Bottom line: A Catholic wedding does not guarantee civil validity. In the Philippines, a marriage is judged valid or void under the Family Code, regardless of the religious rite. Below is a practical, lawyerly guide to every ground, how courts analyze them, how to file, and what happens after a decree of nullity.

1) Void vs. Voidable: why the label matters

Void (ab initio): Treated as never having existed. You file a petition for declaration of absolute nullity. Effects retroact to the date of the wedding, subject to protections for good-faith spouses/children and third parties.
Voidable (annullable): Was valid until annulled; you file for annulment and grounds are narrower (e.g., lack of parental consent for 18–21 at the time, vitiated consent). This guide focuses on void marriages only.

2) Essentials and formalities the law requires (regardless of Church rite)

The Family Code imposes essential requisites and formal requisites. Absence (not mere defect) of any essential or formal requisite generally makes the marriage void.

Essential requisites (Art. 2):

Legal capacity of the parties (e.g., both at least 18 years old and not disqualified by a prior subsisting marriage or prohibited relationship); and
Consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer.

Formal requisites (Art. 3):

Authority of the solemnizing officer;
A valid marriage license (unless the law expressly exempts it); and
A marriage ceremony with personal appearance and the parties’ declaration that they take each other as husband and wife, in the presence of two witnesses of legal age.

A priest typically has authority under both Canon Law and civil law—but civil authority must in fact exist. If any essential requisite is absent, the marriage is void; if a formal requisite is absent, the marriage is void (with limited statutory exceptions). If a formal requisite is merely irregular, the marriage is generally valid but the officer/parties may incur liability.

3) The void grounds, clearly laid out

A. Age: below 18 at the time of the wedding

Absolute nullity—even with parental consent or Church permission.
A Catholic ceremony does not cure civil incapacity.

B. No authority in the solemnizing officer

If the priest (or minister/judge/consul) lacked civil authority at the time of the wedding, the marriage is void.
Nuance: Philippine law protects good-faith beliefs of the parties in some situations (producing “putative” effects for property/children), but lack of authority itself still renders the marriage civilly void.

C. No marriage license (when the law requires it)

Void if there was no license and no valid statutory exemption. Recognized exemptions include:
- Cohabitation for at least five (5) years by a man and woman without any legal impediment to marry each other (often called the five-year cohabitation or Article 34 marriage). Strictly proven.
- In articulo mortis marriages (at least one party at the point of death) under conditions set by law.
- Marriages in remote places where obtaining a license is impracticable, with specific factual showings.
- (Separate personal law may govern recognized Muslim and indigenous marriages under special statutes; ensure the correct regime applies.)
A Church dispensation cannot replace a civil license where one is required.

D. Bigamy/Polygamy: a prior subsisting marriage

If a spouse was still civilly married to another person when the Catholic wedding took place, the later marriage is void, unless the earlier bond was already validly terminated (final judgment of nullity/annulment) or the absent spouse had been judicially declared presumptively dead before the wedding (see next item).
Note: Bigamy may also entail criminal liability (separate from the civil case).

E. Subsequent marriage without a prior judicial declaration of presumptive death

A second marriage contracted on the belief that the first spouse is dead is void unless there was a prior court declaration of presumptive death obtained under the Family Code standards.

F. Psychological incapacity (Article 36)

A civil marriage is void if either party was, at the time of the celebration, psychologically incapacitated to assume the essential marital obligations—and that incapacity is grave, antecedent, and (legally) incurable.
Key developments in Supreme Court doctrine:
- Psychological incapacity is a legal concept—not a medical diagnosis.
- A clinical diagnosis is not indispensable; what matters is proof of the condition’s gravity, juridical antecedence, and incurability as it relates to essential marital duties (e.g., fidelity, mutual support, respect, partnership of life).
- Evidence can include testimony, documents, and credible expert or lay witnesses tying behaviors to incapacity existing before and at the time of the wedding.

G. Incestuous marriages (Article 37)

Void if between ascendants and descendants of any degree, and between full or half siblings.

H. Marriages void for reasons of public policy (Article 38)

Common examples:

Between collateral relatives up to the fourth civil degree (e.g., first cousins).
Between step-parent/step-child; parent-in-law/child-in-law; adopter/adoptee; surviving spouse and the adopter/adoptee of the deceased spouse; and other specifically listed relationships.

I. Absence of the marriage ceremony’s essentials

No personal appearance (e.g., proxy without legal basis), or no exchange of consent before the authorized officer and two witnesses—void.

4) “But it was a full Church wedding!” — Why that doesn’t save a void marriage

The State regulates civil status. A Catholic ceremony fulfills canonical form, but civil validity rests on the Family Code.
Examples that still void a Church wedding:
- Groom was 17;
- Bride’s prior civil marriage had no final decree yet;
- Parish priest’s civil authority had lapsed;
- No civil license and no valid exemption;
- Proven psychological incapacity that pre-dated the wedding.

5) How courts evaluate evidence

Documents: PSA/LCRO copies of the Certificate of Marriage, marriage license (or evidence of exemption), prior decrees (annulment/nullity), court orders on presumptive death, parish certifications on authority, baptismal/confirmation records (context, not determinative), and communications.
Testimonial evidence: Parties, relatives, friends, parish staff (on ceremony facts), and experts (clinical or non-clinical) for psychological incapacity.
Totality test: Courts weigh all circumstances to see if a statutory ground is clearly established. Mere marital incompatibility or infidelity—without the qualifying elements—does not automatically equal psychological incapacity.

6) Filing the case: step-by-step (Rule on Nullity/Annulment, A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC)

Cause of action: Petition for Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriage.
Venue: Generally where either party resides; special rules apply for overseas Filipinos.
Parties: The spouse, or in select instances interested parties (e.g., heirs) may sue; the State is represented by the Prosecutor (to guard against collusion).
Pleadings: Verified petition stating ultimate facts and attaching supporting documents.
Pre-trial & trial: Marking of exhibits, stipulations, and reception of evidence; collusion inquiry is mandatory.
Decision & entry of judgment: If granted, court issues a Decree of Absolute Nullity.
Registration: The decision and decree must be recorded with the Local Civil Registry where the marriage is registered, the Civil Registry of the parties’ places of birth, and the PSA to bind third parties.

You generally cannot remarry on the strength of a trial court decision alone; finality and proper civil registration are crucial.

7) Legal effects of a decree of absolute nullity

Civil status: Parties revert to single.
Children: As a rule, children from void marriages are illegitimate, but they retain rights to support and successional rights as provided by law. Paternity/filial relations remain subject to rules on acknowledgment.
Surnames: Children’s surname use follows the Civil Code/Family Code and subsequent statutes/jurisprudence on illegitimate children’s surnames.
Property:
- If the parties were both free to marry at the time of cohabitation, Article 147 applies: property acquired through their joint efforts is co-owned in equal shares, absent proof of unequal contributions; wages/salaries are exclusive to each earner until commingled; bad-faith spouse may be penalized in distribution.
- If either party was married to someone else, Article 148 applies: co-ownership is limited to proven actual contributions (no presumption of equal shares); stricter consequences for bad faith.
Criminal exposure: Bigamy, falsification, perjury, and related offenses are separate matters.

8) Practical proof tips (especially for Church-celebrated weddings)

Authority check: Obtain a parish certification of the officiant’s civil authority on the wedding date; corroborate with diocesan and civil records where appropriate.
License trail: Secure the marriage license from the issuing Local Civil Registry; if claiming an exemption, gather affidavits, barangay/local proofs, and any prior canonical paperwork (which may point to civil gaps).
Prior bond status: Collect final decisions and entry-of-judgment certifications, or proof of judicial presumptive death if applicable—mere separation or Church nullity is not enough for civil purposes.
Psychological incapacity: Build a coherent timeline showing antecedence (pre-wedding origins), gravity, and incurability as to essential marital obligations; align witness accounts and documents.

9) Common misconceptions—clarified

“A Church annulment makes my civil marriage void.” — Not necessarily. A canonical nullity affects Church status; civil nullity requires a civil court judgment under the Family Code.
“We didn’t get a license, but the Church married us so it’s fine.” — No. Without a civil license (and no valid exemption), the marriage is void.
“Infidelity alone = psychological incapacity.” — No. It must be part of a graver incapacity existing at the time of the wedding, not merely later misconduct.
“Separation annuls our marriage automatically.” — No. Only a court decree (and its proper civil registration) changes your civil status.

10) FAQs

Q: We married in Church while my prior civil case was “pending.” Is our second marriage valid? A: No. A pending case does not dissolve a prior marriage. Without a final civil decree before the second wedding (or a prior judicial presumptive death declaration), the second marriage is void.

Q: Our priest turned out not to be authorized. Are we completely unprotected? A: The marriage is void, but the law recognizes putative effects in good faith—helpful for property allocation and the status/rights of children. Good faith must be proven.

Q: Can we “fix” a void marriage by ratifying it? A: No. A void marriage cannot be ratified; the remedy is to secure a decree of nullity. If both are free to marry, you can marry again validly after finality and proper recording of the decree.

11) Checklist: Do any of these apply to your Catholic wedding?

Either party under 18 at the time
No civil authority of the officiant
No marriage license and no valid exemption
A prior subsisting marriage of either party
No judicial presumptive death before a subsequent marriage
Psychological incapacity (grave, antecedent, incurable as to essential marital duties)
Incestuous or public-policy-prohibited relationship
No personal appearance/consent before the officer and two witnesses

If you checked any, there is a credible void ground to assess with counsel.

12) Final notes

Civil consequences turn on documents, timelines, and statutory text, not on the religious form.
Coordinate early with counsel to craft the theory of the case, marshal primary records (PSA/LCRO, court decrees), and plan witness presentation—especially for psychological incapacity.
Ensure the final decree is registered with the civil registries and PSA; that is what regularizes your civil status and protects dealings with third parties.

This guide is for general information in the Philippine setting and is not a substitute for tailored legal advice on your specific facts.