The Cost of Freedom: A 2025 Guide to Annulment Fees and Expenses in the Philippines
Prepared as of 11 May 2025. Figures and circular numbers reflect the latest publicly-available Supreme Court and Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) issuances in force on this date. Always check the court where you will file, because local clerks must implement any mid-year adjustments.
1. Why the numbers matter
Annulment (voidable marriages, Arts. 45 & 47, Family Code) and declaration of nullity (void marriages, Art. 35, etc.) are ordinary civil actions. Unlike an ex-parte correction or administrative divorce abroad, the petitioner shoulders every peso of litigation unless qualified as an indigent. Because these are personal actions, expenses are not recoverable from the other spouse even if you win – unless the court expressly awards them (rare).
2. Legal framework behind the fees
| Source | What it covers | Latest effectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 141, Secs. 6 & 7 (Revised Rules of Court) | Filing/docket fees, sheriff’s and mailing fees, mediation fund, LRF & JDF surcharges | Consolidated amendments up to A.M. 04-2-04-SC, A.M. 17-12-02-SC; incremental increases of 10 % on 01 July 2023 and another 10 % on 01 July 2024 (OCA Circ. 335-2022) |
| Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity & Annulment of Marriages (A.M. 02-11-10-SC) | Special procedure; still adopts Rule 141 fees | 15 March 2003 (no fee revision in the rule itself) |
| Rule on Indigency (Rule 141, Sec. 19) | Full or partial fee waiver | Updated poverty thresholds published by PSA (₱12,030–₱14,010 per capita/ mo. depending on region, 2024) |
| Administrative Circular 08-2023 | Judiciary e-Payment Service Fee (₱50 flat) when filing electronically | 15 January 2024 pilot, nationwide by Q4 2024 |
(Table included for quick reference; subsequent sections unpack each item.)
3. Core cost components in 2025
Court filing & docket fees
- Regional Trial Court (Family Court): ₱2,615 base + Legal Research Fund (1 %) + Judiciary Development Fund (₱300) + Victim Compensation Fund (₱20).
- 2024 escalation: apply the second 10 % OCA increase → ≈ ₱2,876 total entry docket as of 01 July 2024.
- Electronic payment add-on: ₱50 if you e-file.
Sheriff’s, mailing & process server fees
- ₱1,000 (deposit) covers service within NCR; add mileage at ₱6/km outside.
- Subpoenas to out-of-town witnesses, foreign service via DFA: budget ₱3,000–₱8,000.
Mandatory mediation fee
- ₱500 (Uniform Mediation Rules). Collected up-front.
Publication of summons (if spouse is abroad/unlocated)
- Two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.
- Metro Manila rates: ₱15,000–₱25,000. Provincial papers: ₱8,000–₱12,000.
Psychological evaluation
- Required only if you are alleging psychological incapacity (Art. 36), but many judges prefer it even for Art. 45 grounds to show good faith.
- Private clinical psychologists: ₱25,000–₱40,000 per party (one party usually suffices).
- Hospital-based centers or university clinics: ₱10,000–₱18,000; waiting list 2–4 months.
Attorney’s professional fees
- Fixed-fee packages: ₱120,000–₱180,000 inclusive of appearances (15–18 months average lifespan).
- Hourly billing: ₱3,000–₱6,000/hr; total bill typically ₱250,000–₱450,000 by judgment.
- Appearance/per-hearing scheme: ₱25,000 acceptance + ₱5,000–₱10,000 per setting.
Transcript of stenographic notes (TSN)
- ₱20/page (draft) + ₱4/page final; an annulment usually generates 250–350 pages → ₱6,000–₱10,000.
Incidental documentary charges
- PSA certificates (CENOMAR, marriage): ₱365 each online.
- Notarization & authentication: ₱150–₱300 per document or ₱3,000 for a batch apostille.
- Travel/hotel for out-of-town psychologists or parties: case-to-case.
4. How much should you budget? — Three scenarios
| Scenario | Low-end DIY + Limited Counsel | Mid-range Package | High-complexity Contested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing & court fees | ₱3,500 | ₱3,500 | ₱3,500 |
| Publication | – | ₱18,000 | ₱25,000 |
| Psychologist | ₱12,000 | ₱28,000 | ₱40,000 |
| Lawyer | ₱60,000 (limited retainer) | ₱150,000 | ₱350,000 |
| TSN & misc. | ₱8,000 | ₱10,000 | ₱15,000 |
| Total | ≈ ₱83 k | ≈ ₱210 k | ≈ ₱433 k |
(Figures are averages; VAT not included where applicable.)
5. Reducing or waiving fees
Affidavit of Indigency (Rule 141, Sec. 19). If your combined gross income (spouses included) does not exceed double the monthly poverty threshold – roughly ₱26,000–₱28,000 in Metro Manila for a family of four, 2024 basis – the clerk of court must accept the filing “pauper litigant” and waive:
- docket & filing fees
- mediation fee
- sheriff’s/mailing fees
- LRF/JDF surcharges
You still pay publication and psychologist unless you secure pro-bono assistance.
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). By policy, PAO handles annulments only when the petitioner is a victim of domestic violence or the case involves child support. Docket fees must still be advanced unless indigency is proven.
Law school legal aid clinics / IBP chapters. Carry limited caseloads, often free or at cost of out-of-pocket expenses.
6. Catholic Church (Canonical) annulment costs – if you need both
Civil annulment ends the marriage in the eyes of the State; a separate declaration of nullity by the Catholic diocesan tribunal is required to remarry in church. Typical canonical costs:
- Filing fee ₱10,000–₱15,000
- Tribunal processing ₱25,000–₱40,000 (payable in stages)
- Psychological report can sometimes be shared with the civil case to save cost. Many dioceses allow phased or even condoned payment where the petitioner is demonstrably poor.
7. Tax and asset considerations
- Litigation expenses are strictly personal and not deductible from income tax.
- Annulment does not automatically settle conjugal property. A separate petition for liquidation, partition, and distribution (Art. 50-51 Family Code) or a compromise agreement approved by the court may add an extra ₱50,000–₱150,000 to legal fees if assets are substantial.
8. Practical tips to keep your costs under control
- Draft a tight petition. Clear facts reduce hearings and transcripts.
- Agree on a fixed fee with milestone releases (prefers the client’s cash flow).
- Ask for hybrid hearings by videoconference (now routine under A.C. 37-2020) to slash travel and appearance fees.
- Use the same psychologist for both civil and canonical cases.
- Bundle publications. Some firms negotiate block rates with newspapers.
- Monitor the docket assiduously. One missed setting means another appearance fee and months of delay.
9. Bottom line for 2025
- Statutory fees, though periodically adjusted, remain a small fraction (≈ ₱3 k) of total out-of-pocket cost.
- Professional services, publication, and expert testimony account for 80 % – 90 % of what you will ultimately spend.
- A straightforward, uncontested petition with cooperative parties can be completed for under ₱100,000 if you qualify for indigency or negotiate minimal legal fees.
- A fully lawyer-driven, expert-heavy proceeding with overseas service of summons can easily exceed ₱400,000.
Always obtain a written fee agreement and insist on official receipts. Court clerks must issue an Official Receipt for every payment; psychologists and newspapers must provide BIR-accredited ORs as well.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized legal advice. Consult a Philippine lawyer to evaluate the specific facts of your case before taking any action.