KEY Thread Best Posts in Thread: Annulment of marriage in the philippines soon to be made easier

Just pointing out so there's no confusion, the original post/link was about Roman Catholic CHURCH annulment, while most of the discussion has been about CIVIL annulment. Even in the Philippines, they are two separate processes. Securing the former won't invalidate the marriage in the eyes of the law or free the person to remarry. However, there is an opinion from the Philippines Supreme Court that says, "Interpretations given by the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, while not controlling or decisive, should be given great respect by our courts." So getting a church annulment should in theory help getting a civil annulment, but doesn't guarantee it.

 

Plainspoken,
Please keep in mind the following:
1. Individuals or companies providing "visa services" can maybe make your paperwork a little easier (in the sense that they'll assist you with acquiring forms and filling in those forms), but that's it. Nobody but the applicant can file the visa request and nobody but the embassy decides whether you get a visum or not. Anyone claiming they have a backdoor entry at the embassy and can "get things done for you" is lying.
2. Residency is not the same as "visiting a country for a limited period on a tourist visum". If indeed formal residency is a requirement to get a divorce somewhere, then you better find out about the requirements to get "resident status".

 

As a side note, a disagree shouldn't be viewed as a negative. In terms of ratings, it's neutral, on the same level as "funny" or "not funny". It's a rating which probably should be more liberally. If it were more regularly used, then perhaps it would also become more useful and accepted.

 

My attorney says no. Church annulment would definitely help but is not required.
Two separate things, but as Redhorse's post says, "Interpretations given by the National Appellate Matrimonial Tribunal of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, while not controlling or decisive, should be given great respect by our courts."

 

I heard of cases costing up to 500k and even more PHP (one case mentioned up to 70k US$) and up to 7 years till the annulment is done. But it depend on the situation. I had once a similar case where my wanted girl was only separated. Approximate costs for this annulment case being around 50k US$ and 7 years. Another case where the husband was treating his wife very badly was annulled quite cheap and very fast also. I guess she was able to proof that her husband was turning insane after marriage. And that he was hiding his insanity before marriage.

The meaning of these are that annulment is dependable on the case and have an extremely widespread of cost and duration of the process.

The disagree was put because of the costs and duration mentioned there are not the cost and duration maximum someone can experience. With the rest I do agree.

 

Just wanted to add since he might be a good resource, there's a fellow from the US (Chicago area) living near Bacolod, Bill, who Vlogs on YouTube under the name "Lanhawk59". He's posted on and off about the civil annulment process his long-term GF has been going through, and coincidentally, just posted a couple of days ago that it had been approved.

A few key points summarizing his last post on the topic: took slightly more than three years for approval, estimated cost 180,000 pesos (of which about 150k was upfront to the lawyer), involved paying psychologist to testify in court, lots of misc. fees and filings, the foreigner (him) was advised to lay low/not be involved in the process, and - AFTER the approval decree from the judge there's a lot of running around to various govt. agencies to get records updated. His Youtube page has links to his Facebook, etc. Don't know him personally but if I make it up to Bacolod would like to visit the little resto he and the GF/future wife operate.

 

This posting was rated 'disagree' and it would surely be useful for the person who rated it to tell us what he/she disagrees with. I for one would be very keen to know.

 

Thank you for your advice, it is well received and I will take it.

 

This was posted by a law office and it gave a very complete description of the process.
They said
"Based on the cases we have handled in Cebu City, if it is an uncontested case, meaning the other party will not oppose your petition for nullity of marriage, it will take an average of a year or more for a decision to be rendered." AND "In Cebu, if not contested, the estimate is around P120,000 to P150,000."