Annulment Cost in the Philippines – 2025 Comprehensive Legal Guide
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for individualized legal advice. Figures are based on the most recent Supreme Court fee schedules, Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) circulars, and published practitioner surveys as of May 2025. Always confirm the exact amounts with the clerk of the court and your counsel.
1. What “annulment” means in Philippine law
Philippine courts entertain two distinct status actions:
| Action | Governing provisions | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Declaration of Absolute Nullity (void marriage) | Arts. 35, 37, 38 & 53, Family Code; A.M. 02-11-10-SC | Marriage is deemed never to have existed; parties return to their pre-marital status. |
| Annulment of Voidable Marriage | Arts. 45-47, Family Code; A.M. 02-11-10-SC | Marriage is valid until annulled; property regime and legitimate status of children are protected until final judgment. |
(The popular term “annulment” is often used for both.) Both actions are ordinary civil cases tried in the Regional Trial Court (Family Court), making them evidence-driven and therefore costly. (RESPICIO & CO.)
2. Statutory cost drivers
| Mandatory out-of-pocket item | Latest range (₱) | When & why payable |
|---|---|---|
| Docket & filing fee | 2,876 (base, as of the 10 % OCA increase on 01 Jul 2024) + ₱50 if e-filed | Due on filing; fixed under Rule 141. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
| Sheriff / mailing deposit | 1,000 – 4,000 (+ ₆/km mileage) | To serve summons and OSG notices. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
| Mediation fee | 500 (Uniform Mediation Rules) | Collected with docket fees even if later waived. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
| Publication (if spouse can’t be served personally) | Metro Manila 15 k–25 k; provinces 8 k–12 k | Two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
| Transcript (TSN) & certified copies | 6 k–10 k | Paid per page to stenographers & PSA. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
These numbers are nationwide; clerk-issued assessments in the provinces are often 10–30 % lower. If property liquidation is prayed for, the docket fee climbs on an ad-valorem scale starting at ₱4,770 for the first ₱400 k share. (Respicio & Co.)
3. Variable / professional expenses
| Item | Typical Metro Manila range (₱) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer’s acceptance fee | 80 k – 300 k (fixed) or 25 k + 5–10 k per hearing | Unregulated; senior partners and “celebrity” cases sit at the top end. (Respicio & Co., Moneymax) |
| Psychological evaluation (Art. 36 cases) | 25 k – 60 k (private clinic); 10 k – 18 k (hospital / university) | Includes testing + expert-witness court testimony. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
| Incidental documents | 3 k – 8 k | Notarisation, apostille, PSA certificates, travel. (RESPICIO & CO.) |
VAT (12 %) is added to professional fees unless the lawyer is VAT-exempt. Budget an additional ₱15 k – 50 k on mid-sized cases purely for tax.
4. How the numbers add up – sample 2025 budgets
| Scenario | Total budget | Duration | Main cost drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documentary nullity (e.g., no marriage licence; respondent cooperative) | ₱ 80 k – 120 k | 8–14 months | Filing fees + limited lawyer time; no psychologist. (Respicio & Co.) |
| Art. 36, unopposed | ₱ 160 k – 220 k | 18–24 months | Psych evaluation + 6–10 hearings. (Respicio & Co.) |
| Contested, with assets / custody | ₱ 280 k – 450 k (can hit 1 M +) | 2.5–4 years | Multiple experts, property appraisal, extensive lawyer hours. (Respicio & Co., Moneymax) |
Money-advice sites quote broader “sticker shock” figures (₱130 k – 725 k) because they fold in worst-case professional fees and long litigation tails. (Moneymax)
5. Factors that make a case cheaper—or pricier
- Ground invoked – documentary void marriages (bigamy, no licence, unqualified officiant) skip psychologists.
- Property & custody issues – inclusion of liquidation or support triggers ad-valorem fees and more hearings.
- Location of parties – overseas respondent = publication + DFA service or letters rogatory.
- Counsel’s seniority & billing model – Metro Manila partners command double provincial rates.
- Number of postponements – every reset costs a fresh appearance fee and a day off work. (Respicio & Co.)
6. Legitimate ways to reduce or waive payments
| Measure | Who qualifies | What’s waived / reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Pauper litigant status (Rule 141 § 19) | Family income ≤ double the PSA poverty threshold (≈ ₱26–28 k/mo in NCR for a family of 4) and no property > ₱300 k | Docket, sheriff, mediation, LRF & JDF fees. |
| Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) | Same income test – plus DV or child-support angle (PAO Memo, 2024) | Free lawyer; court costs still payable unless indigent. |
| Law-school legal aid / IBP chapters | Case-by-case | Pro-bono counsel; client shoulders out-of-pocket expenses only. |
| Fixed-fee packages & milestone billing | Negotiated with private counsel | Spreads payments across filing, pre-trial & decision. |
| Judicial Affidavit Rule | Any party | Cuts expert-witness and appearance costs; judge must approve affidavits in lieu of direct testimony. |
7. Catholic (canonical) vs. civil annulment costs
A Church decree has no civil effect, but many Catholic couples pursue both:
| Canonical item | Typical 2025 range (₱) |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | 10 k – 15 k |
| Tribunal processing | 25 k – 40 k (installment or condoned for the poor) |
The same psychological report may be reused, saving ₱10 k–40 k. (RESPICIO & CO.)
8. Upcoming changes you should watch
- Absolute-divorce bill – pending in the Senate (as of May 2025). If enacted, it will create a second pathway with its own fee schedule.
- Mandatory e-filing nationwide (Administrative Circular 08-2023) – a ₱50 service charge but potentially lower travel costs.
- OCA fee escalator – the 2024 10 % increase is the last scheduled tranche; any further hikes will require a new SC resolution. (RESPICIO & CO.)
9. Practical checklist before filing
- Evidence audit – is a psychological report indispensable or will documentary proof suffice?
- Fee quote shopping – ask at least three family-law practitioners for a written fee proposal.
- Savings plan – set aside at least ₱150 k before filing to avoid mid-case cash strain.
- Time commitment – typical petition entails 10–30 court appearances; factor lost wages and childcare.
- Parallel Church process? – decide early so a single psychologist can craft a dual-use report.
10. Bottom line
Even the leanest uncontested petition rarely falls below ₱80,000, while complex, hard-fought cases can exceed ₱1 million. The lion’s share goes to professional fees and expert testimony; statutory court charges, though often quoted first, usually make up < 5 % of the grand total. Careful ground-selection, indigency remedies, and disciplined case management can shave 20-40 % off headline figures without compromising legal strategy.
Prepared by ChatGPT on 16 May 2025 for Philippine readers (UTC+8).