Annulment of Marriage

Stories of some celebrities or prominent personalities obtaining annulment of marriage are increasingly becoming more common. This trend is observable not only among famous persons but also among ordinary couples.

The increasing incident of annulment should not however lead you to believe that getting this decree from the court is an easy task. On the contrary, obtaining annulment from one’s spouse is not an easy move. Before resorting to this action, you must first contemplate of the consequences, propriety and procedure of getting an annulment.

The following discussion will try to help you understand more about this legal remedy under Philippine law.

What is Annulment of Marriage?

Annulment of marriage is a decree from the Court wherein a marriage is terminated for reasons indicated in Article 45 of the Family Code. Unlike a declaration of nullity of marriage, in annulment, the marriage is considered valid until terminated by a Court decree.

What are these grounds for annulment?

Article 45 of the Family Code lists down the reasons or grounds for the annulment of marriage. I will paraphrase these grounds provided by law to make it understandable to everyone who reads this. The reasons are:

  1. The person asking for annulment is 18-21 years old, the marriage was celebrated without the consent of parent, guardian or person with substitute parental authority, unless after reaching the age of 21 the parties lived together as husband and wife.
  2. Either party was of unsound mind, unless that person after coming to reason freely cohabited with the other as husband and wife.
  3. Consent of either party was obtained through fraud, unless after learning of such fraud, cohabited with the other as husband and wife.
  4. Consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue influence, unless the same having stopped, that party cohabited with the other as husband and wife.
  5. Physical incapacity of either party in consummating the marriage and the incapacity continues and appears to be incurable.
  6. Either party was afflicted with STD found to be serious and appears to be incurable.

What circumstances constitute fraud as referred to under Number 3 of Article 45?

Any of the following circumstances shall constitute fraud as mentioned under Number 3 of Article 45:

  1. Non-disclosure of previous conviction by final judgment by the other party of a crime involving moral turpitude.
  2. Concealment by the wife of the fact that at the time of marriage she was pregnant by a man other than her husband.
  3. Concealment of STD, regardless of its nature, existing at the time of marriage.
  4. Concealment of drug addiction, habitual alcoholism, or homosexuality or lesbianism existing at the time of marriage.

What if my husband misrepresented to me that he is of good character, but he is actually immoral, can I obtain an annulment decree?

No. Misrepresentation or deceit as to character shall not be considered as “fraud” that would give you a ground to seek annulment.

I married my husband because he told me that he is a millionaire, he owns several cars and that he is a CEO of a large multinational firm, but the truth is that he doesn’t have money nor cars and doesn’t have a job, can I obtain an annulment for these?

No. Misrepresentation or deceit as to rank or fortune is also not deemed as “fraud” that will give you ground for the annulment of marriage.

What if my wife told me that she’s a virgin but it turns out that she had past sexual encounters with several men, can I get an annulment?

Again, the answer is no. Misrepresentation as to chastity is not a ground to obtain annulment.



Author: Atty. James Biron
Atty. James S. Biron is a corporate lawyer specializing in foreign investments, trade, mergers and acquisitions, planning and financing of projects and capital raising. Clients served include real estate, construction, energy, information technology, agriculture, education, medical and casino gaming companies.

8 Comments

  • ycrem

    What if I cohabited with my husband for 4 years hoping the marriage could be saved but gave up when my life is in danger? I believe he is insane, his family has history of insanity, his brother was committed in a mental hospital. I’ve been single parent now for 18 years already, do i need to drag him to be medically certified insane to file an annulment? Please help. I already filed for annulment under Art. 36 for psychological incapacity to protect my children from the stigma that their father is insane. It was denied. I don’t want to continue counting single-parent-status-married years.

  • ledam27

    Hi, i have a friend whose having hard time processing his annulment for  the following reasons: 1. The wife is not signing any of the annulment papers. 2. The wife is claiming that the husband has another relationship going on which she has photos and love letters as proof. 

    My question now is that is there any other option for my friend to obtain his freedom? Does the wife’s accusations be acknowledge on court or upon proceeding to annulment? if the wife can prove that he has really relationship what will happen to him?

    thanks. 

  • alma

    atty.james pag po ba kasal ng two months only at almos two years n po kaming hiwalay at wala kami anak mabilis lang po ba iprocess itong problema ko

  • Sara

    Atty, two nang wala kami ng asawa ko my iba na sya at mayroon na rin ako, pwede na po ba ako mag file ng annulment at gaano kabilis ang proccessing. I hope po Atty. Makatulong ka sa problema ko. My dalawa kaming anak girl 17 yrs old boy 15 years old, Sa Hawaii sila sa ex husband ko galing din po ako sa Hawaii pero hindi na ako bumalik 6 month na ako dito.

  • Criscel

    17 years old po ng mabuntis ako ng asawa ko 27 napo sya dahil po bata ako at buntis kailangan daw namen magpakasal agad nang mag 18 po ako pinakasal kme sa civil wedding after 1 1/2 years po naghiwalay n kme ngayon 10 years n kme hiwalay gusto ko npo magfile ng annulment ano po kaya ang grounds at mga need ko

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