Philippine Family Law Resource
Philippine Family Law: Understand Your Rights and Next Steps
Clear, practical guidance on marriage, annulment, children, support, property, adoption and cross-border family issues—grounded in Philippine law and organized around the decision you need to make.
Philippine family law governs marriage, separation, children, support, parental authority, property relations, adoption and related civil-registry procedures. Its primary framework is the Family Code of the Philippines, supplemented by statutes, court rules, agency regulations and Supreme Court decisions.
How Divorce Works in Other Countries vs. the Philippines’ Annulment-Only System
The Philippines and Vatican City are the only places without civil divorce. See how the US, UK and Japan actually end marriages, and what Filipinos can do instead.
Read the guide →Stay connected on Google
See more FamilyCode.ph guides when you search
If our guides help you understand a family-law question, add FamilyCode.ph as a preferred source so it’s easier to find us again in Search, Discover and News.
Start with your situation
What family-law issue are you trying to solve?
Choose the situation closest to yours. Each guide explains the rule, evidence, documents, procedure and realistic next step.
Getting married or checking validity
Requirements, licences, capacity, ceremonies, registration and legal effects.
Explore marriage law →Ending or challenging a marriage
Compare annulment, declaration of nullity, Article 36 and legal separation.
Compare legal remedies →Custody and parental authority
Best interests of the child, custody, visitation, filiation and parental rights.
Review custody guidance →I need child or family support
Organize expenses, prepare a request and find the next step for your situation.
Get practical support guidance →Property and debts between spouses
Community property, conjugal partnership, exclusive assets, consent and liabilities.
Check property rights →Overseas marriage or foreign divorce
Recognition, proof of foreign law, PSA annotation and cross-border families.
Explore international issues →Adopting or caring for a child
Administrative adoption, eligibility, consent, documents and legal effects.
Review adoption guidance →Fixing records or starting a procedure
PSA records, civil-registry corrections, evidence, Family Courts and official assistance.
Find the correct procedure →A clearer decision path
Move from a difficult question to an informed next step
Start with a guide
Most important Philippine family-law guides
Start with the guide that matches the legal relationship or remedy involved, then follow its evidence, document and procedure links.
Latest family law guides
Our Latest Guides
The Complete Document Checklist for Filing an Annulment or Nullity Petition
Before you can file, the court and your lawyer expect a specific set of civil-registry, residency and evidentiary documents to gather before, during and after your case.
Divorce for Filipino Muslims Under PD 1083: How It Differs From Civil Annulment
Filipino Muslims already have a real divorce option under PD 1083, unlike the civil annulment system everyone else uses. Here are the seven forms of divorce, and the court that actually handles them.
Can a Foreigner Married to a Filipino Get an Annulment in the Philippines?
A foreign spouse isn’t barred from filing for or facing a Philippine annulment. Here’s how jurisdiction, filing, and summons actually work — and when Article 26 fits better.
Trust and editorial standards
Legal information should show its work.
FamilyCode.ph separates binding law, Supreme Court doctrine, agency guidance and practical editorial explanation.
Not sure where your issue fits?
Use the glossary and resource center to understand the terminology, records, agencies and procedures involved.
Open the Resource Center