Use this Marriage resource hub to identify your situation, understand the part of Philippine family law that applies, and move to the right detailed guide.
What do you need help with?
| Your situation | Where to begin |
|---|---|
| Preparing to marry | Start with legal capacity, required documents, the marriage licence rules and the ceremony. |
| Checking whether a marriage is valid | Review the essential and formal requirements, then identify any fact that may affect validity. |
| Understanding what marriage changes legally | Read the guide to the legal effects of a valid marriage. |
| Considering annulment, nullity or legal separation | Use the Annulment, Nullity and Legal Separation hub. |
| Dealing with a foreign spouse or foreign divorce | Go to Foreign Divorce and International Families. |
| Finding records, forms or the correct office | Use Family Documents and Legal Procedures. |
How to use this hub
- Identify the issue. Are you preparing to marry, checking validity, dealing with legal effects, or considering a remedy?
- Open the focused guide. Each guide explains the legal rule, relevant facts, documents and possible next steps.
- Verify the authority. Use the cited Family Code provisions, court decisions and official government sources.
- Get advice for case-specific decisions. A general guide cannot determine the outcome of a particular marriage or court case.
Featured guides
Marriage guides
These guides are pulled automatically from the Marriage category. New Marriage articles will appear here when published and correctly categorized.
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Can a Married Woman Legally Use Her Maiden Name in the Philippines? IDs, Contracts and Passport Rules
Using a husband’s surname is optional under the Civil Code, not mandatory. Here is what Philippine law allows on IDs, contracts and bank accounts, and the passport rule under RA 11983: a one-time reversion to the maiden name.
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Can a 16-Year-Old Marry a 21-Year-Old in the Philippines? Legal Age and RA 11596
No one under 18 can legally marry in the Philippines, not even with parental consent. See why marriage below 18 is void, and what RA 11596’s child-marriage penalties mean for families.
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How to Get a Judicial Declaration of Presumptive Death to Remarry in the Philippines
If your husband or wife has been missing for years and you want to remarry, Philippine law does not let you simply treat the marriage as over. Remarrying while a prior marriage still legally exists is void and exposes you to bigamy — unless you first obtain a court declaration that your absent spouse is…
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What Makes a Marriage Invalid in the Philippines?
Learn the main reasons a marriage may be invalid in the Philippines, including missing essential or formal requisites, prohibited marriages, psychological incapacity, and voidable grounds.
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Marriage Certificate vs Marriage License in the Philippines: What Is the Difference?
A marriage license authorizes the wedding before it happens; a marriage certificate records the marriage after solemnization. Learn the difference and why each document matters.
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Who Can Solemnize a Marriage in the Philippines?
Learn who may legally solemnize a marriage in the Philippines, what authority the solemnizing officer must have, and when a defect can make the marriage void.
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Void vs Voidable Marriage in the Philippines: What Is the Difference?
Learn the difference between a void and voidable marriage in the Philippines, including legal effect, grounds, court process, and why the distinction matters.
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Can You Get Married Without a Marriage License in the Philippines?
Some marriages may be celebrated without a marriage license in the Philippines, but only under specific Family Code exceptions. Learn when the exemption applies and when absence of a license makes a marriage void.
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Marriage License Requirements in the Philippines: What Couples Need Before the Wedding
Learn when a marriage license is required in the Philippines, where to apply, what documents are commonly needed, how long the license is valid, and the exceptions under the Family Code.
Marriage law at a glance
Marriage questions commonly involve legal capacity and consent, the formal requirements for celebration, marriage records, the rights and duties of spouses, property relations, family support, children and inheritance. The correct route depends on the facts and on whether the issue concerns a valid marriage, a void marriage, a voidable marriage or a separate legal remedy.
Marriage requirements and validity guides
- Essential and formal requisites of marriage
- Marriage license requirements in the Philippines
- Marriage without a license
- Who can solemnize a marriage
- Marriage certificate vs marriage license
- What makes a marriage invalid
- Void vs voidable marriage
Latest marriage guides
These related guides are ordered by publication date, with the newest guidance first.
What Makes a Marriage Invalid in the Philippines?
Learn the main reasons a marriage may be invalid in the Philippines, including missing essential or formal requisites, prohibited marriages, psychological
Read guide
Marriage Certificate vs Marriage License in the Philippines: What Is the Difference?
A marriage license authorizes the wedding before it happens; a marriage certificate records the marriage after solemnization. Learn the difference and why
Read guide
Who Can Solemnize a Marriage in the Philippines?
Learn who may legally solemnize a marriage in the Philippines, what authority the solemnizing officer must have, and when a defect can make the marriage vo
Read guide
Void vs Voidable Marriage in the Philippines: What Is the Difference?
Learn the difference between a void and voidable marriage in the Philippines, including legal effect, grounds, court process, and why the distinction matte
Read guide
Can You Get Married Without a Marriage License in the Philippines?
Some marriages may be celebrated without a marriage license in the Philippines, but only under specific Family Code exceptions. Learn when the exemption ap
Read guide
Marriage License Requirements in the Philippines: What Couples Need Before the Wedding
Learn when a marriage license is required in the Philippines, where to apply, what documents are commonly needed, how long the license is valid, and the ex
Read guideRelated family-law resource hubs
- Family Code of the Philippines
- Annulment, Nullity and Legal Separation
- Property, Money and Spousal Rights
- Children, Custody and Parental Authority
- Child Support and Family Obligations
- Foreign Divorce and International Families
Find the right marriage-validity guide
Use this hub for the broad rules. Choose the guide matching the specific question:
- Essential and formal requisites
- Marriage-license requirements
- Marriage without a license
- Who may solemnize a marriage
- Marriage certificate vs marriage license
- What makes a marriage invalid
- Void vs voidable marriage