Your case is filed in Bulacan, not Metro Manila
Petitions for declaration of nullity and for annulment are filed with the Family Court with jurisdiction over Malolos, Bulacan, provided you or your spouse has resided in Malolos for at least six months before filing. Malolos is the historic provincial capital of Bulacan. Because it is in Bulacan, the case is heard by the provincial court, not a Metro Manila court — and venue turns on residence, not where you married. As the Bulacan capital, Malolos hosts the provincial courts where family cases for much of the province are heard.
What actually happens, in order
- Case build-up — facts, documents, and, for an Article 36 case, the psychological evaluation;
- Filing with the court and payment of docket fees;
- Service of summons on the respondent, by publication where they are abroad;
- Prosecutor's investigation for collusion, required in every case;
- Trial, then decision, finality, and annotation with the civil registrar and the PSA.
Timeline and cost, honestly
An uncontested petition commonly runs one to three years to a registered annotation. See the full picture on our annulment hub, and estimate the total with the annulment cost calculator.
Frequently asked
I live in Malolos. Do I file for annulment in Metro Manila?
No. Malolos is in Bulacan, so your petition is filed with the Family Court that has jurisdiction over Malolos in the province, provided you or your spouse has resided there for at least six months before filing.
How long does an annulment take?
For an uncontested petition, commonly one to three years from filing to a registered PSA annotation. The largest variables are service of summons, the court's docket, and whether the decision is appealed by the State.
Is the case over once the court grants it?
Not for your records. The decision must become final and then be registered and annotated with the local civil registrar and the PSA before your civil status changes.