Identify whether property is community, conjugal, exclusive or co-owned, then check consent, debts and division rules. Start with the Property Relations guide.
Judicial separation of property only splits a couple’s property regime; legal separation requires a fault-based ground and carries broader consequences. Here is how the two remedies actually differ, and which one fits your situation.
When a live-in partner dies, the surviving partner often assumes that years together, or a house bought side by side, automatically means something comes to them. Philippine law draws a hard line here: being someone’s partner is not the same as being their heir, and the property rules that govern a couple while they are…
Unmarried partners don’t split property 50-50 automatically. See how Family Code Articles 147 and 148 decide ownership, what proof you need, and how to partition jointly acquired property when the relationship ends.
What Philippine law calls a marriage settlement (popularly a “prenuptial agreement”) must be in writing, signed by both parties, and executed before the wedding. See the Family Code Article 74-86 requirements, notarization and registration steps, and what to do if a step was missed.
Use an evidence-based process to prove whether property is conjugal, community or exclusive through dates, funds, titles, inheritance and payment records.
Learn how property, income, debts and transactions are treated when spouses live separately without a court decree in the Philippines.
Compare absolute community and conjugal partnership in the Philippines by coverage, premarital assets, income, debts, administration and liquidation.
Compare Family Code Articles 147 and 148 for live-in partners: eligibility to marry, proof of contribution, co-ownership shares and disposition rules.
Learn when a spouse may sell property alone, when written consent or court authority is required, and what happens to an unauthorized sale in the Philippines.
Understand when one spouse’s debt may bind community or conjugal property, when benefit to the family matters, and what documents should be checked.
Identify the governing property regime, acquisition date and mode, source of funds, marriage settlements and any statutory exclusion or presumption.
Not always. Registration is important evidence, but property classification can still depend on the applicable regime, timing and source of acquisition.
A disposition of community or conjugal property generally requires the other spouse’s written consent or proper court authority when the Family Code requires joint administration.
These answers provide general Philippine legal information. Open the linked guides and primary sources for the complete rule and its exceptions.