Supreme Court Circular No. 009-98 outlines the requirements and procedures for solemnizing marriages in the Philippines. Judges must ensure that all essential and formal requisites of marriage, as defined by the Family Code, are met before conducting the ceremony. Marriages should be performed within the judge's jurisdiction and in a public setting, with specific exceptions. The circular also prescribes the legal fees for solemnization, which vary depending on the court level, and prohibits the collection of any unauthorized fees or payments in currencies other than the Philippine peso. Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory, and violations must be reported to the Court Administrator.
January 27, 1998
SUPREME COURT CIRCULAR NO. 009-98
| TO | : | All Judges and Clerks of Court of the Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts |
| SUBJECT | : | Observance of the Statutory Requirements for Marriages and the Prescribed Amounts of Fees for the Solemnization of Marriages |
The following guidelines shall be observed by all judges in the exercise of their authority to solemnize marriages as defined by Article 7 of the Family Code of the Philippines, as amended: aAHSEC
1. Before solemnizing the marriage, the judge should (a) see to the presence and concurrence of the essential requirements of marriage prescribed by Article 2 of the Family Code, as amended; and (b) ensure compliance with Secs. (2) and (3) of Article 3 of the same Code on the formal requisites of marriage.
2. In accordance with the provisions of Articles 7 and 8, the marriage shall be solemnized "within the court's jurisdiction" and "publicly in the chambers of the judge or in open court . . . and not elsewhere, except in cases of marriages contracted at the point of death or in remote places in accordance with Article 29 [of the Family Code, as amended], or where both of the parties request the solemnizing officer in writing in which case the marriage may be solemnized at a house or place designated by them in a sworn statement to that effect."
3. For the performance of the marriage ceremony, including the issuance of the certificate of marriage, only the following legal fees in the amounts prescribed through Administrative Circular No. 31-90 dated 15 October 1990 shall be collected:
(a) Two hundred (P200.00) pesos — for marriages solemnized by Justices of the Court of Appeals;
(b) One hundred (P100.00) pesos — for marriages solemnized by Judges of the Regional Trial Courts; and
(c) Fifty (P50.00) pesos — for marriages solemnized by Judges of the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts.
4. The collection of other fees not mentioned by Administrative Circular No. 31-90, series of 1990, or the collection of the legal fees in any currency other than the Philippine peso shall not be allowed and shall be dealt with accordingly. aDcETC
All Executive Judges are hereby directed to post copies of this Circular in conspicuous places in their respective courts. They are also enjoined to immediately report to the Court Administrator any violation of the provisions hereof.
For strict compliance.
(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator