Ending A Marriage In The Philippines Without A Divorce
While most countries in the world have a divorce, it does not exist whatsoever inside the Philippines. Once two people get married, they are unable to get a divorce and the one thing they are able to do to end their marital life is to try using an annulment scenario and make an effort to process it through the judiciary system.
Marital life is very important for the State and it's also a social institution that a family can not really exist without. And since family members are the foundation of the community and the whole country, the State will defend the marriage.
While the separation does not really exist, government entities recognizes several different circumstances that may be used to void the marriage. There are actually 4 Articles in the Family Law Code that clarify under which circumstances the annulment can be considered. Everyone can apply for annulment case within the judicial system, in case they had married within the Philippines. And it's really not significant whether they are Philippine citizens or foreigners or if they're living outside or in the Philippines. In the event a Philippine resident remarries, she is committing bigamy. If an international court allows this individual a divorce, the Philippine authorities will not acknowledge it. Annulment is needed for any man or woman to remarry.
The annulment case doesn't have a specific timeline, given that every situation is unique. There are circumstances which involve property and child custody, certain cases are uncontested, while others are contested. However the filing for annulment case in the Philippines calls for extensive documentation. It is usually required for a straightforward case to last for more than a year, and sophisticated cases can continue for as much as 2 years. This is especially true when one side is not really so quick to supply the paperwork to the lawyer.
A lot of people have issues with the annulment law because it's challenging. Many people from other countries who seek annulment have no idea how to communicate correctly and where to start with the case. It's also important to note that many lawyers who handle annulment cases require a 50% down payment. These resources are placed in a fund, only to be used as the annulment case continues further.
Bearing in mind all these factors, it is crystal clear that applying for an annulment is costly, difficult and serious matter. And the outcomes for this are precisely what the State has desired - not too many couples planned to end their marriage. Even though there is psychological pain and aggravation, people keep in mind that the next day is a new day and that good times will come again. But this changes, so now there are more and more annulment cases filed and there exists a strong desire amid Philippine people for the better alternative. Plenty of individuals are expecting a suitable opportunity to end the marriage, however the annulment law is not providing them with enough possibilities at all.