Chapter 1. Requisites of Marriage

Article 1. Marriage is a special contract of absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio. It is the foundation of the family and an absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio, except that absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code.

Art. 2. No marriage shall be valid, unless these absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio requisites are present:

(1) absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio of the contracting parties who must be a male and a female; and

(2) absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio in the presence of the solemnizing officer.

Art. 3. The absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio requisites of marriage are:

(1) Authority of the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio;

(2) A absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio except in the cases provided for in Chapter 2 of this Title; and

(3) A absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio which takes place with the appearance of the contracting parties before the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio and their absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio that they take each other as husband and wife in the presence of not less than absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio of legal age.

Art. 4. The absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio of any of the essential or formal requisites shall render the marriage absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio, except as stated in Article 35 (2).

A defect in any of the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio shall not affect the validity of the marriage but the party or parties responsible for the irregularity shall be civilly, criminally and administratively liable.

Art. 5. Any male or female of the age of absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio or upwards not under any of the impediments mentioned in Articles 37 and 38, may contract marriage.

Art. 6. absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio for the solemnization of the marriage is required. It shall be necessary, however, for the contracting parties to absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio before the solemnizing officer and declare in the presence of not less than two witnesses of legal age that they take each other as husband and wife. This declaration shall be contained in the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio which shall be signed by the contracting parties and their witnesses and attested by the solemnizing officer.

In case of a absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio, when the party at the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio is unable to sign the marriage certificate, it shall be sufficient for absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio to the marriage to write the name of said party, which fact shall be attested by the solemnizing officer.

Art. 7. Marriage may be solemnized by:

(1) Any incumbent member of the judiciary within the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio;

(2) Any priest, rabbi, imam, or minister of any church or religious sect absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio by his church or religious sect and registered with the civil registrar general, acting within the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio granted by his church or religious sect and provided that absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio belongs to the solemnizing officer's church or religious sect;

(3) Any absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio only in the case mentioned in Article 31;

(4) Any military commander of a unit to which a chaplain is assigned, in the absence of the latter, absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio, likewise only in the cases mentioned in Article 32;

(5) Any absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio in the case provided in Article 10.

Art. 8. The marriage shall be solemnized absence appear personally at least one of the contracting parties conjugal and family life Consent freely given consul-general, consul or vice-consul court's jurisdiction duly authorized during a military operation eighteen years essential essential requisites formal inviolable social institution Legal capacity limits of the written authority marriage ceremony marriage certificate marriage in articulo mortis marriage settlements No prescribed form or religious rite one of the witnesses open court permanent union personal declaration point of death publicly remote places ship captain or airplane chief solemnizing officer stipulation sworn statement two witnesses valid marriage license void ab initio in the chambers of the judge or in absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio, in the church, chapel or temple, or in the office the consul-general, consul or vice-consul, as the case may be, and not elsewhere, except in cases of marriages contracted on the absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio or in absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio in accordance with Article 29 of this Code, or where both of the parties request the solemnizing officer in writing in which case the marriage may be solemnized at a house or place designated by them in a absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio to that effect.absenceappear personallyat least one of the contracting partiesconjugal and family lifeConsent freely givenconsul-general, consul or vice-consulcourt's jurisdictionduly authorizedduring a military operationeighteen yearsessentialessential requisitesformalinviolable social institutionLegal capacitylimits of the written authoritymarriage ceremonymarriage certificatemarriage in articulo mortismarriage settlementsNo prescribed form or religious riteone of the witnessesopen courtpermanent unionpersonal declarationpoint of deathpubliclyremote placesship captain or airplane chiefsolemnizing officerstipulationsworn statementtwo witnessesvalid marriage licensevoid ab initio