The Cost of Marriage Annulment (and Declaration of Nullity) in the Philippines

Last updated: general guidance only; figures are indicative and vary widely by court, lawyer, and case complexity. This is not legal advice.

1) First things first: what process are we talking about?

Under Philippine law there are two distinct court actions that people often lump together as “annulment”:

Declaration of Nullity of Void Marriages — for marriages that were void from the start (e.g., lack of a marriage license in non-exempt cases; bigamy; incestuous/void marriages; psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code).
Annulment of Voidable Marriages — for marriages that were valid at the time of celebration but can be annulled due to specific defects (e.g., lack of parental consent for minors; vitiated consent due to fraud, force, or intimidation; sexually transmissible disease unknown to the other spouse and existing at the time of marriage; impotence; insanity).

Why this matters for cost: the grounds you use influence your evidence strategy (e.g., expert testimony), the number of hearings, and thus the budget.

2) What drives the total cost?

Professional fees (lawyer)
- Usually the largest component. Common structures:
  - Fixed/“package” fee covering drafting, filing, and a set number of hearings, plus out-of-pocket expenses billed as they arise.
  - Staggered/phase-based fees (pleadings and filing; pre-trial; trial; post-judgment).
  - Hourly rates (less common for family cases outside large firms).
- Factors that increase fees: complex facts, uncooperative spouse, witnesses living far from court, multiple continuances, appeals.
Third-party and case-related costs
- Psychological evaluation and expert testimony (often used for Article 36 cases; after recent jurisprudence, a formal clinical diagnosis is not strictly required, but many litigants still present psychologists/psychiatrists for clarity).
- Filing and court fees (paid to the Regional Trial Court, designated as a Family Court).
- Service of summons, sheriff’s and mailing fees (higher if the respondent is abroad or hard to locate).
- Transcript of stenographic notes (TSN) and photocopying (can grow with each hearing day).
- Notarial, special power of attorney, and document procurement (civil registry, PSA certificates, etc.).
- Travel/time costs (especially if the chosen venue is far from where you live/work).
- Post-judgment costs (Certificate of Finality, Entry of Judgment, annotation at the Local Civil Registry and PSA, and securing annotated copies).
- Possible appeal costs (if the case is elevated).
Scope creep
- Custody, support, protection orders, or property issues (although the status case is separate, real-world disputes often travel together, increasing appearances and paperwork).

3) Typical cost components and ballpark ranges

Important: Numbers below are conservative, Manila-centric estimates meant to help with budgeting—not quotations. Fees vary by city/municipality, court, counsel seniority, and evidence needs.

Cost item	What it covers	Typical range (PHP)
Lawyer’s acceptance + professional fees	Petition drafting, filing, pre-trial, a set number of trial dates, basic coordination	150,000 – 450,000+ (simple to moderately complex) 500,000 – 1,000,000+ (high-conflict/complex or large-firm)
Per-appearance fees (if not bundled)	Each hearing day or conference beyond what’s included	5,000 – 25,000+ per appearance
Psychological evaluation	Clinical interviews, testing, written report	25,000 – 100,000+
Expert testimony	Preparation, court appearance, wait time	10,000 – 40,000+ per hearing day
Court filing & legal research fund fees	Docket fees, sheriff’s/mailing, etc. (Family Court)	5,000 – 15,000+ (varies by venue and claim configuration)
Service of summons (special)	Substituted service or service abroad	Variable (can add 5,000 – 30,000+)
TSN (transcripts)	Stenographic notes per hearing day	1,500 – 5,000+ per hearing day
Document procurement	PSA certs, LCR docs, notarization, photocopying	2,000 – 10,000+ lifetime of case
Post-judgment annotation	Certificate of Finality, Entry of Judgment, PSA/LCR annotation, certified copies	2,000 – 8,000+
Miscellaneous	Courier, travel, opportunity cost	As incurred

VAT/Withholding: If your counsel is VAT-registered, expect 12% VAT on professional fees. Some law offices are non-VAT; clarify in the engagement letter.

4) Sample budget scenarios

Lean / straightforward (no contest, few settings, Article 36 with concise record): ~PHP 200,000 – 350,000 all-in (lawyer + typical disbursements), assuming minimal expert time and smooth scheduling.
Typical Metro Manila case (a few contested points, psychologist testifies, multiple settings due to resets): ~PHP 350,000 – 700,000 total over the life of the case.
Complex / high-conflict (multiple witnesses, respondent abroad/unknown, numerous continuances, or appeal): PHP 700,000 – 1,200,000+.

5) Timeline (and why time = money)

While every court differs, a practical window from filing to finality can range from ~12 to 36 months or more. Delays increase transcripts, appearance fees, and incidental costs. Variables include court congestion, availability of judges and stenographers, opposing counsel tactics, and witness scheduling.

6) How the legal rules shape cost

Mandatory parties and oversight: The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) (or the public prosecutor) must be furnished and often appears to ensure there’s no collusion. Coordination adds steps but protects the integrity of status cases.
Evidence strategy:
- Article 36 (psychological incapacity): After evolving jurisprudence, courts focus on incapacity as a legal concept, not simply a medical label. A clinical diagnosis is not strictly required, but clear, case-specific proof of gravity, juridical antecedence, and incurability is still crucial. Some litigants still use experts for clarity and persuasiveness—this is a major cost driver.
- Other grounds: Fraud, force, minority, impotence, STDs, or insanity may require medical records, witness testimony, or documentary corroboration, changing how many hearings you’ll need.
No mediation on status: The marital status itself isn’t subject to compromise. However, ancillary issues (custody, support, visitation) may still be settled, sometimes saving time and cost.

7) Venue, jurisdiction, and service—cost implications

Where to file: Regional Trial Courts designated as Family Courts, usually where the petitioner or the respondent resides. Filing in a convenient venue reduces travel and missed work.
Service of summons: If the respondent is overseas/unknown, expect special service steps (publication or other modes allowed by rules/court order), which increase costs and time.
Language and translation: If documents are foreign (e.g., prior marriage, immigration records), count authentication/apostille and translation expenses.

8) After you win: post-judgment expenses

A favorable Decision isn’t the end:

Wait for Certificate of Finality (no appeal within the reglementary period).
Secure Entry of Judgment and certified copies.
Process annotation with the Local Civil Registry and PSA (formerly NSO).
Update IDs/records if needed. (Budget a few thousand pesos and several office visits or courier fees.)

Church nullity (if you married in the Catholic Church) is a separate canonical process with its own fees and no civil effect by itself. Many couples do both, which adds to overall cost and timeline.

9) Practical ways to manage and predict costs

Get a written engagement letter. It should define the fee structure (fixed vs staged vs hourly), what’s included, appearance limits, billing for disbursements, VAT, and what triggers additional fees.
Ask about scheduling realities. How many settings does counsel expect? How are resets handled? Who pays for additional TSNs?
Decide early on experts. If using a psychologist/psychiatrist, nail down rates for the report and each court day (including wait time).
Organize documents. Clean, complete civil registry docs and well-prepared witness statements reduce surprises.
Beware of “guarantees.” No ethical lawyer can guarantee an outcome. Be cautious about ultra-low “package” offers that hide per-hearing add-ons or cut corners on evidence.
Tax clarity. Confirm whether 12% VAT applies and whether the quote is VAT-inclusive.

10) Can you lower costs?

Narrow the issues. Where possible, keep custody/support arrangements out of the main case via a clear side agreement (lawful and child-focused), so trial time centers on status evidence.
Choose a convenient venue (when rules allow), minimize travel and work absences.
Prepare witnesses. Fewer continuances = lower TSN and appearance costs.
Consider legal aid. If you meet means and merit standards, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) or IBP legal aid may help. Even with legal aid, expect out-of-pocket disbursements.

11) Checklist of likely cash outlays

Lawyer’s acceptance/retainer
Filing & sheriff/mailing fees
PSA documents & civil registry certificates
Psychological evaluation (if using Article 36 expert strategy)
Expert appearance fee(s)
TSN per hearing day
Courier/postage & photocopying
Post-judgment: CFI, Entry of Judgment, annotation fees, certified copies
Possible appeal bond/fees (only if case is appealed)
VAT (if applicable)

12) Bottom line

For planning purposes, many petitioners in Metro Manila set aside ~PHP 350,000 – 700,000 for a typical case over 1–2+ years, knowing it can land below (simple/uncontested) or above (complex/appealed). Outside Metro Manila, figures can be lower or similar depending on the court’s pace and local professional rates.

If you want, share your ground(s), where you plan to file, and any complexities (e.g., spouse abroad, prior cases, children/property issues). Based on that, a more tailored cost map and document prep list can be drafted for you.