The Family Code of the Philippines

The Family Code governs marriage, its nullity and annulment, property relations between spouses, paternity and filiation, adoption, support, parental authority, and the family home. It was approved on July 6, 1987 and amended by Executive Order No. 227.

We are publishing it article by article: the official text of each provision, a plain-language annotation, and the Supreme Court decisions that actually determine how it is read today. Articles are added as they are annotated and reviewed — this is a working library, not a dump.

Title I — Marriage

Chapter 1 — Requisites of Marriage

• Article 1 — Nature of marriage. Published.
• Article 2 — Essential requisites of marriage. Published.
• Article 3 — Formal requisites of marriage. Published.
• Article 5 — Legal capacity to marry. Published.
• Article 6 — Marriage ceremony; personal declaration. Published.
• Article 9 — Where a marriage license is obtained. Published.
• Article 11 — Contents of the marriage license application. Published.
• Article 13 — Proof required when a party was previously married. Published.
• Article 14 — Parental consent for applicants aged 18 to 21. Published.
• Article 15 — Parental advice for applicants aged 21 to 25. Published.
• Article 18 — Registrar's notation of a known impediment. Published.
• Article 19 — Marriage license fees; exemption for indigents. Published.
• Article 21 — Foreign nationals: certificate of legal capacity. Published.
• Article 22 — Contents of the marriage certificate. Published.
• Article 23 — Solemnizing officer's duty after the marriage. Published.
• Article 24 — Registrar's duty to prepare documents; tax exemption. Published.
• Article 25 — Registry book of marriage license applications. Published.

Chapter 2 — Marriages Exempt from License Requirement

• Article 27 — Marriage in articulo mortis. Published.
• Article 28 — Marriage where no transportation is available. Published.
• Article 29 — Officer's affidavit for marriages under Articles 27 and 28. Published.
• Article 30 — Transmittal of the affidavit and marriage contract. Published.
• Article 31 — Marriage in articulo mortis aboard ship or aircraft. Published.
• Article 32 — Marriage in articulo mortis by a military commander. Published.
• Article 33 — Marriages among Muslims and ethnic cultural communities. Published.
• Article 34 — Marriage without a license after five years' cohabitation. Published.

Chapter 3 — Void and Voidable Marriages

• Article 35 — Marriages void from the beginning. Published.
• Article 36 — Psychological incapacity. Published.
• Article 37 — Incestuous marriages. Published.
• Article 38 — Marriages void for reasons of public policy. Published.
• Article 40 — Judicial declaration required before remarriage. Published.
• Article 41 — Bigamous marriages; presumptive death. Published.
• Article 42 — Reappearance of the absent spouse. Published.
• Article 43 — Effects of terminating the subsequent marriage. Published.
• Article 45 — Grounds for annulment of marriage. Published.
• Article 46 — What constitutes fraud. Published.
• Article 47 — Who may file; prescriptive periods. Published.
• Article 48 — State participation; no default judgment. Published.
• Article 44 — Bad faith by both spouses: void ab initio; revoked donations. Published.
• Article 49 — Support and custody during the pendency of the action. Published.
• Article 50 — Effects of nullity and annulment on property and children. Published.
• Article 51 — Delivery of the children's presumptive legitimes. Published.
• Article 52 — Recording the judgment; effect on third persons. Published.
• Article 53 — Remarriage only after compliance. Published.
• Article 54 — Legitimacy of children. Published.

Title II — Legal Separation

• Article 55 — Grounds for legal separation. Published.
• Article 56 — Grounds for denying the petition (defenses). Published.
• Article 57 — Five-year prescriptive period. Published.
• Article 58 — Six-month cooling-off period. Published.
• Article 59 — Reconciliation effort required. Published.
• Article 60 — No decree by stipulation or confession. Published.
• Article 61 — Living apart & property administration during the case. Published.
• Article 62 — Support and custody during the case. Published.
• Article 63 — Effects of the decree of legal separation. Published.
• Article 64 — Revoking donations and insurance designations. Published.
• Article 65 — Reconciliation: joint manifestation. Published.
• Article 66 — Consequences of reconciliation. Published.
• Article 67 — Reviving the former property regime. Published.

Title III — Rights and Obligations Between Husband and Wife

• Article 68 — Mutual obligations of spouses. Published.
• Article 69 — Fixing the family domicile. Published.
• Article 70 — Joint responsibility for family support. Published.
• Article 71 — Management of the household. Published.
• Article 72 — Relief for neglect or acts endangering the family. Published.
• Article 73 — Right to exercise a profession or business. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 1 — General Provisions (Property Relations)

• Article 74 — Order governing property relations. Published.
• Article 75 — Choosing the property regime in marriage settlements. Published.
• Article 76 — Modifying marriage settlements before the marriage. Published.
• Article 77 — Form of marriage settlements; effect on third persons. Published.
• Article 78 — Marriage settlements executed by a minor. Published.
• Article 79 — Marriage settlements by a person under civil interdiction or disability. Published.
• Article 80 — Governing law for property relations. Published.
• Article 81 — Effect of the marriage not taking place on settlements. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 2 — Donations by Reason of Marriage

• Article 82 — Definition: donations by reason of marriage. Published.
• Article 83 — Donations by reason of marriage governed by the rules on ordinary donations. Published.
• Article 84 — Limit on donations between future spouses; future property. Published.
• Article 85 — Donations of encumbered property. Published.
• Article 86 — Revoking donations by reason of marriage. Published.
• Article 87 — Donations between spouses are void. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 3 — System of Absolute Community

• Article 88 — When the absolute community begins. Published.
• Article 89 — No waiver during the marriage. Published.
• Article 90 — Co-ownership rules apply suppletorily. Published.
• Article 91 — What the community property consists of. Published.
• Article 92 — What is excluded from the community. Published.
• Article 93 — Presumption of community property. Published.
• Article 94 — Charges on the community property. Published.
• Article 95 — Gambling losses and winnings. Published.
• Article 96 — Administration of the community property. Published.
• Article 97 — Disposing of one's interest by will. Published.
• Article 98 — Donating community property. Published.
• Article 99 — When the absolute community terminates. Published.
• Article 100 — Separation in fact. Published.
• Article 101 — Abandonment: remedies of the aggrieved spouse. Published.
• Article 102 — Liquidating the absolute community. Published.
• Article 103 — Liquidation on death; the six-month rule. Published.
• Article 104 — Overlapping communities from multiple marriages. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 4 — Conjugal Partnership of Gains

• Article 105 — CPG: when it applies. Published.
• Article 106 — What the conjugal partnership of gains is. Published.
• Article 107 — CPG: commencement and no-waiver rules apply. Published.
• Article 108 — CPG governed by partnership rules. Published.
• Article 109 — CPG: exclusive property of each spouse. Published.
• Article 110 — Ownership and administration of exclusive property. Published.
• Article 111 — Free disposal of exclusive property. Published.
• Article 112 — Alienation ends delegated administration. Published.
• Article 113 — Property donated or willed jointly to the spouses. Published.
• Article 114 — Charges on onerous donations. Published.
• Article 115 — Retirement benefits, pensions and similar benefits. Published.
• Article 116 — Presumption: property acquired during marriage is conjugal. Published.
• Article 117 — What are conjugal partnership properties (the enumeration). Published.
• Article 118 — Property bought on installments. Published.
• Article 119 — Credit payable in installments. Published.
• Article 120 — Improvements on exclusive property (reverse accession). Published.
• Article 122 — Personal debts, fines and indemnities. Published.
• Article 123 — Gambling losses and winnings. Published.
• Article 124 — Joint administration; disposition requires consent. Published.
• Article 125 — Donations of conjugal property. Published.
• Article 126 — When the conjugal partnership terminates. Published.
• Article 127 — Separation in fact. Published.
• Article 128 — Abandonment and failure of family obligations. Published.
• Article 129 — How the conjugal partnership is liquidated. Published.
• Article 130 — Liquidation on death; the six-month rule. Published.
• Article 131 — Simultaneous liquidation of two or more marriages. Published.
• Article 132 — Rules of Court govern gaps in liquidation. Published.
• Article 133 — Support during liquidation. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 5 — Separation of Property During the Marriage

• Article 134 — Separation of property requires a judicial order. Published.
• Article 135 — Sufficient causes for judicial separation of property. Published.
• Article 136 — Voluntary dissolution on joint petition. Published.
• Article 137 — Liquidation after the decree; support pending. Published.
• Article 138 — Complete separation applies after dissolution. Published.
• Article 139 — Recording the petition and judgment. Published.
• Article 140 — Separation does not prejudice prior creditors. Published.
• Article 141 — Reviving the former property regime. Published.
• Article 142 — Court transfer of administration of exclusive property. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 6 — Regime of Separation of Property

• Article 143 — When the separation-of-property regime governs. Published.
• Article 144 — Separation may be total or partial, present or future. Published.
• Article 145 — Independent ownership of each separate estate. Published.
• Article 146 — Sharing family expenses; solidary liability to creditors. Published.

Title IV, Chapter 7 — Property Regime of Unions Without Marriage

• Article 147 — Property when both partners were capacitated to marry. Published.
• Article 148 — Property when the partners were not capacitated to marry. Published.

Title V, Chapter 1 — The Family

• Article 151 — Earnest efforts to compromise before an intra-family suit. Published.

Title V, Chapter 2 — The Family Home

• Article 152 — What the family home is. Published.
• Article 153 — When the family home is constituted; the exemption. Published.
• Article 154 — Beneficiaries of the family home. Published.
• Article 155 — Debts that defeat the exemption. Published.
• Article 156 — What property may be constituted as a family home. Published.
• Article 157 — Value limits of the family home. Published.
• Article 158 — Sale or encumbrance of the family home. Published.
• Article 159 — The family home continues after death (ten-year rule). Published.
• Article 160 — Execution when the home exceeds its value limit. Published.
• Article 161 — Only one family home per person. Published.
• Article 162 — Application to existing family residences. Published.

Title VI — Paternity and Filiation (Legitimate Children)

• Article 163 — Kinds of filiation. Published.
• Article 164 — Who is a legitimate child. Published.
• Article 165 — Who is an illegitimate child. Published.
• Article 166 — Grounds to impugn legitimacy. Published.
• Article 167 — Mother's declaration cannot bastardize the child. Published.
• Article 168 — Presumptions when a mother remarries quickly. Published.
• Article 169 — Children born beyond 300 days after termination. Published.
• Article 170 — Deadlines to impugn legitimacy. Published.

Title VI, Chapter 2 — Proof of Filiation

• Article 172 — How legitimate filiation is established. Published.
• Article 173 — Action to claim legitimacy. Published.
• Article 174 — Rights of legitimate children. Published.

Title VI, Chapter 3 — Illegitimate Children

• Article 175 — How illegitimate filiation is established. Published.

Title VI, Chapter 4 — Legitimated Children

• Article 179 — Legitimated children enjoy the same rights. Published.
• Article 180 — Legitimation retroacts to birth. Published.
• Article 181 — Legitimation benefits a deceased child's descendants. Published.
• Article 182 — Who may impugn a legitimation. Published.

Title VIII — Support

• Article 196 — Support between siblings. Published.
• Article 197 — Which property answers for support. Published.
• Article 198 — Support during nullity, annulment and legal separation. Published.
• Article 199 — Order of those liable to give support. Published.
• Article 200 — Dividing the obligation; competing claims. Published.
• Article 201 — Amount of support: means and needs. Published.
• Article 202 — Support rises and falls with circumstances. Published.
• Article 204 — The obligor's option: allowance or board. Published.
• Article 205 — Support is exempt from attachment and execution. Published.
• Article 206 — Reimbursing a stranger who gave support. Published.
• Article 207 — Urgent support refused: third-party reimbursement. Published.
• Article 208 — Contractual and testamentary support. Published.

Title IX, Chapter 1 — Parental Authority (General Provisions)

• Article 209 — Nature of parental authority. Published.
• Article 210 — Cannot be renounced or transferred. Published.
• Article 211 — Joint exercise of parental authority. Published.
• Article 212 — Authority of the surviving parent. Published.
• Article 214 — Substitute authority of the grandparent. Published.
• Article 215 — A descendant cannot be compelled to testify against parents. Published.

Title IX, Chapter 2 — Substitute and Special Parental Authority

• Article 216 — Order of substitute parental authority. Published.
• Article 217 — Authority over foundlings and abandoned children. Published.

Title IX, Chapter 3 — Effect of Parental Authority Upon the Persons of the Children

• Article 220 — Rights and duties of parents over the child. Published.
• Article 221 — Parents' civil liability for their children. Published.
• Article 222 — Guardian of the child's property; guardian ad litem. Published.
• Article 223 — Court-ordered disciplinary measures. Published.
• Article 224 — Commitment of the child as a disciplinary measure. Published.

Title IX, Chapter 4 — Effect of Parental Authority Upon the Property of the Children

• Article 225 — Guardianship over the child's property. Published.
• Article 226 — Ownership of the child's property; parents' usufruct. Published.
• Article 227 — Property the child is entrusted to administer. Published.

Title IX, Chapter 5 — Suspension or Termination of Parental Authority

• Article 228 — Permanent termination of parental authority. Published.
• Article 229 — Revivable termination of parental authority. Published.
• Article 230 — Suspension for civil interdiction. Published.
• Article 232 — Permanent deprivation for sexual abuse. Published.
• Article 233 — Substitute authority; no corporal punishment. Published.

Title XI, Chapter 1 — Summary Judicial Proceedings in Family Law

• Article 238 — Scope of summary judicial proceedings. Published.

Title XI, Chapter 2 — Separation in Fact

• Article 239 — Petition where a spouse's consent is withheld. Published.
• Article 240 — Damage claims are litigated separately. Published.
• Article 241 — Jurisdiction over the petition. Published.
• Article 242 — Notice and show-cause order to the other spouse. Published.
• Article 243 — Preliminary conference without counsel. Published.
• Article 244 — Non-appearance of the spouse whose consent is sought. Published.
• Article 245 — Proceeding ex parte to protect the absent spouse. Published.
• Article 246 — Summary hearing on affidavits and evidence. Published.
• Article 247 — Judgment immediately final and executory. Published.
• Article 248 — Petition to administer the abandoning spouse's property. Published.

Title XI, Chapter 3 — Incidents Involving Parental Authority

• Article 249 — Verified petitions on parental-authority incidents. Published.
• Article 250 — Where parental-authority petitions are filed. Published.
• Article 251 — Notice to those exercising parental authority. Published.
• Article 252 — Chapter 2 rules apply suppletorily. Published.