How Much Does an Annulment Cost in the Philippines?

The Family Code says who may file, on what grounds and within what deadline. It says nothing about how much the case costs. The final amount depends on choices and facts that differ in every case:

• Lawyer's fees. These are agreed between you and your lawyer. No law sets them.
• Court filing fees. These are legal fees set by the Supreme Court's rules. We did not read the current schedule, so this page gives no amount. The clerk of court where the petition is filed can tell you the fee that applies.
• Expert's fees. If you choose to present a psychologist or psychiatrist, that fee is private too.
• Other costs. Copies of documents, travel to hearings and the work needed to record the final judgment (see below).

Any total you see quoted is not an official figure, because no law sets one. Treat any single number with care.

Not by law, in a case under Article 36 (psychological incapacity).

In Tan-Andal v. Andal, the Supreme Court said psychological incapacity "is not a medical illness that has to be medically or clinically identified; hence, expert opinion is not required." Ordinary witnesses who knew the spouse before the wedding can testify about the behavior they saw. In 2000, Marcos v. Marcos had already said the other spouse does not have to be personally examined by a doctor or psychologist.

You may still present an expert. In Tan-Andal itself, the Court considered a psychiatrist's report because it was offered in evidence. Whether to use one is a decision to make with your lawyer. For what must still be proven, see Psychological incapacity after Tan-Andal.

Note that this change applies to psychological incapacity cases. An annulment on one of the grounds in Article 45, such as fraud or force, needs its own evidence.

Under Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 9406, the Public Attorney's Office gives legal representation, assistance and counselling free of charge to indigent persons. Section 16-D of Republic Act No. 9406 says PAO clients "shall be exempt from payment of docket and other fees incidental to instituting an action in court and other quasi-judicial bodies, as an original proceeding or on appeal."

This page does not say whether the PAO will handle a particular annulment or nullity case, or who counts as indigent. Ask the PAO district office, and see Free legal help in the Philippines.

Winning the case is not the last step. Under Article 52, the judgment, the partition and distribution of the spouses' property and the delivery of the children's presumptive legitimes must be recorded in the civil registry and the registries of property. Until then, the judgment does not affect third persons. Under Article 53, a former spouse may remarry only after this is done.

We did not read the fees for recording or for getting updated civil registry documents, so this page lists none. For copies of a marriage certificate, see the PSA marriage certificate guide.

In 2025 the Supreme Court extended its electronic filing rule (Rule 13-A) to cases for declaration of nullity and annulment of marriage (A.M. No. 25-01-13-SC). The resolution says it takes effect after publication. No official source we read says how much it saves.

These are made-up examples to show how the rule works. They are not advice for any real case.

Ramon wants to file under Article 36. He was told he must pay for a psychological evaluation of his wife. After Tan-Andal, that is not a legal requirement. His wife's older sister and a family friend who knew her well before the wedding may testify instead. He can still choose to present an expert if his lawyer thinks it will help.

Liza works for a small daily wage and owns no property. She asks the PAO for help. If the PAO takes her as a client, Republic Act No. 9406 exempts her from docket and other filing fees. She pays no lawyer's fee either, because the PAO's legal representation is free of charge (Section 14-A).

Carmen compares quotes from three law offices and gets three very different totals. None of them is "the official price", because there is none. What the law fixes are the grounds, the deadlines and the steps, not the price.

A longer case usually means more hearings and more lawyer's work. Things that can add time include an appeal by the other spouse, the prosecutor's role in checking for collusion (Article 48), and orders on support and custody while the case is pending (Article 49). See How long does an annulment take?

An annulment or a declaration of nullity is a court case, and you need a lawyer to file it. Before you agree on fees, ask the lawyer to explain in writing what the fee covers: the petition, hearings, a possible appeal and the recording of the judgment. Be careful with anyone who promises a guaranteed result: the law requires a court decision based on evidence, and a prosecutor takes part to prevent collusion (Article 48).

If you cannot afford a lawyer, see Free legal help in the Philippines for the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and other options. For the whole topic, see Annulment in the Philippines.