Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Child Custody in the Philippines: Who Gets Custody and How Courts Decide
Learn the rules for child custody in the Philippines, how courts decide who gets custody, and what factors matter most.
Child Custody in the Philippines: The Best Interest of the Child Standard
Philippine courts decide child custody disputes by one standard: the child's best interest. Learn the factors, the law, and a landmark 2024 ruling.
Child Custody Battles: Habeas Corpus and Forum Shopping in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies habeas corpus in child custody cases and penalizes forum shopping in Reyes v. Elquiero.
Judicial Misconduct When Ex Parte Orders Exceed Legal Boundaries
The Supreme Court held a judge liable for gross ignorance of the law for issuing an ex parte TPO that improperly awarded child custody.
Writ of Amparo Not a Substitute for Child Custody Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo cannot be used to resolve child custody disputes, reaffirming its limited scope.
Habeas Corpus and Child Custody: Where to File and When a Court Has Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that a habeas corpus writ for child custody is enforceable across the entire judicial region, not just the city where filed.
Child Custody AND Welfare Prioritizing THE Childs Best Interest Over Prior Agreements
Child Custody Not Permanent: SC Clears Judge Who Respected Child's Choice Over Prior Agreement
Supreme Court rules child custody judgments are not permanent; a child over 7 may choose a parent, overriding prior compromise agreements.
Custody Rights and the Child's Welfare: Reassessing Habeas Corpus in Family Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that habeas corpus in child custody cases aims to determine rightful custody, not just produce the child.
Habeas Corpus for Child Custody: What the Supreme Court Requires
The Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus applies to child custody disputes and why courts must hold a trial, not just produce the child.
Habeas Corpus for Child Custody: What the Supreme Court Requires
The Supreme Court clarifies that habeas corpus in child custody cases requires a full trial to determine the child's best interests, not just the child's production in court.
Custody Battles: When Judicial Discretion Meets Legal Mandates in Child Protection Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on a judge's discretion in child custody disputes under RA 9262, balancing legal mandates with the child's best interest.
Custody Habeas Corpus: Family Courts and the Court of Appeals Share Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts do not have exclusive jurisdiction over habeas corpus petitions involving child custody disputes.
Custody Rights and Habeas Corpus in Philippine Child Custody Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus is proper in custody disputes and how the tender-years rule applies.
Child Custody AND Habeas Corpus Protecting Minors IN Parental Disputes
Habeas Corpus and the Family Code: When Child Custody Battles Meet Technical Rules
The Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus petitions for child custody must comply with Article 151 compromise requirements and barangay conciliation rules.
Divorce Abroad and Child Custody: Reconciling Foreign Decrees With Philippine Law
Philippine courts can recognize a foreign divorce but still decide child custody and support, as Roehr v. Rodriguez explains.
Child Custody Determinations Prioritizing Welfare Over Parental Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court rules that child custody decisions must prioritize the child's welfare, not just parental agreements or psychiatric reports alone.
Custody Rights and the Best Interest of the Child: Religious Conversion and Parental Fitness
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on child custody, religious conversion, and parental fitness under the Family Code and Muslim personal laws.
Child Custody Rights in the Philippines: When Can a Parent Reclaim Their Child
Understand Philippine child custody rights and when a parent can reclaim custody, including legal grounds, court considerations, and practical guidance.
Child Custody in the Philippines: Understanding the Under-Seven Rule
The Supreme Court explains the mandatory under-seven rule in child custody cases under Article 213 of the Family Code.