San Beda College of Law Persons and Family Relations Termination (Art.41) Declaration Of Nullity (Art. 40) Annulment (Art. 45) Legal Separation (Art. 55) Valid until annulled or terminated No dissolution of marriage, only separation of bed-andboard; entitled to live separately Marital Status Subsequent marriage automatically terminated by affidavit of reappearance Previous marriage, void ab initio Status of Children Born/Conceived Before Termination Legitimate Illegitimate except those as Legitimate Legitimate provided in Art. 36 and 53 Custody of Children Custody in case of During Pendency: dispute shall be decided 1. Written Agreement by the court in separate 2. Absence thereof, court decides based on best interest of child and may award proceedings for custody it in the following order of preference: but same considerations a. Both parents jointly as in Declaration of Nullity b. Either parent, may consider choice of child over 7 years unless parent chosen is unfit c. Surviving grandparent, if several then choice of child over 7 years unless grandparent chosen is unfit/ disqualified d. Eldest brother/sister over 21unless unfit/ disqualified e. Any other person deemed by court who is suitable After Decree: To the innocent spouse but no child under 7 shall be separated from the mother unless there are compelling reasons Child Support Support in case of dispute During pendency: shall be decided by the 1. Written agreement court in separate 2. In the absence thereof, from properties of the absolute community of property proceedings for custody (ACP) or conjugal partnership (CP) but same considerations After Decree: as in Declaration of Nullity Either parent/ both may be ordered by court to give an amount necessary for support in proportion to resources/means of giver and necessities of recipient Spousal Support During pendency: 1. Written agreement 2. In the absence thereof, from properties of the ACP or CP, considered as advance to be deducted from share during liquidation 3. Restitution if after final judgment court finds that persons providing support pendent lite is not liable therefor (Sec. 7, Rule 61, ROC) Property Relations 1. ACP or CP shall be dissolved and liquidated 1. ACP or CP shall be 2. If either spouse contracted marriage in bad faith, he or she has no right to any dissolved and share of net profits earned by ACP or CP liquidated. 3. Net profits shall be forfeited in favor of common children, or if none, children of 2. Offending spouse guilty spouse by previous marriage, or in default thereof, the innocent spouse has no right to any 4. In all other cases of void marriage, Art. 147 and 148 applies (Valdes vs. RTC) share of net profits earned by ACP or In addition, for marriages under Art. 40 and 45: CP 1. All creditors of spouses and of the ACP or CP shall be notified of the 3. Net profits shall be proceedings for liquidation forfeited in favor of 2. Conjugal dwelling and lot on which it is situated shall be adjudicated pursuant to common children, or Art. 102 and 129 if none, children of guilty spouse by previous marriage, or in default thereof, the innocent spouse Presumptive Legitime 1. Delivery of presumptive legitime of all common children computed as of date of final judgment without prejudice to ultimate successional rights of children accruing upon death of either or both parents 20 San Beda College of Law 2010 Centralized Bar Operations 2. Shall be considered as advances on common children’s legitime (Art. 51) Donation Propter Nuptias 1. Shall remain valid, 1. Shall remain valid, 1. Shall remain valid, unless donee unless donee unless donee contracted marriage contracted marriage in contracted marriage in bad faith, in which bad faith, in which case, in bad faith, in case, donation to donation to said donee which case, said donee shall be shall be revoked by donation to said revoked by operation operation of law. donee shall be of law. 2. If both spouses of revoked by 2. If both spouses of subsequent marriage operation of law. (Art. 43(3)) subsequent marriage acted in bad faith, acted in bad faith, donations propter 2. No conflict with Art. 86(2) as such does donations propter nuptias made by one in nuptias made by one favor of the other are not require that in favor of the other revoked by operation of marriage be law (Art. 44) are revoked by annulled first before operation of law 3. If both spouses in good donor may revoke faith, donor after finality donation – donor of decree may revoke has 5 years from pursuant to Art. 86(1) time he had 4. If marriage not knowledge of lack celebrated: of consent; cannot a. Those stipulated in revoke if had marriage settlement knowledge thereof are void (Art. 81) before the marriage (Sta. Maria, b. Those excluded Melencio Jr. S, from marriage Persons and Family settlement or if no Relations Law, such contract, may fourth Edition, be revoked by donor (Art. 86(1)) 2004) 3. Conflict with Art. 86(3) but Art. 43(3) prevails – more in harmony with general purpose/intent of act (Ibid.) Insurance Policy Innocent spouse may revoke designation of spouse in bad faith as beneficiary even if stipulated as irrevocable (Art. 43(4)) 1. 2. Donor is given option to revoke or not, if donor decides to revoke, must do so within 5 years from finality of decree But if ground for legal separation is sexual infidelity (adultery or concubinage), donation between persons guilty thereof at time of donation is void (Art. 739(1)NCC) Innocent spouse may revoke donations made by him or her in favor of offending spouse as well as designation of latter as beneficiary even if stipulated as irrevocable (Art. 64). Action to revoke donation must be brought within 5 years from finality of decree Succession 1. 2. Spouse in bad faith disqualified to inherit from innocent spouse by testate or intestate succession If both spouses of subsequent marriage acted in bad faith, testamentary dispositions made by one in favor of the other are revoked by operation of law (Art. 44) 1. 2. 21 Offending spouse disqualified from inheriting from innocent spouse by intestate succession Provisions in favor of offending spouse made in the will of innocent spouse are revoked by operation of law (Art. 63(4)) San Beda College of Law Persons and Family Relations 22