Just when you thought that the person you vowed to on your wedding day was the one you wanna spend your life forever- things go haywire after a few year and became problematic which can only be ended through an annulment.
But have you considered the costs of annulment in the Philippines and how torturous the process can be, also, paying a toll on your emotional and mental well-being? In this article we will give you a glimpse on how much does annulment really cost in the Philippines.
What is an Annulment?
An annulment is a legal process concluding a marriage null or void. A marriage is considered valid unless verdict as void by annulment.
Annulment of marriage can be filed if the marriage is valid and meets the conditions to be legally annulled.
Filing of declaration of nullity of marriage, on the other hand, is for marriages that are invalid or void right from the start due to certain conditions indicated even before the marriage happened.
Annulment of Marriage: What are the Grounds?
The following causes or circumstances present at the time of marriage are the grounds considered for annulment:
- absence of parental consent;
- unsound mind;
- consent was obtained by fraud;
- consent was obtained by force, intimidation, or undue influence;
- impotence; and
- sexually transmissible disease (STD).
Declaration of Nullity of Marriage: What are the Grounds?
On the other hand, the following are the grounds for declaration of nullity of marriage, making a marriage void from the start:
- one or both parties were below 18 years of age at the time of marriage;
- marriage was solemnized by someone who’s not legally authorized to perform marriage rites;
- no marriage license;
- bigamous or polygamous marriages;
- mistaken identity;
- subsequent marriages;
- psychological incapacity; and
- incestuous unions.
How Much Does Annulment Cost in the Philippines?
If the other party will not contest for the annulment, the approximate total cost of annulment ranges from ₱130,000+ to ₱725,000.
If instances prevail such as your spouse challenging the annulment, or if property or child custody are involved, annulment cost may hike up to a million pesos or even higher.
Below are the breakdown of annulment cost just in case you file for an annulment in the Philippines:
Approximate Lawyer’s Acceptance Fee: ₱100,000 to ₱600,000
If the lawyer’s handling the annulment case is more experienced and seasoned, they will charge more. As such, big firms also impose higher rate typically on a per-hour or fixed fee basis. Property, custody, and support issue, among others, will also add to the cost.
Approximate Psychological Evaluation Fees: ₱25,000 to ₱100,000
The professional fee, psychological report, and the appearance of the psychologist or psychiatrist as an expert witness were all included to the psychological evaluation. The psychological report cost ranges between ₱25,000 and ₱100,000.
Meanwhile, the professional fee and appearance fee differ depending on the venue of the case or the place where the annulment case was filed, this cost around ₱2,000 up to ₱10,000 per hearing.
Approximate Filing Fee: ₱4,000 to ₱5,000
Filing fee for annulment cases that don’t involve custody, property, or support cost around ₱2,800, Sheriff’s fee, who attend to the official summons, notices, and other court papers for the annulment case is included.
Approximate Miscellaneous Expenses: ₱10,000 to ₱20,000
Miscellaneous expenses’ coverage include additional professional fees, publication costs, regulatory costs, printing, mailing, transportation, and stenographic fees.
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Annulment process involves long period of time and hefty amount of money which can severely impact your finances especially if you don’t have that much of a fortune.
However, before it reach to the point of filing an annulment with your spouse, think hundred of times if the one you are going to marry will be the one you want to be with the rest of your life.
Think like it was a pre-made concept of building a foundation of your life, choose the appropriate materials to establish and to secure your future relationships.