot
validlymarriedtoanother,hisorhershallbeforfeitedinthe
mannerprovidedinthelastparagraphoftheprecedingArticle.
Theforegoingrulesonforfeitureshalllikewiseapplyevenifboth
partiesareinbadfaith.

THANK

YOU

OPEN FORUM