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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Second Marriages Validity Hinges ON Proof OF Dissolution OF THE First
Supreme Court rules a marriage certificate alone cannot prove bigamy; the prior marriage must be shown to still subsist.
Baptismal Certificates and Filiation: Proving Legal Parentage in Inheritance Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that baptismal and marriage certificates alone cannot prove filiation for inheritance claims, citing Family Code rules.
Falsification of Public Documents: When Reasonable Doubt Leads to Acquittal
A mayor was acquitted of falsifying marriage certificates when the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he did not solemnize the weddings.
Demurrer to Evidence and the Prosecution's Burden in Bigamy Cases: Lapira v. Fariscal
The Supreme Court acquits a bigamy accused, clarifying that a void first marriage and rebutted marriage certificates defeat the prosecution's case.
Presumption of Marriage: Proving Marital Status Beyond a Marriage Certificate
The Supreme Court clarifies how marital status is proven in the Philippines, emphasizing the presumption of marriage and the limits of documentary evidence.