Many Filipinos and people with connections to the Philippines wonder whether second cousins can legally marry here. Family traditions, religious teachings, or online discussions sometimes create confusion, leaving couples unsure about their options or worried about future complications with documents, children’s rights, or family acceptance. Under Philippine law, marriage between second cousins is valid and carries the same legal effects as any other marriage. This article explains the rules clearly, shows exactly how the law applies in practice, and gives you a complete, step-by-step path forward so you can proceed with confidence.

Is Marriage Between Second Cousins Allowed Under Philippine Law?

Yes. Second cousins fall outside the degrees of relationship that Philippine law prohibits. The prohibition on marriage between certain blood relatives stops at the fourth civil degree for collateral (side) relatives. Second cousins are related in the sixth civil degree, so no legal barrier exists on the ground of consanguinity.

This rule applies whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate and whether the parties are full-blood or half-blood relatives. Once you meet all the other requirements for marriage—age, consent, capacity, and proper solemnization—your marriage is fully valid under civil law.

Legal Basis: Articles 37 and 38 of the Family Code

The Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209, as amended) governs who may marry and which relationships are prohibited.

Article 37 declares certain marriages incestuous and void from the beginning:

Between ascendants and descendants of any degree (parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, etc.).
Between brothers and sisters, whether of the full or half blood.

Article 38 lists marriages that are void from the beginning for reasons of public policy. The key provision for cousins is paragraph (1):

“Between collateral blood relatives, whether legitimate or illegitimate, up to the fourth civil degree.”

This covers first cousins (fourth civil degree) but does not reach second cousins (sixth civil degree). Other paragraphs in Article 38 address step-relations and certain in-law relationships, none of which apply to second cousins by blood.

These rules have remained consistent since the Family Code took effect in 1988. No later Republic Act or Supreme Court decision has changed the fourth-degree cutoff for collateral blood relatives.

How Civil Degrees of Consanguinity Are Calculated

Philippine law uses a clear counting method for collateral relatives. You add the number of generations from one person up to the common ancestor and then down to the other person.

Here are common examples:

Siblings → 2nd civil degree (prohibited)
Uncle or aunt and nephew or niece → 3rd civil degree (prohibited)
First cousins → 4th civil degree (prohibited)
First cousins once removed (for example, you and your first cousin’s child) → 5th civil degree (allowed)
Second cousins (you and the child of your parent’s first cousin, sharing great-grandparents) → 6th civil degree (allowed)

Because second cousins sit at the sixth degree, the marriage is not among those declared void under Articles 37 or 38.

Practical Steps to Marry as Second Cousins

The process is exactly the same as for any other couple. No extra approval or special document is required because of your relationship.

Confirm your relationship and capacity. Trace your family lines using birth certificates if you are unsure of the exact degree. Gather proof that both of you are at least 18 years old, have no existing valid marriage (or that any prior marriage was properly terminated by death, annulment, or declaration of nullity), and are marrying of your own free will.
Prepare the required documents. See the detailed list below. If either of you is between 18 and below 21 years old, obtain written parental consent. If between 21 and below 25, obtain parental advice.
Apply for a marriage license at the Local Civil Registrar (LCR). File at the LCR of the city or municipality where either of you habitually resides. Submit the documents, pay the fee, and accomplish the application form under oath.
Attend the mandatory seminars. Complete the Pre-Marriage Orientation Course (usually run by the local social welfare office) and the family planning seminar (usually by the health office or POPCOM). These are short and required before the license is released.
Observe the 10-day posting period. The LCR posts a notice of your application. This gives the public a chance to object if there is a legal impediment (such as a prior undissolved marriage). Second-cousin status is not a ground for objection.
Claim your marriage license. Once the posting period ends with no valid objection and you have completed the seminars, the LCR issues the license. It is valid for 120 days from the date of issuance.
Solemnize the marriage. Choose an authorized solemnizing officer—a priest, minister, imam, or rabbi with proper authority and registration; a municipal or city judge; a ship captain or airplane chief under specific conditions; or a consul-general or consul abroad in certain cases. The ceremony can be civil or religious.
Register the marriage. The solemnizing officer is responsible for forwarding the marriage certificate to the LCR within the required period (typically 15 days). You can later request a copy from the LCR and, after processing, from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

If you have already lived together as husband and wife for at least five continuous years without any legal impediment during that time, you may qualify for the exemption under Article 34 of the Family Code and use a Joint Affidavit of Cohabitation instead of a marriage license.

Special Situations for Foreigners, Dual Citizens, and Couples Abroad

If one party is a foreign national marrying a Filipino:

The foreigner must present a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage issued by their embassy or consulate in the Philippines.
Any foreign document (divorce decree, birth certificate, etc.) generally needs an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or authentication by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Filipino party still needs a CENOMAR and other standard Philippine documents.
The second-cousin relationship creates no additional obstacle.

If both parties are Filipino citizens living or working abroad, you may marry where you are located provided the marriage is valid under the law of the place of celebration and neither of you has a legal impediment under Philippine law. After the wedding, report it to the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate so it can be registered and easily recognized when you return to or deal with Philippine authorities.

Dual citizens follow Philippine rules on capacity and impediments when marrying in the Philippines.

Common Challenges and How Couples Handle Them

Family opposition is the most frequent real-world difficulty. Some relatives believe any cousin marriage is forbidden or worry about social perception. In these cases, many couples share a clear explanation of Articles 37 and 38 together with a simple family tree. Professional family counseling or mediation through the barangay or a trusted third party can also help.

Local Civil Registrar staff almost never question second-cousin marriages because the relationship is beyond the prohibited degree. If any question arises, a short written explanation or copy of the relevant Family Code provisions usually resolves it.

Religious ceremonies are separate from the civil requirements. A valid civil marriage gives you all legal rights even without a church wedding. For Catholic couples, the 1983 Code of Canon Law does not prohibit marriage between second cousins; consult your parish priest to confirm any local practice.

Genetic considerations are personal. Second cousins share roughly 3.125% of their DNA on average. The added risk of certain recessive conditions is low and comparable to risks faced by many unrelated couples in various populations. Genetic counseling is available if you or your families have specific medical history concerns, but it is not a legal requirement.

Avoid fixers or “rush” services that promise shortcuts. These often produce invalid documents and can result in a marriage that courts later declare void, with serious consequences for property, children, and benefits.

Documents, Fees, and Typical Timelines

Core documents for both parties (originals plus photocopies):

PSA Birth Certificate (on SECPA security paper)
PSA CENOMAR (issued within the last six months)
Valid government-issued ID showing residential address
Current-year Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)
Barangay Certificate of Residency
Recent 1×1 or 2×2 ID photos
Accomplished marriage license application form

Age-specific additions:

Ages 18 to below 21: Written parental consent (parents or guardian appear in person or submit a notarized affidavit)
Ages 21 to below 25: Parental advice (parents or guardian sign the advice form or submit a notarized affidavit; unfavorable advice triggers a three-month waiting period before the license can issue)

Additional documents when applicable:

For widows/widowers: PSA Death Certificate of former spouse and annotated PSA marriage record
For previously annulled or nullified marriages: Annotated PSA marriage certificate, Certificate of Finality, and court decree
For foreign nationals: Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, valid passport, and authenticated supporting documents

Fees (approximate, varies by local government unit):

Marriage license application and related fees: ₱300–₱500
PSA documents: ₱150–₱500 each depending on delivery method
Seminars: usually free or nominal

Timelines:

Document preparation: several days to a few weeks (PSA requests can be done online or in person)
From application to license issuance: roughly 10–14 days (includes posting period and seminars)
License validity: 120 days
After solemnization: registration with the LCR is prompt; PSA copy usually available within one to two months

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal for second cousins to marry in the Philippines?
Yes. Second cousins are related in the sixth civil degree of consanguinity and fall outside the prohibitions in Articles 37 and 38 of the Family Code.

What civil degree of relationship do second cousins have?
They are in the sixth civil degree. The law prohibits collateral blood relatives only up to the fourth civil degree (first cousins).

Can second cousins have a Catholic church wedding?
In most cases yes. The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not list second cousins among the prohibited degrees of consanguinity. Speak with your parish priest or the diocesan chancery to confirm.

Will children born to second-cousin spouses be legitimate?
Yes. Children born of a valid marriage are legitimate and enjoy full rights to support, inheritance, and use of the parents’ surnames.

Do we need any special documents or extra approval because we are second cousins?
No. Submit the same documents as any other couple. The Local Civil Registrar processes your application under the standard rules.

What if our families object strongly?
Legal capacity to marry depends on the law, not family approval. Many couples in this situation proceed with a civil marriage after explaining the legal basis. Family counseling or mediation can sometimes ease tensions.

Can we marry abroad and have it recognized in the Philippines?
Yes, if the marriage is valid where it is celebrated and neither of you has a Philippine legal impediment. Register the marriage with the Philippine embassy or consulate for easier use of the documents back home.

Is there any difference in our property or inheritance rights compared with other married couples?
None. You will be governed by the same rules on absolute community of property (the default regime) or any prenuptial agreement you execute. A surviving spouse has the same inheritance rights as in any other valid marriage.

What if someone later questions the validity of our marriage?
A court would uphold the marriage. Being second cousins is not a ground for nullity under the Family Code.

Should we consider genetic counseling?
It is a personal choice. While there is a modestly elevated statistical risk compared with unrelated couples, many second-cousin couples have healthy children. A doctor or genetic counselor can give personalized information based on your family medical history.

Key Takeaways

Marriage between second cousins is legal in the Philippines because they are related in the sixth civil degree, beyond the fourth-degree limit set by Article 38(1) of the Family Code.
The process follows the ordinary marriage license route at the Local Civil Registrar with no added requirements or obstacles arising from the relationship.
Prepare standard documents, complete the required seminars, and observe the 10-day posting and 120-day license validity periods.
Foreign nationals or couples abroad face the usual authentication steps but encounter no extra barrier from the second-cousin relationship.
A properly solemnized and registered marriage gives you and your children full legal rights and protections under Philippine law.
Family or social concerns are common but do not affect legal validity; many couples successfully navigate these situations with clear information and support.

You now have the practical knowledge to move forward. If your specific circumstances involve prior marriages, foreign documents, or complex family trees, consulting a lawyer who practices family law in the relevant jurisdiction can give you tailored guidance on documentation and timing.