A.M. No. 02-11-11-SC
A.M. No. 02-11-11-SC
Constitution Statutes Executive Issuances Judicial Issuances Other Issuances Jurisprudence International Legal Resources AUSL Exclusive
EN BANC
RESOLUTION
Acting on the letter of the Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Rules of Court submitting for this
Court's consideration and approval the Proposed Rule on Legal Separation, the Court Resolved to APPROVED the
same.
The Rule shall take effect on March 15, 2003 following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation not
later than March 7, 2003
March 4, 2003
Davide Jr. C.J., Bellosillo, Puno, Vitug, Mendoza, Panganiban, Quisumbing, Sandoval Gutierrez, Carpio, Austria-
Martinez, Carpio-Morales, Callejo, Sr. and Azcuna, JJ.
Ynares-Santiago, on leave,
Corona, officially on leave.
Section 1. Scope. - This Rule shall govern petitions for legal separation under the Family Code of the Philippines.
Section 2. Petition. - (a) Who may and when to file. - (1) A petition for legal separation may be filed only by the
husband or the wife, as the case may be within five years from the time of the occurrence of any of the following
causes:
(a) Repeated physical violence or grossly abusive conduct directed against the petitioner, a common
child, or a child of the petitioner;
(b) Physical violence or moral pressure to compel the petitioner to change religious or political
affiliation;
(c) Attempt of respondent to corrupt or induce the petitioner, a common child, or a child of the
petitioner, to engage in prostitution, or connivance in such corruption or inducement;
(d) Final judgment sentencing the respondent to imprisonment of more than six years, even if
pardoned;
(g) Contracting by the respondent of a subsequent bigamous marriage, whether in or outside the
Philippines;
(j) Abandonment of petitioner by respondent without justifiable cause for more than one year.
(b) Contents and form. - The petition for legal separation shall:
(2) State the names and ages of the common children of the parties, specify the regime governing their
property relations, the properties involved, and creditors, if any. If there is no adequate provision in a
written agreement between the parties, the petitioner may apply for a provisional order for spousal
support, custody and support of common children, visitation rights, administration of community or
conjugal property, and other similar matters requiring urgent action,
(3) Be verified and accompanied by a certification against forum shopping. The verification and
certification must be personally signed by the petitioner. No petition may be filed solely by counsel or
through an attorney-in-fact. If the petitioner is in a foreign country, the verification and certification
against forum shopping shall be authenticated by the duly authorized officer of the Philippine embassy
or legation, consul general, consul or vice-consul or consular agent in said country
(4) Be filed in six copies. The petitioner shall, within five days from such filing, furnish a copy of the
petition to the City or Provincial Prosecutor and the creditors, if any, and submit to the court proof of
such service within the same period.
Failure to comply with the preceding requirements may be a ground for immediate dismissal of
the petition.
(c) Venue. - The petition shall be filed in the Family Court of the province or city where the petitioner or the
respondent has been residing for at least six months prior to the date of filing "or in The case of a non-
resident respondent, where he may be found in the Philippines, at the election of the petitioner.
Section 3. Summons. - The service of summons shall be governed by Rule 14 of the Rules of Court and by the
following rules:
(a) Where the respondent cannot be located at his given address or his whereabouts are unknown and
cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, service of summons may, by leave of court, be effected upon him by
publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines
and in such place as the court may order. In addition, a copy of the summons shall be served on respondent
at his last known address by registered mail or by any other means the court may deem sufficient.
(b) The summons to be published shall be contained in an order of the court with the following data; (1) title of
the case; (2) docket number; (3) nature of the petition; (4) principal grounds of the petition and the reliefs
prayed for, and (5) a directive for respondent to answer within thirty days from the last issue of publication.
Section 4. Motion to Dismiss. - No motion to dismiss the petition shall be allowed except on the ground of lack of
jurisdiction over the subject matter or over the parties; provided, however, that any other ground that might warrant a
dismissal of the case may be raised as an affirmative defense in an answer.
Section 5. Answer. - (a) The respondent shall file his answer within fifteen days from receipt of summons, or within
thirty days from the last issue of publication in case of service of summons by publication. The answer must be
verified by respondent himself and not by counsel or attorney-in-fact.
(b) If the respondent fails to file an answer, the court shall not declare him in default.
(c) Where no answer is filed/or if the answer does not tender an issue the court shall order the public
prosecutor to investigate whether collusion exists between the parties.
Section 6. Investigation Report of Public Prosecutor. - (a) Within one one month after receipt of the court order
mentioned in paragraph (c) of the preceeding section, the public prosecutor shall submit a report to the court on
whether the parties are in collusion and serve copies on the parties and their respective counsels, if any.
(b) If the public prosecutor finds that collusion exists, he shall state the basis thereof in his report. The parties
shall file their respective comments on the finding of collusion within ten days from receipt of copy of the
report. The court shall set the report for hearing and if convinced that parties are in collusion,-it shall dismiss
the petition.
(c) If the public prosecutor reports that no collusion exists, the court shall set the case for pre-trial. It shall be
the duty of the public prosecutor to appear for the State at the pre-trial.
Section 7. Social Worker. - The court may require a social worker to conduct a case study and to submit the
corresponding report at least three days before the pre-trial. The court may also require a case study at any stage of
the case whenever necessary,
Section 8. Pre-trial. -
(a) Pre-trial mandatory.-A pre-trial is mandatory. On motion or motu proprio, the court shall set the pre-trial
after the last pleading has been served and filed, or upon receipt of the report of the public prosecutor that no
collusion exists between the parties on a date not earlier than six months from date of the filing of the petition.
(b) an order directing the parties to file and serve their respective pre-trial briefs in such manner
as shall ensure the receipt thereof by the adverse party at least three days before the date of
pre-trial.
(2) The notice shall be served separately on the parties and their respective counsels as well as on the
public prosecutor. It shall be their duty to appear personally at the pre-trial.
(3) Notice of pre-trial shall be sent to the respondent even if he fails to file an answer. In case of
summons by publication and the respondent failed to file his answer, notice of pre-trial shall be sent to
respondent at his last known address.
Section 9. Contents of pre-trial brief. - The pre-trial brief shall contain the following:
(1) A statement of the willingness of the parties to enter into agreements as may be allowed by law, indicating
the desired terms thereof;
(2) A concise statement of their respective claims together with the applicable laws and authorities;
(3) Admitted facts and proposed stipulations of facts, as well as the disputed factual and legal issues;
(4) All the evidence to be presented, including expert opinion, if any, briefly stating or describing the nature
and purpose thereof;
(5) The number and names of the witnesses and their respective affidavits; and
Failure to file the pre-trial brief or to comply with its required contents shall have the same effect as failure to
appear at the pre-trial under the succeeding section.
Section 10. Effect of failure to appear at the pre-trial. - (1) If the petitioner fails to appear personally, the case shall
be dismissed unless his counsel or a duly authorized representative appears in court and proves a valid excuse for
the non-appearance of the petitioner.
(2) If the respondent filed his answer but fails to appear, the court shall proceed with the pre-trial and require
the public prosecutor to investigate the non-appearance of the respondent and submit within fifteen days a
report to the court stating whether his non-appearance is due to any collusion between the parties/ If there is
no collusion the court shall require the public prosecutor to intervene for the State during the trial on
the.merits to prevent suppression or fabrication of evidence.
Section 11. Pre-trial conference. - At the pre-trial conference, the court may refer the issues to a mediator who shall
assist the parties in reaching an agreement on matters not prohibited by law.
The mediator shall render a report within one month from referral which, for good reasons, the court may
extend for a period not exceeding one month.
In case mediation is not availed of or where it fails, the court shall proceed with the pre-trial conference, on
which occasion it shall consider the advisability of receiving expert testimony and such other matters as may aid in
the prompt disposition of the petition.
Section 12. Pre-trial order. - (a) The proceedings in the pre-trial shall be recorded. Upon termination of the pre-trial,
the court shall issue a pre-trial order which shall recite in detail the matters taken up in the conference, the action
taken thereon, the amendments allowed on the pleadings, and, except as to the ground of legal separation, the
agreements or admissions made by the parties on any of the matters considered, including any provisional order
that may be necessary or agreed upon by the parties.
(b) Should the action proceed to trial, the order shall contain a recital of the following:
(1) Facts undisputed, admitted, and those which need not be proved subject to Section 13 of this Rule;
(3) Evidence, including objects and documents, that have been marked and will be presented;
(4) Names of witnesses who will be presented and their testimonies in the form of affidavits; and
The pre-trial order shall also contain a directive to the public prosecutor to appear for the State and
take steps to prevent collusion between the parties at any stage of the proceedings and fabrication or
suppression of evidence during the trial on the merits.
(c) The parties shall not be allowed to raise issues or present witnesses and evidence other than those stated
in the pre-trial order. The order shall control the trial of the case unless modified by the court to prevent
manifest injustice.
(d) The parties shall have five days from receipt of the pre-trial order to propose corrections or modifications.
Section 13. Prohibited compromise. - The court shall not allow compromise on prohibited matters, such as the
following:
Section 14. Trial. - (a) The presiding judge shall personally conduct the trial of the case. No delegation of the
reception of evidence to a commissioner shall be allowed except as to matters involving property relations of the
spouses.
(b) The grounds for legal separation must be proved. No judgment on the pleadings, summary judgment, or
confession of judgment shall be allowed.
(c) The court may order the exclusion from the courtroom of all persons, including members of the press, who
do not have a direct interest in the case. Such an order may be made if the court determines on the record
othat requiring a party to testify in open court would not enhance the ascertainment of truth; would cause to
the party psychological harm or inability to effectively communicate due to embarrassment, fear, or timidity;
would violate the party's right to privacy; or would be offensive to decency
(d) No copy shall be taken nor any examination or perusal of the records of the case or parts thereof be made
by any person other than a party or counsel of a party, except by order of the court.
Section 15. Memoranda. - The court may require the parties and the public prosecutor to file their respective
memoranda in support of their claims within fifteen days from the date the trial is terminated. No other pleadings or
papers may be submitted without leave of court. After the lapse of the period herein provided, the case will be
considered submitted for decision, with or without the memoranda.
Section 16. Decision. - (a) The court shall deny the petition on any of the following grounds:
(1) The aggrieved party has condoned the offense or act complained of or has consented to the
commission of the offense or act complained of;
(2) There is connivance in the commission of the offense-or act constituting the ground for legal
separation;
(4) There is collusion between the parties to obtain the decree of legal separation; or
(b) If the court renders a decision granting the petition, it shall declare therein that the Decree of Legal
Separation shall be issued by the court only after full compliance with liquidation under the Family Code.
However, in the absence of any property of.the parties, the court shall forthwith issue a Decree of Legal
Separation which shall be registered in the Civil Registry where the marriage was recorded and in the Civil
Registry where the Family Court granting the legal separation is located.
(1) The spouses are entitled to live separately from each other but the marriage bond is not severed;
(2) The obligation of mutual support between the spouses ceases; and
(3) The offending spouse is disqualified from inheriting from the innocent spouse by intestate
succession, and provisions in favor of the offending spouse made in the will of the innocent spouse are
revoked by operation of law.
(d) The parties, including the Solicitor General and the public prosecutor, shall be served with copies of the
decision personally or by registered mail. If the respondent summoned by publication failed to appear in the
action, the dispositive part of the decision shall also be published once in a newspaper of general circulation.
(a) Pre-condition. - No appeal from the decision shall be allowed unless the appellant has filed a motion for
reconsideration or new trial within fifteen days from notice of judgment.
(b) Notice of Appeal - An aggrieved party or the Solicitor General may appeal from the decision by filing a
Notice of Appeal within fifteen days from notice of denial of the motion for reconsideration or new trial. The
appellant shall serve a copy of the notice of appeal upon the adverse parties.
Section 18. Liquidation, partition and distribution, custody, and support of minor children. - Upon entry of the
judgment granting the petition, or, in case of appeal, upon receipt of the entry of judgment of the appellate court
granting the petition, the Family Court, on motion of either party, shall proceed with the liquidation, partition and
distribution of the properties of the spouses, including custody and support of common children, under the Family
Code unless such matters had been adjudicated in previous judicial proceedings.
Section 19. Issuance of Decree of Legal Separation. - (a) The court shall issue the Decree of Legal Separation
after:
(1) registration of the entry of judgment granting the petition tor legal separation in the Civil Registry
where the marriage was celebrated and in the Civil Registry where the Family Court is located; and
(2) registration of the approved partition and distribution of the properties of the spouses, in the proper
Register of Deeds where the real properties are located.
(b) The court shall quote in the Decree the dispositive portion of the judgment entered and attach to the
Decree the approved deed of partition.
Section 20. Registration and publication of the Decree of Legal Separation; decree as best evidence. -
(a) Registration of decree.-The prevailing party shall cause the registration of the Decree in the Civil Registry
where the marriage was registered, in the Civil Registry of the place where the Family Court is situated, and
in the National Census and Statistics Office. He shall report to the court compliance with this requirement
within thirty days iron receipt of the copy of the Decree.
(b) Publication of decree.-- In case service of summons was made by publication, the parties shall cause the
publication of the Decree once in a newspaper of general circulation.
(c) Best evidence.-The registered Decree shall be the best evidence to prove the legal separation of the
parties and shall serve as notice to third persons concerning the properties of petitioner and respondent.
Section 21. Effect of death of a party; duty of the Family Court or Appellate Court. - (a) In case a party dies at any
stage of me proceedings before the entry of judgment, the court shall order the case closed and terminated without
prejudice to the settlement of estate proper proceedings in the regular courts.
(b) If the party dies after the entry of judgment, the same shall be binding upon the parties and their
successors in interest in the settlement of the estate in the regular courts.
Section 22. Petition for revocation of donations. - (a) Within five (5) years from the date the decision granting the
petition for legal separation has become final, the innocent spouse may file a petition under oath the same
proceeding for legal separation to revoke the donations in favor of the offending spouse.
(b)The revocation of the donations shall be recorded in the Register of Deeds of Deeds in the places where
the properties are located.
(c)Alienations, liens, and encumbrances registered in good faith. before the recording of the petition for
revocation in the registries of property shall be respected.
(d)After the issuance of the Decree of Legal Separation, the innocent spouse may revoke the designation of
the offending spouse as a beneficiary in any insurance policy even if such designation be stipulated as
irrevocable. The revocation or change shall take effect upon written notification thereof to the insurer.
Section 23. Decree of Reconciliation. - (a) If the spouses had reconciled, a joint manifestation under oath, duly
signed by the spouses, may be filed in the same proceeding for legal separation.
(b) If the reconciliation occurred while the proceeding for legal separation is pending, the court shall
immediately issue an order terminating the proceeding.
(c) If the reconciliation occurred after the rendition of the judgment granting the petition for legal separation
but before the issuance of the Decree, the spouses shall express in their manifestation whether or not they
agree to revive the former regime of their property relations or choose a new regime.
The court shall immediately issue a Decree of Reconciliation declaring that the legal separation
proceeding is set aside and specifying the regime of property relations under which the spouses shall be
covered.
(d) If the spouses reconciled after the issuance of the Decree, the court, upon proper motion, shall issue a
decree of reconciliation declaring therein that the Decree is set aside but the separation of property and any
forfeiture of the share of the guilty spouse already effected subsists, unless the spouses have agreed to
revive their former regime of property relations or adopt a new regime.
(e) In case of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d). if the reconciled spouses choose to adopt a regime of property
relations different from that which they had prior to the filing of the petition for legal separation, the spouses
shall comply with Section 24 hereof.
(f) The decree of reconciliation shall be recorded in the Civil Registries where the marriage and the Decree
had been registered.
(a) In case of reconciliation under Section 23, paragraph (c) above, the parties shall file a verified motion for
revival of regime of property relations or the adoption of another regime of property relations in the same
proceeding for legal separation attaching to said motion their agreement for the approval of the court.
(b) The agreement which shall be verified shall specify the following:
(3) The names of all their known creditors, their addresses, and the amounts owing to each.
(c) The creditors shall be furnished with copies of the motion and the agreement.
(d) The court shall require the spouses to cause the publication of their verified motion for two consecutive
weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.
(e) After due hearing, and the court decides to grant the motion, it shall issue an order directing the parties to
record the order in the proper registries of property within thirty days from receipt of a copy of the order and
submit proof of compliance within the same period.
Section 25. Effectivity. - This Rule shall take effect on March 15,2003 following its publication in a newspaper of
general circulation not later than March 7, 2003.