LACK OF PARENTAL CONSENT OR PARENTAL ADVICE: EFFECT ON

VALIDITY OF MARRIAGE
By: Atty.Fred | August 17, 2009 in Annulment and Legal Separation
36 Replies

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I was 20 years old when I got married, but my parents didnt know that I was married. Is my marriage valid? A number of
discussions, through the comments in various posts, center on the validity of marriage without the knowledge or consent of
parents. Lets have a general discussion on this one.
Can I use parental consent and parental advice interchangeably? What are the differences?
No, parental consent and parental advice CANNOT be used interchangeably. Parental consent is required when either
or both of the contracting parties are between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21). Parental advice, on the other
hand, is required if either or both of the contracting parties is/are between the age of twenty-one (21) and twenty-five (25).
The parental consent or parental advice, as the case may be, is required during the application for a marriage license.
Similarities and other differences are discussed below.
What happens if parental consent is required, but not secured or given?
The marriage is voidable, subject to the filing of a petition for annulment. In other words, the marriage is valid until annulled.
There are two limitations:
1.

It could be filed only on behalf of the party who is between 18 and 21 at the time of marriage.

2.

The petition could no longer be filed after the concerned party reaches 21 and freely cohabited with the other, and
both lived together as husband and wife. The marriage is considered ratified if no petition is timely filed.

Could the parents give their consent to the marriage of their child who is below 18 years old?
The marriage of a person below 18 years of age, even with the consent of the parents, are void ab initio (void from the very
beginning). Capacity to marry of both parties is an essential requisite of marriage, the absence of which renders the
marriage null and void.
What

happens

if parental

advice is

required,

but

not

secured

or

given?

The validity of the marriage is not affected. If the parties do not obtain such advice, or if it be unfavorable, the marriage
license shall not be issued till after three (3) months following the completion of the publication of the application. If the
marriage license is issued before the lapse of this period, then the responsible parties shall be civilly, criminally and
administratively liable.
How is the parental consent given?
The applicants shall exhibit to the local civil registrar, during the application for a marriage license, the consent to their
marriage by their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order
mentioned. The consent may be: (1) manifested in writing by the interested party, who personally appears before the proper
local civil registrar; or (2) in the form of an affidavit made in the presence of two witnesses and attested before any official
authorized by law to administer oaths.
How is parental advice submitted during the application for marriage license?

A sworn statement by the contracting parties to the effect that such advice has been sought, together with the written advice
given, if any, shall be attached to the application for marriage license. Should the parents or guardian refuse to give any
advice, this fact shall be stated in the sworn statement.
The local registrar didnt issue a marriage license for lack of parental consent, but we found someone who could
marry us without a license. Our parents later learned of the marriage and gave their consent. Is our marriage valid?
No. A marriage solemnized without a valid marriage license is void from the beginning (unless it falls under the exceptions).
It doesnt matter if the parents gave their consent.

If you cant find the answers here, please refer to Part I, Part II, Part III or other related posts. You can check the Related
Posts at the bottom of each post. You can also use the Search function (also in the right sidebar).