Philippine Marriage Requirements: Complete Legal Guide for Filipino Couples
Who Can Legally Marry in the Philippines
The Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209, 1988) governs marriage eligibility. The basic requirements:
- Age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old. There is no maximum age. Marriages below 18 are void from the beginning, and child marriages are criminalized under Republic Act 11596 (2021).
- Civil status: Both parties must be legally single — never married, widowed with proof of death, or with a final court judgment of annulment/nullity. The Philippines does not recognize divorce for Filipino nationals (except through Article 26(2) for mixed marriages involving foreign divorce).
- Capacity: Both parties must be of sound mind and not under the influence of prohibited substances
- Not within prohibited relationships: Covered below
Prohibited Relationships — Who Cannot Marry
Incestuous Marriages (Article 37) — Absolutely Void
- Between ascendants and descendants (grandparent-grandchild, parent-child)
- Between brothers and sisters — whether full blood or half blood
Marriages Void for Public Policy (Article 38)
- Collateral blood relatives up to the 4th civil degree (this includes first cousins)
- Step-parents and step-children
- Parents-in-law and children-in-law (even after the marriage that created the relationship ends)
- Adopting parent and adopted child or adoptee’s descendants
- Surviving spouse of the adopting parent and the adopted child
- Surviving spouse of the adopted child and the adopter
Documents Required for a Philippine Civil Wedding
To get married at a Philippine courthouse (Municipal Trial Court or Regional Trial Court), both parties must submit the following to the Local Civil Registry (LCR):
Required Documents (Standard Cases)
- PSA-issued birth certificates of both parties (original + copies)
- CENOMAR (Certificate of No Record of Marriage) from PSA — must be within 6 months of application
- Community Tax Certificate (Cedula) — from your barangay
- Valid government-issued photo ID (both parties)
- Certificate of Attendance in Pre-Marriage Counseling Seminar
- Marriage License Application form (filed at the LCR)
- Payment of marriage license fee (varies by LGU, typically PHP 200–500)
Additional Documents for Special Cases
| Situation | Additional Documents |
|---|---|
| Previously married (widowed) | PSA Death Certificate of former spouse + annotated PSA marriage certificate |
| Previously annulled | Annotated PSA marriage certificate (showing nullity) + Certificate of Finality |
| Foreign national partner | Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from partner’s embassy/consulate |
| One party previously divorced abroad | Foreign divorce decree + Article 26(2) recognition from Philippine court |
The 10-Day Posting Requirement
After submitting the marriage license application, Philippine law requires a 10-day posting period during which the application is publicly displayed. This is intended to allow anyone aware of legal impediments to object. The marriage license is only issued after the 10-day period expires with no valid objection. The license is then valid for 120 days.
Documents Required for Utah Online Marriage
By contrast, Utah’s requirements are straightforward:
- Valid government-issued photo ID — passport recommended
- Both parties must be 18 or older
- Neither party may be currently married (you self-certify this in the marriage license application)
- Stable internet connection for the Zoom ceremony
No CENOMAR, no birth certificate, no pre-marriage counseling seminar, no 10-day posting period, no in-person LCR visit. The Utah license application is completed online.
Philippine vs. Utah Marriage Requirements: Side-by-Side
| Requirement | Philippine Civil Wedding | Utah Online Marriage |
|---|---|---|
| In-person attendance | Required (at LCR, then ceremony) | Not required |
| Birth certificates | PSA-issued (required) | Not required |
| CENOMAR | Required | Not required (needed later for ROM) |
| Pre-marriage counseling | Required | Not required |
| 10-day posting | Required | No equivalent |
| Marriage license validity | 120 days | 32 days |
| Both parties same location | Required | Not required |
| Recognized in Philippines | Yes (direct) | Yes (via Article 26) |
| Apostilled certificate | No (Philippine document) | Yes (internationally usable) |
When a Philippine Civil Wedding Is Not Possible or Practical
Many Filipino couples turn to Utah online marriage because a Philippine civil wedding is not feasible:
- One or both partners are abroad and cannot return to the Philippines
- The couple is in different countries
- They need a marriage recognized for international immigration purposes
- Religious requirements for a church wedding are not met
- They want to marry quickly without the lengthy Philippine process
In all of these situations, a Utah online marriage — recognized in the Philippines under Article 26(1) — is a legally sound and practical solution.
No CENOMAR needed for the ceremony
Start with just your passport. We guide you through every step — Utah license, Zoom ceremony, apostille, and PSA registration support.
Start Your Application →Requirements may vary by Local Civil Registry. Always verify current LCR requirements with your local government unit. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.