I. Bottom line (plain English)

If a Philippine annulment or declaration of nullity case is dismissed and that dismissal becomes final, nothing changes in your civil status. You remain married to the same spouse; your property regime (absolute community/conjugal partnership, unless you validly agreed to separation of property) continues; and your PSA records (CEMAR/AOM, Marriage Certificate) remain unannotated. You cannot remarry; doing so risks bigamy. Any changes you want in civil status must come from a final court decree granting nullity/annulment (properly recorded under Arts. 52–53 Family Code), not from a dismissed petition.

II. What “dismissal” means—and why it matters

Types of dismissal

Without prejudice – case ends now, but you may refile (e.g., wrong venue, curable procedural defects, withdrawn petition).
With prejudice – case ends permanently on those claims/grounds (e.g., res judicata, abandonment with clear bar, or adjudication on the merits).
On the merits (denial) – the court finds no legal ground for nullity/annulment after trial; refiling on the same facts/ground is barred.

While dismissal is not yet final

You may file Motion for Reconsideration (MR) (typically 15 days from receipt).
If MR is denied, you may appeal to the Court of Appeals (ordinary appeal from RTC).
Until the dismissal is final and executory, your civil status is still married—and remains so even after finality unless a grant is later issued on appeal.

After dismissal becomes final

No PSA annotation is made; your civil registry stays unchanged.
Any interim orders (temporary support, custody, injunctions) lapse unless separately grounded (e.g., a protection order under VAWC continues per that case’s orders).
You cannot apply for a new marriage license based on that dismissed case.

III. Civil effects that continue because the marriage stands

Marital status: You remain spouses in the eyes of the law.
Property regime:
- ACP/CPG rules continue. Disposition or encumbrance of community/conjugal property still requires spousal consent or court authority.
- Purchases during marriage are presumed community/conjugal unless proven exclusive (donation/inheritance).
Support: Spousal and child support obligations remain enforceable.
Surnames: A wife may continue using her husband’s surname (customary practice). Reverting to maiden name on the basis of annulment is not available because no decree exists.
Parental authority/custody: Remains as before (subject to separate family or protection cases).
Succession: You remain legal heirs of each other until a valid decree changes status (or death).
Remarriage: Prohibited. A new marriage without a grant and proper PSA annotation is void and may expose you to bigamy.

IV. PSA/Civil Registry implications

No decree = no annotation. Your Marriage Certificate stays as it is; your AOM/CEMAR continues to show the marriage with no “annulled/void” remark.
CENOMAR will not show you as “single.”
Only a final judgment granting nullity/annulment, duly recorded with the LCR and transmitted to PSA (Arts. 52–53), changes your records and capacity to remarry.

V. Your options after a dismissal

A. Procedural remedies (time-sensitive)

Motion for Reconsideration – correct errors of fact/law; attach pinpoint citations to the record.
Appeal to CA – challenge the RTC dismissal; raise issues preserved below.

B. Substantive alternatives (when refiling is barred or facts differ)

Refile (if dismissal was without prejudice) correcting defects (venue, verification, missing certifications/witnesses).
Plead a different legal ground if genuinely new and distinct (e.g., shifting from annulment of a voidable marriage to declaration of nullity for psychological incapacity), supported by new facts and expert evidence.
Legal separation – if the goal is separation of bed and board and property relief without dissolving the marriage bond.
Support, custody, VAWC protection orders – pursue standalone cases to protect persons/property irrespective of marital status.
Recognition of foreign divorce – available only where one spouse is a foreign national and a valid foreign divorce exists; requires a Philippine court recognition case.
Judicial separation of property – if protection of assets is urgent due to mismanagement or abandonment, independent of nullity/annulment.

Caution: Refiling on the same cause after a final on-the-merits denial is typically barred (res judicata). Consult counsel to assess whether your facts and relief sought are materially different.

VI. Effects on pending or collateral matters

Interim Support/Custody Orders from the annulment case: generally expire with dismissal unless expressly preserved or replaced by orders in a separate case.
Protection Orders (VAWC): independent of the annulment—remain effective per their terms.
Property holds/injunctions: fall with the case unless reissued in another action (e.g., legal separation, injunction suit).
Criminal complaints (e.g., bigamy, concubinage): Not resolved by the dismissal; they proceed on their own merits.

VII. Practical compliance & risk management

Do not remarry or represent yourself as “single.”
Transact with property as a married person; get spousal consent or court leave where required.
Update schools, insurers, and banks only if there were interim orders that have now lapsed; otherwise, no status change to report.
Maintain evidence from the dismissed case; it may be useful on appeal or in alternative proceedings.
Avoid private “waivers” that purport to dissolve marital rights—they don’t change status or bind third persons.

VIII. Common questions

Q1: My annulment was dismissed. Can I use my maiden name again? Not on the basis of that case. Without a final decree changing civil status, you remain married; surname practice stays as before (you may continue using the married surname).

Q2: Can I marry abroad since the PH case was dismissed? No. Your Philippine civil status is still married. A marriage abroad entered into while your first marriage subsists is void and may be criminally actionable.

Q3: Can we just sign a contract saying we’re “separated”? Private agreements cannot dissolve marriage or change civil status. They may evidence arrangements (e.g., support), but they don’t create capacity to remarry or alter property presumptions against third parties.

Q4: We’ve been separated for years. Does that matter? Separation-in-fact does not affect legal status or property regime. You still need a proper decree (or alternative lawful remedy) for formal effects.

Q5: Can I refile immediately? Only if the dismissal states “without prejudice” or is clearly for curable defects. If on the merits/with prejudice, consult counsel about appeal or distinct alternative grounds.

IX. Action checklist (after receiving a dismissal)

☐ Read the dispositive portion: is it with/without prejudice?
☐ Calendar deadlines: MR and appeal windows (count from receipt).
☐ Get certified copies of the Decision/Order and proof of receipt.
☐ Consult counsel on the strongest MR/appeal points or feasible alternative remedies.
☐ Do business as married: keep spousal consent/court authority for property acts; do not apply for a new marriage license.
☐ If safety/financial issues exist, file independent actions (support, VAWC protection, judicial separation of property, legal separation).

X. Key takeaways

A dismissed annulment/nullity petition does not change your civil status. You remain married; PSA records stay as-is.
Only a final, recorded decree granting nullity/annulment changes capacity to remarry and triggers PSA annotations.
After dismissal, act within strict timelines (MR/appeal) or pivot to lawful alternatives (legal separation, support, protection, recognition of foreign divorce, judicial separation of property).
Until a valid decree issues, keep transacting as a married person and avoid legal exposure (bigamy, void transactions).

If you share the exact wording of the dismissal (with/without prejudice, dates received), I can map your deadline calendar and the best next-step strategy tailored to your case.