Professional Documents
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Family Relations Questions Bar 2011 To 2008
Family Relations Questions Bar 2011 To 2008
After one month, Lily discovered that while Rene presented himself as a macho man he was actually gay. He would not go to bed with her. He kept obscene magazines of nude men and always sought the company of handsome boys. What legal remedy does Lily have? (A) She can file an action for annulment of marriage on ground of fraud. (B) She can seek a declaration of nullity of the marriage based on Renes psychological incapacity. (C) She can go abroad and file for divorce in a country that can grant it. (D) She has none since she had the opportunity to examine the goods and freely entered into the marriage. Manuel came to Manila and married Marianne. Unknown to Marianne, Manuel had been previously convicted in Palawan of theft and served time for it. After Marianne learned of his previous conviction, she stopped living with him. Can Marianne seek the annulment of the marriage based on Manuels nondisclosure of his previous crime? (A) No, since the assumption is that marriage forgives all past wrongs. (B) Yes, since the non-disclosure of that crime is the equivalent of fraud, which is a ground for annulment. (C) No, in case of doubt, the law must be construed to preserve the institution of marriage. (D) No, since Manuel already served the penalty for his crime. Arthur and Helen, both Filipinos, got married and had 2 children. Arthur later worked in Rome where he acquired Italian citizenship. He got a divorce from Helen in Rome but, on returning to the Philippines, he realized his mistake, asked forgiveness of his wife, and resumed living with her. They had 2 more children. What is the status of their 4 children? (A) The children born before the divorce are legitimate but those born after it are not since Arthur got the divorce when he had ceased to be a Filipino. (B) The divorce rendered illegitimate the children born before it since the marriage that begot them had been nullified. (C) The children born before and after the divorce are all legitimate since Philippine law does not recognize divorce. (D) All the children are legitimate since they were born of the same father and mother.
X and Y, although not suffering from any impediment, cohabited as husband and wife without the benefit of marriage. Following the birth of their child, the couple got married. A year after, however, the court annulled the marriage and issued a decree of annulment. What is the present status of the child? (A) Legitimated. (B) Illegitimate. (C) Natural child. (D) Legitimate. When A and B married, they chose conjugal partnership of gains to govern their property relations. After 3 years, B succeeded in getting her marriage to A annulled on ground of the latters psychological incapacity. What liquidation procedure will they follow in disposing of their assets? (A) They will follow the rule governing the liquidation of a conjugal partnership of gains where the party who acted in bad faith forfeits his share in the net profits. (B) Since the marriage has been declared void, the rule for liquidation of absolute community of property shall be followed. (C) The liquidation of a co-ownership applies since the annulment brought their property relation under the chapter on property regimes without marriage. (D) The law on liquidation of partnerships applies. X and Y agreed verbally before their marriage (a) on the paternity of the illegitimate child of Y and (b) on the economic regime that will govern X and Ys property relations. Is the verbal agreement valid? (A) No, because a marriage settlement to be valid should be in writing. (B) Yes, since ante-nuptial agreements need not be in writing. (C) No, because a marriage settlement cannot include an agreement on the paternity of an illegitimate child. (D) Yes, since even if it is not a valid marriage settlement, it is a valid verbal contract.
(27) Fidel, a Filipino with fair complexion, married Gloria. Before the marriage, Gloria confessed to Fidel that she was two-month pregnant with the child of a black African who had left the country for good. When the child was born, Fidel could not accept it being too black in complexion. What is the status of the child? (A) Illegitimate, because Gloria confessed that the child is not Fidels. (B) Illegitimate, because by the color of its skin, the child could not possibly be that of Fidel. (C) Legitimate, because the child was born within a valid marriage. (D) Legitimate, because Fidel agreed to treat the child as his own after Gloria told him who the father was. The husbands acts of forcibly ejecting his wife without just cause from the conjugal dwelling and refusing to take her back constitutes (A) desertion. (B) recrimination. (C) constructive abandonment. (D) de facto separation. X and Y, both Filipinos, were married and resided in Spain although they intend to return to the Philippines at some future time. They have not executed any marriage settlements. What law governs their property relations? (A) They may choose between Spanish law and Philippine law. (B) Philippine law since they are both Filipinos. (C) No regime of property relations will apply to them. (D) Spanish law since they live in Spain. Illegitimate children, those not recognized by their biological fathers, shall use the surname of their (A) biological father subject to no condition. (B) mother or biological father, at the mothers discretion. (C) mother. (D) biological father unless he judicially opposes it.
A left B, his wife, in the Philippines to work in Egypt but died in that country after a years continuous stay. Two months after As death, B gave birth to a child, claiming it is As child. Who can assail the legitimacy of the child? (A) As other heirs apart from B. (B) The State which has interest in the welfare of overseas contract workers. (C) Any one who is outraged by Bs claim. (D) No one since A died. QR and TS who had a marriage license requested a newly appointed Judge in Manila to marry them on the beach of Boracay. Since the Judge maintained Boracay as his residence, he agreed. The sponsors were all public officials. What is the status of the marriage. (A) Valid, since the improper venue is merely an irregularity; all the elements of a valid marriage are present. (B) Void, because the couple did not get local permit for a beach wedding. (C) Voidable, because the Judge acted beyond his territorial jurisdiction and is administratively liable for the same. (D) Void, because the Judge did not solemnize the marriage within the premises of his court. X and Y, Filipinos, got married in Los Angeles, USA, using a marriage license issued by the Philippine consul in Los Angeles, acting as Civil Registrar. X and Y did not know that they were first cousins because their mothers, who were sisters, were separated when they were quite young. Since X did not want to continue with the relation when he heard of it, he left Y, came to the Philippines and married Z. Can X be held liable for bigamy? (A) No since Xs marriage to Y is void ab initio or did not exist. (B) No since X acted in good faith, conscious that public policy did not approve of marriage between first cousins. (C) Yes since he married Z without first securing a judicial declaration of nullity of his marriage to Y. (D) Yes since his first marriage to Y in Los Angeles is valid.
The wife filed a case of legal separation against her husband on the ground of sexual infidelity without previously exerting earnest efforts to come to a compromise with him. The judge dismissed the case for having been filed without complying with a condition precedent. Is the dismissal proper? (A) No, efforts at a compromise will only deepen the wifes anguish. (B) No, since legal separation like validity of marriage is not subject to compromise agreement for purposes of filing. (C) Yes, to avoid a family feud that is hurtful to everyone. (D) Yes, since the dispute could have been settled with the parties agreeing to legal separation. Baldo, a rejected suitor, intimidated Judy into marrying him. While she wanted to question the validity of their marriage two years after the intimidation ceased, Judy decided in the meantime to freely cohabit with Baldo. After more than 5 years following their wedding, Judy wants to file a case for annulment of marriage against Baldo on ground of lack of consent. Will her action prosper? (A) Yes, the action for annulment is imprescriptible. (B) No, since the marriage was merely voidable and Judy ratified it by freely cohabiting with Baldo after the force and intimidation had ceased . (C) No, since the action prescribed 5 years from the date of the celebration of the marriage. (D) Yes, because the marriage was celebrated without Judy's consent freely given. Is the wife who leaves her husband without just cause entitled to support? (A) No, because the wife must always be submissive and respectful to the husband. (B) Yes. The marriage not having been dissolved, the husband continues to have an obligation to support his wife. (C) No, because in leaving the conjugal home without just cause, she forfeits her right to support. (D) Yes, since the right to receive support is not subject to any condition.
Ric and Josie, Filipinos, have been sweethearts for 5 years. While working in a European country where the execution of joint wills are allowed, the two of them executed a joint holographic will where they named each other as sole heir of the other in case either of them dies. Unfortunately, Ric died a year later. Can Josie have the joint will successfully probated in the Philippines? (A) Yes, in the highest interest of comity of nations and to honor the wishes of the deceased. (B) No, since Philippine law prohibits the execution of joint wills and such law is binding on Ric and Josie even abroad. (C) Yes, since they executed their joint will out of mutual love and care, values that the generally accepted principles of international law accepts. (D) Yes, since it is valid in the country where it was executed, applying the principle of "lex loci celebrationis." While engaged to be married, Arnold and Josephine agreed in a public instrument to adopt out the economic regime of absolute community of property. Arnold acknowledged in the same instrument that Josephines daughter Mary, is his illegitimate child. But Josephine died before the marriage could take place. Does the marriage settlement have any significance? (A) None, since the instrument containing the marriage settlement is essentially void for containing an unrelated matter. (B) Yes, insofar as Arnold acknowledged Mary as his illegitimate child. (C) None, since the marriage did not take place. (D) Yes, if they acquired properties while living together as husband and wife. Joseph, a 17-year old Filipino, married Jenny, a 21-year old American in Illinois, USA, where the marriage was valid. Their parents gave full consent to the marriage of their children. After three years, Joseph filed a petition in the USA to promptly divorce Jenny and this was granted. When Joseph turned 25 years, he returned to the Philippines and married Leonora. What is the status of this second marriage? (A) Void, because he did not cause the judicial issuance of declaration of the nullity of his first marriage to Jenny before marrying Leonora. (B) Valid, because Joseph's marriage to Jenny is void, he being only 17 years of age when he married her. (C) Valid, because his marriage to Leonora has all the elements of a valid marriage. (D) Void, because Joseph is still considered married to Jenny since the Philippines does not recognize divorce.
No decree of legal separation can be issued (A) unless the childrens welfare is attended to first. (B) without prior efforts at reconciliation shown to be futile. (C) unless the court first directs mediation of the parties. (D) without prior investigation conducted by a public prosecutor. Josie, 18, married Dante, 25, without her parents knowledge and consent, and lived with him. After a year, Josie returned to her parents home, complained of the unbearable battering she was getting from Dante, and expressed a desire to have her marriage with him annulled. Who may bring the action? (A) Dante. (B) Her parents. (C) Josie herself. (D) The State. X, a married man, cohabited with Y, an unmarried woman. Their relation bore them BB, a baby boy. Subsequently, after X became a widower, he married Y. Was BB legitimated by that marriage? (A) Yes, since his parents are now lawfully married. (B) Yes, since he is an innocent party and the marriage rectified the wrong done him. (C) No, since once illegitimate, a child shall always remain illegitimate. (D) No, since his parents were not qualified to marry each other when he was conceived. Conrad and Linda, both 20 years old, applied for a marriage license, making it appear that they were over 25. They married without their parents knowledge before an unsuspecting judge. After the couple has been in cohabitation for 6 years, Lindas parents filed an action to annul the marriage on ground of lack of parental consent. Will the case prosper? (A) No, since only the couple can question the validity of their marriage after they became 21 of age; their cohabitation also convalidated the marriage. (B) No, since Lindas parents made no allegations that earnest efforts have been made to come to a compromise with Conrad and Linda and which efforts failed. (C) Yes, since the marriage is voidable, the couple being below 21 years of age when they married.
(D) Yes, since Lindas parents never gave their consent to the marriage. The Family code of the Philippines is a. b. c. d. Executive Order no. 209 Republic Act no. 290 Executive Order no. 116 Republic Act no. 161
The absence of any of the essential and formal requisites of marriage shall render it a. Void with respect to the essential and voidable with respect to the formal b. Voidable with respect to the essential and void with respect to the formal c. d. Both voidable Both void
Except in marriages where no license is required, it shall be issued by the local civil register of the city or municipality, a. b. c. d. Where both parties habitually resides Where either parties resides Where the male resides Where the female resides
Marriages between Filipino citizens abroad may be solemnized by a. b. c. d. Ambassador Charge de affairs Vice-consul None of the above
No license shall be necessary for a marriage of a man and a woman who have lived together as husband and wife for a. b. c. d. Not more than five years At least five years Not more than eight years Al least eight years
What marriage is void from the beginning, among the choices a. The consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or undue influence b. c. The consent of either party is obtained by fraud Mistake of one contracting party as to the identity of the other
b. c. d.
By provisions of the Family code By the local customs All of the above
d. Concealment by the wife of the fact that at the time of the marriage, she was pregnant by a man other than the husband What constitutes fraud as a ground for annulment of marriage? a. Concealment of previous marital status
H and W are husband and wife. Without any justifiable cause, W abandoned the conjugal home. Can H ask a competent court to order W to return to the conjugal home? a. b. c. d. Yes, because it is the obligation of the husband and wife to live together Yes, because it is within the competence of the court to order Ws return No, because specific performance is not a remedy to personal obligation No, because W already abandoned their home.
b. Non-disclosure of a previous conviction by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude c. d. Concealment of physical incapacity to consummate the marriage Misrepresentation or deceit as to character, fortune or chastity
In a marriage in a remote place, a. b. c. d. Public solemnization is not needed It must be made in accordance with their customs There is no need for a solemnizing officer A marriage license is required
A petition for legal separation may be filed on the ground of a. b. c. d. Psychological incapacity Impotency Non-attainment of legal age at the time of marriage Sexual infidelity
An action for legal separation shall be filed a. b. c. d. Within five years from marriage Within five years from the time of the occurrence of the cause Within five years after the cooling off period After five years from the time of marriage
It is the condition of a person who does not have the mind, will, and heart for the performance of marriage obligations. a. b. c. d. Diriment impediments Psychological illness Sexual infidelity Psychological incapacity
A decree of legal separation shall be based on a. b. c. d. Stipulation of facts Confession of judgment Presentation of evidence Allegations on the complaint
What is the correct rule in matters of absolute divorce a. b. c. d. If the action is brought here in the Philippines between Filipinos it will prosper If the action is brought here in the Philippines between a Filipino and a foreigner it will prosper If the action is brought here in the Philippines between foreigners it will not prosper If the action is brought in a foreign court between Filipinos it will be recognized in the Philippines.
The property relations between the husband and wife shall be governed by a. By marriage settlement
May the court issue a decree of legal separation based upon facts stipulated by the spouses? a. b. c. d. No, if the decree is based solely on the stipulation of facts Yes, if there be other evidence of the existence of a ground for legal separation All of the above None of the above
The marriage of B and G was, two years later, declared null and void due to the absence of a marriage license. Is Venus legitimate, illegitimate, or legitimated? Explain briefly. (3%)
2.
The spouses Peter and Paula had three (3) children. Paula later obtained a judgment of nullity of marriage. Their absolute community of property having been dissolved, they delivered P1 million to each of their 3 children as their presumptive legitimes. Peter later re-married and had two (2) children by his second wife Marie. Peter and Marie, having successfully engaged in business, acquired real properties. Peter later died intestate. What is the effect of the receipt by Peters 3 children by his first mar riage of their presumptive legitimes on their right to inherit following Peters death? (5%)
In an action based on a breach of promise to marry, what is the right of the aggrieved party in case there has been carnal knowledge? a. b. c. d. The aggrieved party cannot demand for support Sue for moral damages, if it was due to mutual lust Sue for actual damages, should there be expenses incurred An action for actual and moral damages may be filed 3.
True or False. a. Under Article 26 of the Family Code, when a foreign spouse divorces his/her Filipino spouse, the latter may re-marry by proving only that the foreign spouse has obtained a divorce against her or him abroad. A dead child can be legitimated. If a man commits several acts of sexual infidelity, particularly in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, the prescriptive period to file for legal separation runs from 2002. The day after John and Marsha got married, John told her that he was impotent. Marsha continued to live with John for 2 years. Marsha is now estopped from filing an annulment case against John. Amor gave birth to Thelma when she was 15 years old. Thereafter, Amor met David and they got married when she was 20 years old. David had a son, Julian, with his ex-girlfriend Sandra. Julian and Thelma can get married.
Harry married Wilma, a very wealthy woman. Barely five (5) years into the marriage, Wilma fell in love with Joseph. Thus, Wilma went to a small country in Europe, became a naturalized citizen of that country, divorced Harry, and married Joseph. A year thereafter, Wilma and Joseph returned and established permanent residence in the Philippines. a. b. c. Is the divorce obtained by Wilma from Harry recognized in the Philippines? Explain your answer. (3%) If Harry hires you as his lawyer, what legal recourse would you advise him to take? Why? (2%) Harry tells you that he has fallen in love with another woman, Elizabeth, and wants to marry her because, after all, Wilma is already married to Joseph. Can Harry legally marry Elizabeth? Explain. (2%)
b. c.
d.
4.
e.
Essay
1. In 1997, B and G started living together without the benefit of marriage. The relationship produced one offspring, Venus. The couple acquired a residential lot in Paraaque. After four (4) years or in 2001, G having completed her 4-year college degree as a fulltime student, she and B contracted marriage without a license.
Emmanuel and Margarita, American citizens and employees of the U.S. State Department, got married in the African state of Kenya where sterility is a ground for annulment of marriage. Thereafter, the spouses were assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Manila. On the first year of the spouses tour of duty in the Philippines, Margarita filed an annulment case against Emmanuel before a Philippine court on the ground of her husbands sterility at the time of the celebration of the marriage. a. b. Will the suit prosper? Explain your answer. (3%) Assume Emmanuel and Margarita are both Filipinos. After their wedding in Kenya, they come back and take up residence in the
Philippines. Can their marriage be annulled on the ground of Emmanuels sterility? Explain. (3%) 5. Ana Rivera had a husband, a Filipino citizen like her, who was among the passengers on board a commercial jet plane which crashed in the Atlantic Ocean ten (10) years earlier and had never been heard of ever since. Believing that her husband had died, Ana married Adolf Cruz Staedtler, a divorced German national born of a German father and a Filipino mother residing in Stuttgart. To avoid being required to submit the required certificate of capacity to marry from the German Embassy in Manila, Adolf stated in the application for marriage license that he was a Filipino citizen. With the marriage license stating that Adolf was a Filipino, the couple got married in a ceremony officiated by the Parish Priest of Calamba, Laguna in a beach in Nasugbu, Batangas, as the local parish priest refused to solemnize marriages except in his church. a. 6. Is the marriage valid? Explain fully. (5%)
attended to Sandy's birth. All the children, including Amy, now live with Andrew in his house. a. 8. Can Jon and Jane legally marry? (1%)
Saul, a married man, had an adulterous relation with Tessie. In one of the trysts, Saul's wife, Cecile, caught them in flagrante. Armed with a gun, Cecile shot Saul in a fit of extreme jealousy, nearly killing him. Four ( 4) years after the incident, Saul filed an action for legal separation against Cecile on the ground that she attempted to kill him. a. b. c. If you were Saul's counsel, how will you argue his case? 2.5% If you were the lawyer of Cecile, what will be your defense? 2.5% If you were the judge, how will you decide the case? 5%
9.
Roderick and Faye were high school sweethearts. When Roderick was 18 and Faye, 16 years old, they started to live together as husband and wife without the benefit of marriage. When Faye reached 18 years of age, her parents forcibly took her back and arranged for her marriage to Brad. Although Faye lived with Brad after the marriage, Roderick continued to regularly visit Faye while Brad was away at work. During their marriage, Faye gave birth to a baby girl, Laica. When Faye was 25 years old, Brad discovered her continued liaison with Roderick and in one of their heated arguments, Faye shot Brad to death. She lost no time in marrying her true love Roderick, without a marriage license, claiming that they have been continuously cohabiting for more than 5 years. a. b. c. d. Was the marriage of Roderick and Faye valid? (2%) What is the filiation status of Laica? (2%) Can Laica bring an action to impugn her own status on the ground that based on DNA results, Roderick is her biological father? (2%) Can Laica be legitimated by the marriage of her biological parents? (1%)
Ed and Beth have been married for 20 years without children. Desirous to have a baby, they consulted Dr. Jun Canlas, a prominent medical specialist on human fertility .He advised Beth to undergo artificial insemination. It was found that Ed's sperm count was inadequate to induce pregnancy. Hence, the couple looked for a willing donor. Andy, the brother of Ed, readily consented to donate his sperm. After a series of tests, Andy's sperm was medically introduced into Beth's ovary .She became pregnant and 9 months later, gave birth to a baby boy, named Alvin. a. Who is the father of Alvin? Explain. 2.5%
10. Gigi and Ric, Catholics, got married when they were 18 years old. Their marriage was solemnized on August 2, 1989 by Ric's uncle, a Baptist Minister, in Calamba, Laguna. He overlooked the fact that his license to solemnize marriage expired the month before and that the parties do not belong to his congregation. After 5 years of married life and blessed with 2 children, the spouses developed irreconcilable differences, so they parted ways. While separated, Ric fell in love with Juliet, a 16 year-old sophomore in a local college and a seventh-Day Adventist. They decided to get married with the consent of Juliet's parents. She presented to him a birth certificate showing she is 18 years old. Ric never doubted her age much less the authenticity of her birth certificate. They got married in a Catholic church in Manila. A year after, Juliet gave birth to twins, Aissa and Aretha. a. b. What is the status of the marriage between Gigi and Ric - valid, voidable or void? Explain. 2.5 % What is the status of the marriage between Ric and Juliet - valid, voidable or void? Explain. 2..5%
7.
Despite several relationships with different women, Andrew remained unmarried. His first relationship with Brenda produced a daughter, Amy, now 30 years old. His second, with Carla, produced two sons: Jon and Ryan. His third, with Donna, bore him no children although Elena has a daughter Jane, from a previous relationship. His last, with Fe, produced no biological children but they informally adopted without court proceedings, Sandy's now 13 years old, whom they consider as their own. Sandy was orphaned as a baby and was entrusted to them by the midwife who
c.
Suppose Ric himself procured the falsified birth certificate to persuade Juliet to marry him despite her minority and assured her that everything is in order. He did not divulge to her his prior marriage with Gigi. What action, if any, can Juliet take against him? Explain. 2.5% If you were the counsel for Gigi, what action/s will you take to enforce and protect her interests? Explain. 2.5%
obtained a divorce in the same year. He then married another Filipina, Auring, in Canada on January 1, 1988. They had two sons, James and John. In 1990, after failing to hear from Sonny, Lulu married Tirso, by whom she had a daughter, Verna. In 1991, Sonny visited the Philippines where he succumbed to heart attack. a. b. c. d. Discuss the effect of the divorce obtained by Sonny and Lulu in Canada. (2%) Explain the status of the marriage between Sonny and Auring. (2%) Explain the status of the marriage between Lulu and Tirso. (2%) Explain the respective filiation of James, John and Verna. (2%)
d.
11. Gemma filed a petition for the declaration of nullity of her marriage with Arnell on the ground of psychological incapacity .She alleged that after 2 months of their marriage, Arnell showed signs of disinterest in her, neglected her and went abroad. He returned to the Philippines after 3 years but did not even get in touch with her. Worse, they met several times in social functions but he snubbed her. When she got sick, he did not visit her even if he knew of her confinement in the hospital. Meanwhile, Arnell met an accident which disabled him from reporting for work and earning a living to support himself. a. Will Gemma's suit prosper? Explain. 5%
12. Marvin, a Filipino, and Shelley, an American, both residents of California, decided to get married in their local parish. Two years after their marriage, Shelley obtained a divorce in California. While in Boracay, Marvin met Manel, a Filipina, who was vacationing there. Marvin fell in love with her. After a brief, courtship and complying with all the requirements, they got married in Hongkong to avoid publicity, it being Marvin's second marriage. a. Is his marriage to Manel valid? Explain. 5%
13. Article 36 of the Family Code provides that a marriage contracted by any party who, at the time of the celebration, was psychologically incapacitated to comply with the essential marital obligations of marriage, shall be void. Choose the spouse listed below who is psychologically incapacitated. Explain. 2.5% a. b. c. d. e. Nagger Gay or lesbian Congenital sexual pervert Gambler Alcoholic
14. In 1985, Sonny and Lulu, both Filipino citizens, were married in the Philippines. In 1987, they separated, and Sonny went to Canada, where he