Marriage - Marriages Exempt From License Requirement

Question 0

What is the reason of the exception from license requirement for parties living in far areas with no means of transportation?

Answer 0

Without this provision, illicit relationships may proliferate only because the parties could not get a marriage license with really no fault on their part.

Question 1

Exception: Muslims are governed by the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines

General rule?

Answer 1

Various ethnic groups in the Philippines and the contracting parties referred to in Chapter 2 (Marriages exempt from License Requirement) must comply with all other essential and formal requirements of marriage.

Question 2

How are Muslims and ethnic groups exempted from procuring a marriage license?

Answer 2

As long as the marriages were performed in accordance with their customs, rites and practices.

Question 3

What are the two distinct conditions for persons cohabiting for >5 years for them to qualify to the license requirement exception?

Answer 3

1. They must live as such for at least five years characterized by exclusivity and continuity that is unbroken.
2. They must be without legal impediment to marry each other at the time of the actual marriage celebration.

Legal impediment = any possible ground or basis under the FC to make a marriage infirm.