In the Philippines, a marriage contract is a primary public document that serves as the best evidence of the existence of a marriage. However, clerical errors—specifically regarding names and middle initials—are common. Correcting these errors depends on the nature of the mistake: whether it is a simple clerical slip or a substantial change affecting the person’s identity or status.

I. The Nature of the Correction

Under Philippine law, there are two primary pathways for correction: Administrative Correction (via Republic Act No. 9048, as amended by R.A. 10172) and Judicial Correction (via Rule 108 of the Rules of Court).

Clerical or Typographical Errors (Administrative): These are harmless mistakes that are obvious to the understanding. Examples include:

Misspelling "Ma. Theresa" as "Ma Teressa."
Interchanging the middle initial (e.g., using "B" instead of "V").
Omitting a middle name entirely when other documents clearly show it.

Substantial Errors (Judicial): These are changes that affect the identity, civil status, or nationality of the person. These cannot be done at the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) and require a court order.

II. Administrative Correction (R.A. 9048 / R.A. 10172)

If the error in the name or middle initial is clearly typographical, the person can file a Petition for Correction of Clerical Error with the LCR of the place where the marriage was celebrated.

Requirements for Filing:

Certified True Copy of the Marriage Contract containing the error.
Supporting Documents showing the correct name/initial (e.g., Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, School Records (Form 137), Voter’s Certification, or Employment Records).
NBI and Police Clearance (required by R.A. 10172 to ensure the name change is not being used to evade criminal liability).
Affidavit of Publication: The petition must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.

Process:

Filing: File the petition and pay the filing fees at the LCR.
Examination: The City/Municipal Civil Registrar examines the documents.
Posting: The petition is posted in a conspicuous place for ten days.
Action: The Registrar grants or denies the petition.
Affirmation: If granted, the decision is sent to the Civil Registrar General (Philippine Statistics Authority) for affirmation.

III. Judicial Correction (Rule 108)

If the LCR denies the administrative petition, or if the change is so substantial that it involves changing the name to an entirely different one (not just a misspelling), a petition under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court must be filed in the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Adversarial Proceeding: Unlike the administrative process, this is a court case. The Civil Registrar and all persons who have a claim or interest in the matter must be made parties.
Proof: The petitioner must prove through "clear and convincing evidence" that the entry in the marriage contract is erroneous.
Judgment: If the court finds the petition meritorious, it will issue a decree ordering the LCR to make the necessary correction.

IV. The Middle Initial and the "Middle Name" Rule

In Philippine jurisprudence (specifically In re: Julian Lin Carulasan Wang), the middle name is typically the mother's maiden surname.

Common Error: A spouse may mistakenly use their maternal surname as a middle name in the marriage contract, or use the spouse's surname incorrectly.
Correction: If the middle initial in the marriage contract does not match the birth certificate, the birth certificate prevails. One cannot "choose" a middle initial; it must legally follow the maternal surname as recorded at birth.

V. Effects of the Correction

It is important to note that correcting a name or middle initial in a marriage contract does not create a new marriage.

Annotation: The original entry in the Civil Registry is not erased or whited out. Instead, an annotation is made on the margin of the document stating the corrected name and the authority (the LCR Resolution or Court Order) that allowed it.
PSA Copy: Once the LCR makes the correction, they must endorse the records to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) so that the "security paper" (SECPA) version of the marriage contract will reflect the annotation.

VI. Summary Table

Feature	Administrative (R.A. 9048/10172)	Judicial (Rule 108)
Where to File	Local Civil Registrar (LCR)	Regional Trial Court (RTC)
Type of Error	Typographical / Clerical	Substantial / Contentious
Cost	Relatively Low	High (Legal fees/Court fees)
Duration	3 to 6 months (typically)	1 to 2 years (or more)
Requirements	Direct evidence (Birth cert, etc.)	Trial, Witnesses, Publication