How to Check the Status of an Annulment Case in Philippine Courts

Applies to petitions for declaration of nullity of marriage (void marriages) and annulment (voidable marriages) under the Family Code and the special rules of court. This is practical guidance, not a substitute for individualized legal advice.

Quick overview

Where is the case? In the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Family Court of the place that had jurisdiction when you filed.
Who can get updates? Primarily the parties and their lawyers. Family cases are confidential; expect ID checks and sometimes written authorizations.
What “status” looks like: Raffle → Summons/Answer → Preliminary steps (including prosecutor’s report against collusion) → Mediation/JDR → Pre-trial → Trial → Submitted for Decision → Decision → Appeal window → Final & executory → Civil registry/PSA annotation.

The authoritative sources of status (ranked)

Your counsel of record.
- Every order, notice, reset, and decision is served on counsel. Lawyers can check the physical and electronic case rollo, ask the Branch Clerk of Court (BCC), and obtain certified copies.
The Branch Clerk of Court / Court Staff (your case’s RTC branch).
- Bring: valid ID, the complete case title (e.g., Juan Dela Cruz v. Maria Santos), and the docket number (e.g., FC-R-12345).
- You can request: next hearing date, whether summons was served, if there are pending motions, if the case is archived, submitted for decision, decided, or on appeal.
- For copies: request certified true copies (CTCs) of orders or a Certificate of Case Status (fees apply).
Office of the Clerk of Court (OCC) of the RTC station.
- If you don’t know the exact branch, the OCC maintains the docket book and can tell you which branch your case went to after raffle, and whether it moved (e.g., consolidation, inhibition, re-raffle).
The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the OSG (for nullity/annulment cases).
- The City/Provincial Prosecutor often issues a report on absence of collusion; you can ask if it’s done.
- If the Republic (OSG) appealed or filed a comment, you or counsel can verify the OSG docket and whether the case is on appeal.
Court calendars and limited e-systems.
- Some courts post weekly hearing calendars or provide kiosks for basic case-status lookups. Treat these as informational only; the branch record controls.

Step-by-step: How to check your case

A. If you have a lawyer

Ask for the latest orders and the process flow to finality.
Confirm deadlines: reply/answer, pre-trial brief, judicial affidavits, formal offer of evidence, memoranda, and appeal periods.
Request a “case map”: a one-page timeline with what’s done, what’s pending, and who’s responsible.

B. If you are self-represented (or temporarily between lawyers)

Identify the exact case details
- Case title, RTC station and branch, docket number, and date filed. If unsure, go to the OCC with your ID and filing receipt.
Go to the correct office
- Before raffle → OCC.
- After raffle → Branch Clerk of Court of the assigned RTC branch.
Ask targeted questions
- “Has summons been served on respondent?”
- “Was the prosecutor’s collusion report submitted?”
- “When is pre-trial / next setting?”
- “Is the case submitted for decision? If yes, on what date?”
- “Has a decision been promulgated?” “Is there a motion for reconsideration or an appeal?”
Request documents (if needed)
- CTC of latest order/decision, or a Certificate of Case Status. Keep receipts; you’ll need them later for PSA annotation.

Understanding common status labels

For raffle / For re-raffle – awaiting assignment to a specific branch (or reassignment).
Awaiting return of summons – proof that the other party was served has not yet been filed.
With prosecutor for collusion report – mandatory step to ensure the case isn’t collusive.
For mediation/JDR – court-annexed settlement efforts (annulment itself can’t be compromised, but support/custody/property issues can be).
Pre-trial – issues are defined; failure to appear can have severe consequences.
Trial – presentation of petitioner’s evidence (often including psychologist), then respondent’s, then rebuttals, then formal offer of evidence.
Submitted for decision – evidence and memoranda are in; the judge is writing the decision.
Decided – the court has ruled. The appeal period (typically 15 days from receipt; watch for variations with motions and the Republic’s participation) starts running.
Final & executory – no appeal taken or appeal resolved; the court issues a Certificate of Finality (sometimes an Entry of Judgment).
Archived – case is put on hold (e.g., respondent can’t be served); it can be revived by motion once the obstacle is removed.
On appeal – records sent to the Court of Appeals; status checks shift to the appellate docket.

What “final” looks like (and why it matters)

To change civil-registry records and obtain PSA documents reflecting the result, you generally need to secure and then register:

Certified true copy of the Decision/Judgment;
Certificate of Finality (or Entry of Judgment);
Order/Decree directing annotation (if issued separately); and
Proof of payment and transmittal to:
- the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) where the marriage was recorded,
- the LCRs where any children’s birth certificates are recorded (if there are annotations to be made), and
- ultimately the PSA.

Until annotation is completed, PSA records and CENOMAR may still show you as married. Court victory ≠ immediate PSA update.

Typical documents you can ask the court for

Latest Order (e.g., setting/ resetting of hearing, pre-trial order)
Minutes (to confirm what happened at a hearing)
Prosecutor’s Collusion Report (filed in the case)
Decision and Notice of Judgment
Certificate of Finality / Entry of Judgment
Certificate of Case Status (useful for agencies or new counsel)

Bring exact case details and IDs; expect small fees per page plus certification.

Common roadblocks—and how to clear them

Unserved summons / whereabouts unknown
- Ask your lawyer about substituted service or service by publication, and the supporting diligence needed.
Archived case
- File a motion to revive once the reason for archiving (e.g., no service) is resolved.
No collusion report
- Follow up with the prosecutor’s office; ask the BCC if a reminder was already issued.
Case “stuck” after trial
- Verify if memoranda were required and filed; ask if the case is submitted for decision and since when.
Decision issued but no PSA change
- You (or counsel) must process registration/annotation with the LCR/PSA; courts do not automatically update PSA records.

Privacy & access rules (what to expect)

Family court records are confidential. The court may refuse to discuss details with non-parties.
If you need a representative to check for you, prepare a special power of attorney and include IDs.
Photocopying/CTC of sensitive documents may be limited to parties and counsel.

Practical timelines (illustrative only)

Filing → Raffle: a few days.
Summons & Prosecutor’s report: weeks to months (varies by service/location).
Pre-trial → Trial: multiple settings; resets are common.
Submitted for decision → Promulgation: months (varies by branch workload).
Finality → PSA annotation: weeks to months, depending on how promptly you process with the LCR/PSA.

Always track appeal periods; finality hinges on them.

Red flags & good practices

Avoid:

“Fixers” offering instant PSA updates or guaranteed outcomes.
Relying solely on informal calendars or hearsay.

Do:

Keep a binder (or digital folder) of every pleading, order, receipt, and registry proof.
Note hearing dates and deadlines in a calendar.
Use registered mail/courier tracking for filings and transmittals; keep proof.
If you change address or counsel, formally notify the court.

Sample scripts and templates

1) In-person inquiry at the Branch Clerk of Court

“Good morning. I’m the petitioner/respondent in [Case Title], RTC Branch [No.], Docket [No.]. May I kindly know the current status and the next setting? If possible, may I request a certified true copy of the latest order and a certificate of case status?”

2) Letter request for Certificate of Case Status

[Date]

The Hon. Presiding Judge
RTC [Station], Branch [No.]
[Address]

Thru: The Branch Clerk of Court

Re: Request for Certificate of Case Status
Case: [Case Title], [Docket No.]

I am the [petitioner/respondent] in the above case. I respectfully request a Certificate of Case Status for official purposes.
Attached are my valid ID and proof of party status. I am willing to pay applicable fees.

Respectfully,
[Name, signature, contact details]

3) Checklist for PSA Annotation After Finality

CTC of Decision/Judgment
Certificate of Finality / Entry of Judgment
Order directing annotation (if any)
Payment receipts (copy)
Transmit to LCR(s) → follow up → then to PSA → request updated PSA copies (Marriage Certificate; CENOMAR; Birth Certificates if annotated)

FAQs

Q: Can I check status by phone or email? A: Some branches will answer basic questions, but many require in-person or written requests and will limit details to parties/counsel.

Q: I lost my docket number. What now? A: Go to the OCC of the RTC where you filed with your ID and any filing receipt/affidavit. They can search by party names and date filed.

Q: The decision is favorable. Am I free to remarry? A: Not yet. Wait for finality and PSA annotation. Remarrying before the civil registry reflects the change risks bigamy charges and other complications.

Q: The other side or the Republic appealed. Where do I check status? A: Track the case in the Court of Appeals (via your counsel). The RTC can confirm elevation of records, but the CA controls status thereafter.

Key takeaways

Your lawyer and the RTC branch are the single source of truth.
Ask for specific procedural milestones, not just “kumusta na po ang case?”
Finality + Registration/Annotation is the finish line that changes your PSA records.
Keep everything organized, dated, and certified where needed.

If you’d like, tell me your RTC branch, docket number, and last known event; I can draft a tailored status-check plan and a to-do list for getting to finality and PSA annotation.