Finding out that a marriage may be void, invalid, or “illegal” is stressful because it affects almost everything: remarriage, children, property, inheritance, immigration papers, benefits, and PSA records. In the Philippines, the most important point is this: even if a marriage is void from the beginning, you usually still need a court judgment before you can safely remarry or correct your civil status records. This guide explains the legal grounds for void and illegal marriages in the Philippines, how they differ from annulment, what court process is usually involved, and what practical issues Filipinos and foreigners commonly face.

What “Void Marriage” Means in Philippine Law

A void marriage is treated by law as having no valid legal existence from the start. Lawyers often use the Latin phrase void ab initio, meaning “void from the beginning.”

But in real life, a void marriage can still appear in the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Local Civil Registrar (LCR), embassies, banks, employers, schools, and immigration agencies. That is why a person cannot simply say, “My marriage is void,” and act as single for all purposes.

Under Article 40 of the Family Code of the Philippines, the absolute nullity of a previous marriage may be invoked for purposes of remarriage only on the basis of a final judgment declaring that marriage void. (Lawphil)

This is one of the biggest mistakes people make: they believe that because the first marriage had no license, was bigamous, or involved a fake officiant, they can immediately marry someone else. That can create a second legal problem, including possible bigamy exposure under Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code. (Lawphil)

Void Marriage vs. Voidable Marriage vs. Illegal Marriage

These terms are often mixed up online, but they are different.

Term	Meaning	Usual court action	Example
Void marriage	Invalid from the beginning	Petition for declaration of absolute nullity	Bigamous marriage, no marriage license, incestuous marriage
Voidable marriage	Valid until annulled by the court	Petition for annulment	Marriage by a person aged 18 to below 21 without required parental consent
Illegal marriage	A marriage-related act punishable by criminal law	Criminal case, separate from civil nullity case	Bigamy, knowingly marrying despite a legal impediment

A void marriage is not automatically erased from the PSA record. A voidable marriage remains valid unless and until the court annuls it. An illegal marriage may involve criminal liability, but a criminal case alone does not usually produce the civil registry annotation needed to show that a marriage is void or annulled.

Basic Requisites of a Valid Marriage in the Philippines

The Family Code requires both essential requisites and formal requisites for a valid marriage.

The essential requisites are:

Legal capacity of the parties
Consent freely given in the presence of the solemnizing officer

The formal requisites are:

Authority of the solemnizing officer
A valid marriage license, unless the law provides an exception
A marriage ceremony where the parties personally appear before the solemnizing officer and declare that they take each other as husband and wife before at least two witnesses of legal age

These requirements are found in Articles 2 and 3 of the Family Code. Article 4 states that the absence of an essential or formal requisite generally renders the marriage void from the beginning. (Lawphil)

Legal Grounds for Void Marriages in the Philippines

The main grounds are found in Articles 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 52, and 53 of the Family Code, as amended.

1. One or Both Parties Were Below 18 Years Old

A marriage is void if contracted by any party below 18 years of age, even with parental consent. This is expressly stated in Article 35(1) of the Family Code. (Lawphil)

This is now reinforced by Republic Act No. 11596, or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law, which prohibits the practice of child marriage and imposes penalties for violations. (Lawphil)

In practical terms, a “marriage” involving a child can create several legal issues at once:

The marriage is void.
Adults who arranged, facilitated, or solemnized it may face criminal consequences.
Civil registry records may still need correction or annotation through the proper legal process.
If the marriage involved coercion, sexual abuse, trafficking, or exploitation, other criminal laws may also come into play.

2. The Solemnizing Officer Had No Legal Authority

A marriage is void if solemnized by a person not legally authorized to perform marriages, unless one or both parties believed in good faith that the person had authority. Article 35(2) covers this situation. (Lawphil)

Examples include:

A person pretending to be a judge, mayor, priest, pastor, imam, or consul
A minister whose authority was not valid for that ceremony
A ceremony conducted by someone whose authority had expired, been revoked, or never existed

The good-faith exception matters. If the couple honestly believed the solemnizing officer had authority, the marriage may not be void on that ground alone. Evidence may include church registration, authorization papers, communications before the wedding, receipts, photographs, and the marriage certificate.

3. No Valid Marriage License Was Issued

A marriage is void if solemnized without a marriage license, unless it falls under a legal exception. Article 35(3) of the Family Code provides this ground. (Lawphil)

Common real-life situations include:

A wedding ceremony happened before the license was issued.
The license was issued in a suspicious or irregular way.
The license number on the marriage certificate does not match LCR records.
The couple relied on an “arranged” license without personally applying.
The marriage certificate states a license existed, but the LCR has no record of it.

However, not all marriages require a license. The Family Code recognizes exceptions, including marriages in articulo mortis or at the point of death, certain remote-location marriages, marriages among Muslims or members of ethnic cultural communities solemnized according to customs, and marriages of a man and woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years without legal impediment. Articles 27 to 34 of the Family Code explain these exceptions. (Lawphil)

The five-year cohabitation exception is often misused. It does not apply if either party had a legal impediment during the five-year period, such as an existing marriage to someone else.

4. Bigamous or Polygamous Marriage

A marriage is void if one party was still legally married to someone else at the time of the later marriage, except in the narrow situation covered by Article 41 on presumptive death. Article 35(4) treats bigamous or polygamous marriages as void. (Lawphil)

This is different from saying, “We were already separated,” “My spouse abandoned me,” or “We have not spoken for 10 years.” Separation alone does not dissolve a marriage in the Philippines.

For remarriage based on an absent spouse, Article 41 requires a court proceeding for declaration of presumptive death before the later marriage. The general period is four consecutive years of absence, or two years in specific danger-of-death circumstances, plus a well-founded belief that the absent spouse is already dead. (Lawphil)

Bigamy also has a criminal side. Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code punishes a person who contracts a second or subsequent marriage before the former marriage has been legally dissolved, or before the absent spouse has been declared presumptively dead in the proper proceeding. (Lawphil)

5. Mistake as to the Identity of the Other Party

A marriage is void if one party married the other through a mistake as to the other person’s identity. This is Article 35(5). (Lawphil)

This ground is narrow. It does not usually cover disappointment about a spouse’s character, finances, employment, education, past relationships, or personality. It refers to a true mistake about who the person is.

6. Subsequent Marriage After Annulment or Nullity Without Proper Registration and Compliance

Article 35(6), in relation to Articles 52 and 53 of the Family Code, makes certain later marriages void if the former spouses remarry without complying with required recording and property-related steps after a judgment of annulment or nullity. (Lawphil)

Article 52 requires the recording of:

The judgment of annulment or absolute nullity
The partition and distribution of the spouses’ properties
The delivery of the children’s presumptive legitimes

If these requirements are not complied with, Article 53 says either former spouse’s later marriage shall be null and void. (Lawphil)

This is why the court decision is not the last step. The judgment must be properly registered with the civil registry, and the PSA record must be annotated.

7. Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36

Article 36 of the Family Code states that a marriage is void if, at the time of the celebration, either party was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations of marriage, even if the incapacity becomes manifest only after the wedding. (Lawphil)

This is one of the most commonly filed grounds in Philippine nullity cases, but it is also one of the most misunderstood.

Psychological incapacity does not simply mean:

“We are incompatible.”
“My spouse cheated.”
“My spouse is irresponsible.”
“We always fight.”
“My spouse refuses to support me.”
“We fell out of love.”

In Tan-Andal v. Andal, the Supreme Court clarified that psychological incapacity is a legal concept, not purely a medical one. It must be proven by clear and convincing evidence, and expert testimony is not automatically required. Ordinary witnesses who observed the spouse’s behavior before and during the marriage may be important. (Supreme Court E-Library)

In practice, courts look for a serious, enduring personality structure or pattern that makes a spouse truly unable—not merely unwilling—to understand and comply with essential marital obligations. Evidence may include testimony from relatives, friends, co-workers, doctors, counselors, rehabilitation records, police or barangay records, messages, financial records, and other documents showing the pattern.

8. Incestuous Marriages

Article 37 of the Family Code makes the following marriages incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:

Between ascendants and descendants of any degree
Between brothers and sisters, whether full blood or half blood

These are void regardless of consent, age, or whether the parties knew the exact legal consequence. (Lawphil)

9. Marriages Void for Public Policy

Article 38 lists marriages that are void for reasons of public policy. These include marriages between:

Collateral blood relatives up to the fourth civil degree
Step-parents and step-children
Parents-in-law and children-in-law
Adopting parent and adopted child
Certain surviving spouses and adopted family relations
Adopted children of the same adopter
Parties where one killed the spouse of either party with the intention to marry the other

These relationships are prohibited because the law protects family relations, adoption relationships, and public morality. (Lawphil)

What Counts as an “Illegal Marriage” in the Philippines?

The Revised Penal Code has a chapter on illegal marriages. The most important provisions are:

Revised Penal Code provision	What it penalizes
Article 349 – Bigamy	Contracting a second or later marriage before the first marriage is legally dissolved, or before a proper judgment of presumptive death
Article 350 – Marriage contracted against provisions of laws	Knowingly marrying despite non-compliance with legal requirements or a legal impediment
Article 351 – Premature marriages	Historically penalized certain marriages within a prohibited period after death, annulment, or dissolution
Article 352 – Performance of illegal marriage ceremony	Penalizes certain persons who perform or authorize an illegal marriage ceremony

Article 350 is especially important because it can apply even when the situation is not technically bigamy. It covers a person who knowingly contracts marriage despite legal requirements not being complied with or despite a legal impediment. (Lawphil)

A civil case for declaration of nullity and a criminal case for illegal marriage are different. A person may need a civil judgment to fix civil status and PSA records, while the State may separately prosecute criminal conduct if the facts support it.

Do You Still Need a Court Case If the Marriage Is Clearly Void?

For purposes of remarriage, yes. Article 40 of the Family Code requires a final judgment declaring the previous marriage void before its nullity can be invoked for remarriage. (Lawphil)

This means that even if the marriage seems obviously void—such as a no-license marriage, bigamous marriage, or marriage by a fake solemnizing officer—the safer legal path is to obtain a court judgment.

In ordinary life, the court judgment is also needed to:

Annotate the PSA marriage certificate
Update civil status for government records
Support immigration or embassy filings
Clarify property relations
Resolve custody and support issues
Protect inheritance rights
Avoid problems with a later marriage

Who May File a Petition for Declaration of Nullity?

Under the Supreme Court’s Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages, a petition for declaration of absolute nullity of a void marriage may be filed solely by the husband or the wife, and it is filed in the Family Court. The same rule states that the action or defense for declaration of absolute nullity does not prescribe. (Lawphil)

The “no prescription” rule is also reflected in Article 39 of the Family Code as amended by Republic Act No. 8533, which states that the action or defense for declaration of absolute nullity of a marriage shall not prescribe. (Supreme Court E-Library)

However, procedural standing can become complicated when heirs, a prior spouse, or third parties are affected. In recent decisions involving bigamous marriages, the Supreme Court has discussed when a spouse in a subsisting marriage may question a later marriage. (Lawphil)

Where to File a Nullity Case

Nullity and annulment cases are under the jurisdiction of the Family Courts, which are specially designated Regional Trial Courts. Republic Act No. 8369, the Family Courts Act of 1997, gives Family Courts jurisdiction over complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity of marriage, marital status, and property relations of spouses. (Lawphil)

Usually, the case is filed where the petitioner or respondent has resided for the required period under the procedural rules. For Filipinos abroad, venue and proof of residence must be planned carefully because courts will look at actual facts, not just a mailing address.

Step-by-Step Process for Declaring a Marriage Void

The exact process varies by court, judge, city, and facts, but a typical case follows this path.

1. Identify the Correct Legal Ground

The first step is to match the facts with the correct legal ground.

Examples:

No license: Article 35(3)
Prior existing marriage: Article 35(4), Article 40, Article 41
Psychological incapacity: Article 36
Incestuous relationship: Article 37
Prohibited relationship by public policy: Article 38
Subsequent marriage after failure to register prior decree: Articles 52 and 53

Choosing the wrong ground can weaken the case. For example, abandonment may support evidence of psychological incapacity in some situations, but abandonment by itself is not automatically a ground for nullity.

2. Gather Civil Registry Documents

Common documents include:

Document	Where usually obtained	Purpose
PSA marriage certificate	PSA	Proves the recorded marriage
LCR-certified marriage certificate	Local Civil Registrar where marriage was registered	Useful if PSA copy is unclear or delayed
PSA birth certificates of spouses	PSA	Proves age, identity, parentage
PSA CENOMAR or Advisory on Marriages	PSA	Shows recorded marriages
Marriage license or certification of no license	LCR that supposedly issued the license	Important for no-license cases
Death certificate of prior spouse, if relevant	PSA or LCR	Relevant to prior marriage issues
Prior court decrees	Court, LCR, PSA	Shows annulment, nullity, divorce recognition, or presumptive death

For foreigners, documents issued abroad may need apostille or consular authentication, depending on the country and document type. Foreign-language documents usually need certified English translation.

3. Prepare the Petition

The petition must allege the complete facts supporting the ground. For Article 36 psychological incapacity, the Supreme Court rule requires specific facts showing that one or both parties were psychologically incapacitated at the time of marriage, even if the incapacity appeared only later. Expert opinion need not be alleged in the petition. (Lawphil)

A good petition is factual, not just emotional. It should clearly state:

Date and place of marriage
Children, if any
Property issues, if any
The exact ground for nullity
Specific events, documents, and witnesses
Relief sought, including custody, support, property liquidation, and civil registry annotation when applicable

4. File in the Proper Family Court

The petition is filed in the Family Court with jurisdiction. Filing fees vary because they may depend on the reliefs included, property issues, and sheriff’s fees. If property partition is involved, costs can be higher.

5. Summons and Service on the Other Spouse

The respondent must be served with summons. This is a common bottleneck.

Problems often happen when:

The respondent lives abroad.
The respondent cannot be located.
The respondent avoids service.
The petitioner only has an old address.
The respondent is a foreigner with no Philippine address.

Courts may require substituted service, service by publication, or other modes depending on the facts and applicable rules. This can add months to the case.

6. Public Prosecutor and Collusion Investigation

In nullity and annulment cases, the State is involved because marriage affects public status, not just private feelings. Article 48 of the Family Code requires the prosecutor to appear for the State, prevent collusion, and ensure that evidence is not fabricated or suppressed. No judgment may be based merely on a stipulation of facts or confession of judgment. (Lawphil)

This means both spouses cannot simply agree to “cancel” the marriage. The court still needs evidence.

7. Pre-Trial, Trial, and Evidence

The case proceeds through pre-trial and trial. Evidence may include:

Testimony of the petitioner
Testimony of relatives, friends, or other witnesses
Psychological or psychiatric evaluation, where useful
Civil registry records
LCR certifications
Photos, messages, emails, affidavits, medical records, police or barangay records
Foreign judgments and laws, if the case involves a foreign divorce or foreign marriage

For Article 36 cases after Tan-Andal, expert testimony is not automatically required, but many litigants still use psychologists or psychiatrists when the facts need professional explanation. The practical question is not “Is an expert always required?” but “What evidence will clearly and convincingly prove the incapacity?”

8. Decision and Finality

If the court grants the petition, it issues a decision declaring the marriage null and void. But the decision is not yet the end. The judgment must become final and executory, usually after the appeal period lapses without an appeal or after appeals are resolved.

9. Registration With the Civil Registrar and PSA Annotation

After finality, the decree and supporting documents must be registered and transmitted properly so the PSA marriage record can be annotated.

The PSA’s guidance for annotation of annulment or declaration of nullity requires coordination with the Local Civil Registry Office where the Certificate of Marriage was registered. Supporting documents commonly include the court decree, certificate of finality, certificate of registration, certificate of authenticity, and the unannotated and annotated marriage certificates. (Philippine Statistics Authority)

This stage is a common bottleneck. A person may win in court but still have an unannotated PSA record because documents were not registered, forwarded, or processed correctly.

Practical Timelines and Bottlenecks

A straightforward nullity case may still take significant time. Contested cases, missing respondents, foreign documents, property issues, or psychological incapacity evidence can extend the process.

Stage	Practical timeline range	Common bottleneck
Document gathering	2 weeks to 3 months	Missing LCR records, foreign apostille, old marriage license records
Petition drafting and filing	2 weeks to 2 months	Incomplete facts, wrong venue, property issues
Summons/service	1 to 6+ months	Respondent abroad or cannot be located
Prosecutor/collusion stage	1 to 4 months	Court and prosecutor scheduling
Trial	6 months to 2+ years	Witness availability, postponements, court congestion
Decision and finality	2 to 6+ months	Appeal period, motions, delayed release
Registration and PSA annotation	2 to 6+ months	LCR-to-PSA transmission, incomplete certificates

These are not guaranteed timelines. Some cases move faster; others take years, especially in congested courts.

What Happens to Children, Property, and Inheritance?

Children

Article 54 of the Family Code states that children conceived or born before the judgment of annulment or absolute nullity under Article 36 becomes final and executory are considered legitimate. Children conceived or born of a subsequent marriage under Article 53 are likewise legitimate. (Lawphil)

For other types of void marriages, the legitimacy consequences can be more fact-specific. This is why the court decision should clearly address custody, support, and related issues when children are involved.

Property

The court may need to address liquidation, partition, and distribution of property. Article 50 requires the final judgment in proper cases to provide for liquidation, partition, distribution, custody and support of common children, and delivery of presumptive legitimes unless already handled in prior proceedings. (Lawphil)

Property issues are often the part that makes a nullity case longer and more expensive. Common problems include:

Real property titled in both names
A family home occupied by one spouse
Mortgage payments made during the relationship
Business assets acquired during the marriage
Vehicles, bank accounts, and investments
Property bought by a foreign spouse, subject to Philippine constitutional restrictions on land ownership

Inheritance and Benefits

Until the marriage is judicially declared void and the records are corrected, agencies and private institutions may still treat the recorded spouse as the legal spouse. This can affect:

SSS, GSIS, Pag-IBIG, and insurance benefits
Estate settlement
Bank claims
Hospital next-of-kin decisions
Immigration sponsorship
Pension or survivorship claims

Special Issues for Foreigners and Filipinos Abroad

Foreigners Marrying in the Philippines

Under Article 21 of the Family Code, a foreign citizen who wants to obtain a Philippine marriage license must submit a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage issued by the foreigner’s diplomatic or consular officials. Stateless persons or refugees may submit an affidavit showing capacity. (Lawphil)

In practice, some embassies no longer issue a traditional “legal capacity” certificate and instead provide an affidavit or equivalent document. The local civil registrar’s requirements should be checked carefully because documentary practice varies by nationality and locality.

Marriages Celebrated Abroad

Article 26 of the Family Code generally recognizes marriages solemnized abroad if valid where celebrated, but it excludes marriages prohibited under specific Philippine grounds such as underage marriage, bigamous or polygamous marriage, mistake as to identity, psychological incapacity, incestuous marriages, and marriages void by public policy. (Lawphil)

This matters for Filipinos who marry abroad and later try to use the foreign marriage in the Philippines.

Foreign Divorce and the Filipino Spouse

The Philippines generally has no absolute divorce for ordinary civil marriages between Filipinos. However, Article 26 provides that where a Filipino and a foreigner validly marry and a divorce is validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse, capacitating the foreigner to remarry, the Filipino spouse also has capacity to remarry under Philippine law. (Lawphil)

But the Filipino spouse usually still needs a Philippine court case for judicial recognition of foreign divorce before the PSA record can be annotated and before Philippine agencies will treat the Filipino as capacitated to remarry. PSA guidance states that the foreign divorce decree must first be filed for recognition in the Regional Trial Court, then registered with the proper LCR, and then used for annotation of the Certificate of Marriage. (Philippine Statistics Authority)

The Supreme Court in Republic v. Manalo recognized that Article 26 may apply even when the Filipino spouse initiated or participated in the foreign divorce, so long as the divorce validly capacitated the foreign spouse to remarry. (Lawphil)

Common Mistakes That Cause Serious Problems

Assuming a Void Marriage Does Not Need a Court Judgment

Even if a marriage is void from the beginning, Article 40 requires a final judgment before using that nullity for remarriage. Remarrying too soon can create civil and criminal consequences. (Lawphil)

Confusing Legal Separation With Annulment or Nullity

Legal separation allows spouses to live separately and may affect property relations, but it does not dissolve the marriage bond. A legally separated person is still not free to remarry.

Treating a Church Annulment as a Civil Annulment

A church annulment may matter for religious purposes, but it does not by itself change civil status under Philippine law. For PSA, civil registry, remarriage, and government purposes, a civil court judgment is required.

Relying Only on a Foreign Divorce Decree

A foreign divorce decree may be valid abroad, but Philippine civil status records usually require judicial recognition before PSA annotation.

Not Completing PSA Annotation

Winning the court case is not enough. Without registration and PSA annotation, the person may still appear married in PSA records.

Using the Wrong Ground

Many people call every failed marriage “psychological incapacity.” Courts require proof. If the real issue is no license, bigamy, minority, or lack of authority of the solemnizing officer, the case should be built around the correct ground.

Documents Usually Needed

Purpose	Common documents
Prove the marriage	PSA marriage certificate, LCR-certified true copy of marriage certificate
Prove identity and age	PSA birth certificates, passports, IDs
Prove prior marriages	PSA Advisory on Marriages, prior marriage certificates
Prove no license or license defect	LCR certification, marriage license records
Prove bigamy	Prior marriage certificate, proof prior marriage was still existing
Prove psychological incapacity	Witness statements, records of behavior, medical or rehab records, messages, psychological report if used
Prove foreign divorce	Foreign divorce decree, proof of finality, foreign law on divorce, apostille/authentication, certified translation
Register court judgment	Court decision, certificate of finality, certificate of registration, certificate of authenticity, annotated LCR copy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a void marriage automatically cancelled in the Philippines?

No. A void marriage may be invalid from the beginning as a matter of law, but the PSA record will not automatically disappear. For remarriage and civil registry purposes, a final court judgment and proper annotation are usually required.

Can I remarry if my first marriage had no marriage license?

Not immediately. A no-license marriage may be void under Article 35(3), but Article 40 requires a final judgment declaring the previous marriage void before you use that nullity for remarriage. (Lawphil)

Is bigamous marriage void in the Philippines?

Yes. A bigamous or polygamous marriage is void under Article 35(4), unless the narrow Article 41 presumptive-death process was properly followed before the later marriage. Bigamy may also be a crime under Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code. (Lawphil)

Is psychological incapacity the same as mental illness?

No. After Tan-Andal v. Andal, psychological incapacity is treated as a legal concept. It does not always require a medical diagnosis or expert testimony, although expert evidence may still help depending on the facts. The proof must be clear and convincing. (Supreme Court E-Library)

Can both spouses agree to have the marriage declared void?

They can both want the same result, but the court cannot grant nullity merely because they agree. Article 48 requires the prosecutor to guard against collusion and fabricated evidence, and no judgment may be based only on a stipulation of facts or confession of judgment. (Lawphil)

How long does a declaration of nullity case take?

Many cases take around one to three years, but timelines vary widely. Delays often come from service of summons, court congestion, prosecutor investigation, witness scheduling, foreign documents, property issues, and PSA annotation after the decision.

What happens to children if the marriage is declared void?

It depends on the ground. For Article 36 psychological incapacity, Article 54 states that children conceived or born before the judgment becomes final and executory are considered legitimate. The court may also resolve custody and support. (Lawphil)

Is a church annulment enough to remarry legally?

No. A church annulment affects religious status, not civil status. For civil remarriage, PSA records, and government recognition, a civil court judgment and proper civil registry annotation are required.

Can a Filipino use a foreign divorce to remarry in the Philippines?

In a Filipino-foreigner marriage, Article 26 may allow the Filipino spouse to remarry if a valid foreign divorce capacitated the foreign spouse to remarry. However, the foreign divorce usually must first be judicially recognized by a Philippine court and annotated through the LCR and PSA. (Lawphil)

What if my PSA record still shows I am married after the court decision?

The court decision may not yet have been registered or transmitted properly. PSA guidance points to the LCR where the marriage was registered and the supporting documents needed for annotation, including the court decree, certificate of finality, certificate of registration, certificate of authenticity, and relevant marriage certificate copies. (Philippine Statistics Authority)

Key Takeaways

A void marriage is invalid from the beginning, but it usually still needs a court judgment for remarriage and PSA annotation.
The main grounds for void marriages are found in Articles 35, 36, 37, and 38 of the Family Code.
Bigamous marriages are void and may also create criminal liability under Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code.
Psychological incapacity under Article 36 is not simple incompatibility; after Tan-Andal, it must be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
A civil nullity case is different from a criminal case for illegal marriage.
A court decision is not the final practical step; registration with the LCR and annotation with PSA are essential.
Foreign divorces involving Filipino spouses generally require judicial recognition in the Philippines before PSA annotation and remarriage.
Property, custody, support, legitimacy, inheritance, and benefits should be addressed carefully because civil status affects many parts of life.