Best Posts in Thread: More requirements for foreigners to marry fillipina

Indeed. Balance, tolerance, patience. Funny how all these things need to be learnt! Perhaps it is because divorce is not an option here that couples accept exactly what you have said and are more prepared to 'work things out' and sometimes agree to differ as opposed to throwing in the towel? I kind of get that vibe from my wife anyway. Sure we might [both] sulk for a day or two, but ultimately there is mutual respect even if a hairy ape like me will never fully understand the fairer sex?
The mind boggles...x

 

Divorces are very stressful, both financially and emotionally, whether you want it or not. In California, there is a high price for your freedom. I went through two of them and I don't have enough finances or emotions left for another one, so I am chilling out here with my wife and boy. No two persons are perfectly compatible so one learns to go with the flow.

 

EXACTLY! There are rules in most developed countries to protect the rights of married individuals and that's why DIVORCE is sooooo costly!
The rule pertaining to "income & means of supporting your wife/partner" are there for good reason, if, granted, ill thought through. They are not onerous and any 'foreigner' even with the most modest of income would sail through the pre-marriage interview (which I did Sept.2014 in Manila). It's not Rocket Science. All I would add, is that in order to protect yourself from future litigation - you need to ensure that "common property" is held outside of .PH, in my case via an offshore company, which in itself is held under a Foundation Trust, where (technically) assets are owned by the Foundation, not me directly. Not complicated to do - but most suffer from lethargy and simply won't bother administering such entities - well tough luck then & don't come crying to me about it! If anything happens to me, my wife/child will benefit from maintenance payments - but hitting the Jackpot and receiving large lump sums? Nope! An overriding codicil is retained by the Foundation executor (my brother) with similar role/powers as a Trustee has.

If I die under 'mysterious circumstances'? - The capital vanishes too, save maintenance for offspring etc..

Yes I trust my wife and yes, she understands the reasoning behind such a framework (which also has considerable tax advantages for me when I can be bothered to stock trade online or I wish to enter into a business contract using the listed company for example). It also mitigates a REAL and valid concern about 'provincial' family attitudes who have no experience handling sizeable amounts of money. I know if I die, suddenly all my wife's family will emerge from out of the woodwork, but the same can be said for any part of the world - where a lot of Estates are tied up in costly inheritance battles between rival siblings etc.

Rules like this are difficult to get right. They are understandable (in principle) but of course foreigners can become easy targets. Just like in corporate litigation - you don't bother suing those who haven't got the means to pay! If you've ring fenced assets anyway - then you're about as protected as one can be. But in any event - if you've married for the right reasons - why wouldn't you wish for your spouse to be financially protected? Of course separation is tough (dependent upon the reasons behind it) but I don't know anywhere in the World where divorce is THAT easy?

I guess it's down to individual choice at the end of the day. Some will wish to be married, some will choose not to be. Years ago I think "living in sin" would be a no-no in .PH, but nowadays, who really cares that much? Sure the woman will wish for the additional financial security of marriage - hell, if I was I woman I know I would!! And marriage does entail that type of commitment. You can still walk out, get on a plane and disappear, but in reality if you think like that you're a pretty sad b**st*rd who doesn't deserve to be happy anyway!

So - proving 'financial means' as a foreigner is straightforward enough - they will even accept letters from overseas corporations confirming income/assets and are very flexible on the paperwork required. Any 'proof' needs to be stamped by your Embassy (I went to British Embassy in Manila) - but did they really look into my affairs? Nope! Pay 3000PHP, get everything stamped and out the door in 20 minutes.

I fully appreciate that with a young family I may be more inclined (and willing) to ensure the wellbeing of my wife/child irrespective of any potential relationship breakdown (God forbid) but hey - I don't need to be in .PH to feel this way do I? That's just being humane.

 

So how many foreigner will just say "f*ck it" literally and forget to get married, just having live-in partners. Isn't that part of the culture here?

If they looked at the local men very few may qualify under these requirements. So Shabu dealers could not longer get married if they required "certificate of legal capacity, a certificate of good moral character and a certificate of gainful trade, business, employment or other lawful source of income."

It is too bad that foreigners have gained such a bad reputation that the Filipinas have to be protected from the male foreigners. Is there a possibility of a law to immediately annul a marriage when fraud is involved on the Filipinas' part? That could solve a lot of problems.