Getting Married in Philippines

Weddings are made in heaven. Before preparing for the beautiful day of your life, learn all you need to know about getting married in Philippines to avoid last minute commotion.

If this is your first marriage, the local civil registrar will ask to see your original birth certificates or your baptismal certificates. Certified copies may be accepted. You need to provide the full name, residence and citizenship of your parents or guardians.

If either of you are not citizens of The Republic of The Philippines, you have to provide your passport and a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage. An affidavit in lieu of a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage may also be accepted. You need to check with a U.S. consular officer to make sure that they are providing the affidavit.

Age Requirements
If you are under the age of 18, you cannot get married in the Philippines even if your parents are okay with the marriage. Individuals must be at least 21 years old to get married in the Philippines without written parental consent. If your parents cannot appear with you before the local civil registrar, a legal affidavit with the signatures of two witnesses may be accepted.

Individuals between the age of 21 and 25, must "... ask their parents or guardian for advice upon the intended marriage. If they do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application therefor. A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought, together with the written advice given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement." There is a waiting period of ten consecutive days while notice of the marriage application is posted on a bulletin board outside the local civil registrar's office.

Pre-Marital Counseling and Family Planning Seminar
If either of you are between the ages of 18 and 25, you will need to show proof to the local civil registrar that you have received marriage counseling. If you do not receive marriage counseling, your marriage license will not be issued for three months. 

Previous Marriages
If you have been previously married, you will need to provide the death certificate of your deceased spouse or the judicial decree of your absolute divorce, or the judicial decree of your annulment or declaration of nullity of your previous marriage.

Officiants
Members of the local judiciary; priests, rabbis, imams, ministers of registered churches or religious sects; consul-generals, consuls, vice-consuls. Military commanders in the absence of a chaplain and ship captains and airplane chiefs can solemnize marriage in articulo mortis.
If you use a religious officiant, one of you must belong to the officiant's church or religious sect.

Wedding Locations
Marriages must be solemnized publicly in a church, chapel, temple, judicial chambers, or offices of consuls. The only time a wedding can take place elsewhere is if the wedding is articulo mortis, in a remote location, or if the officiant receives a request for a different location.

Proxy Marriage
The Republic of The Philippines does not allow marriage by proxy.

Common Law Marriage
Yes. The Family Code of The Republic of The Philippines states: "No license shall be necessary for the marriage of a man and a woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years and without any legal impediment to marry each other. The contracting parties shall state the foregoing facts in an affidavit before any person authorized by law to administer oaths. The solemnizing officer shall also state under oath that he ascertained the qualifications of the contracting parties are found no legal impediment to the marriage. (76a)". The marriage license in the Philippines is valid for 120 days from the date of issue.

Cousin Marriages
No. "Section 1, Article 38 of the Family Code prohibits marriage of relatives up to the fourth civil degree (first cousins)."

Source: marriage.about.com
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