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Evangelista, Chris Joven R. January 27, 2014

JD -1

Ms. Teresa Campos 95 Tindalo Street, Ayala Alaban , Muntinlupa City

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,ear Ms. Campos# .ere is t1e opinion you re2uested. T1e 3ollo4in statement# are t1e 3a5ts at1ered 3rom your

Mr. !oy (ope6 41om is a salesman li7es at 297 ,ian Street, $alanan, Ma8ati City 1ad a pre7ious relations1ip 4it1 "ster Sal7a. T1e latter be5ame pre nant 4it1 Mr. (ope69s ille itimate 51ild durin t1eir a33air. -1en s1e ot pre nant, s1e 4anted to marry 1im but un3ortunately 1e re:e5ted 1er. T1e t4o bro8e up but 1e 5onsistently 1as i7en support to 1er 51ild 41om t1ey named Melinda. &t 4as a3ter t1e re istration t1at "ster told !oy s1e re istered t1eir dau 1ter usin t1e surname o3 (ope6. -1en you and Mr. (ope6 de5ided to et married, t1e 3ormer re5ei7ed by mail 5opies o3 marria e li5ense issued by t1e Ci7il !e istrar9s %33i5e o3 &mus, Ca7ite, dated September 17, 2005 in 3a7our o3 !oy and "ster and a 5erti3i5ate o3 marria e s1o4in t1at t1ey 4ere married at t1e o33i5e o3 some reli ious pastor at t1e ba58 Manila City .all on Au ust 4, 2005. Mr. (ope6 denied su51 do5uments and t1e 3a5t t1e 1e married "ster. T1e 1and 4ritin and in3ormation 5ontained 41ere 1e li7ed and t1e names o3 1is parents 4ere all 4ron . A 1and4ritin e;pert e;amine t1e do5uments and !oy9s spe5imen 1and4ritin s and si natures, t1e e;pert said 4ritin s and si natures on t1e do5uments 4ere de3initely not t1ose o3 !oy. Mr. (ope6 5on3ronted "ster about it and s1e 5on3essed t1at in 2005 out o3 s1eer desperation, s1e ot t1e marria e li5ense 3rom Ca7ite 4it1 someone9s 1elp and paid 3or t1e marria e 5erti3i5ate 3rom an o33i5e near t1e 5ity 1all o3 Manila. &t 4as 1er 3at1er 41o resented t1e 3a5t t1at !oy 4ould be ettin married to someone else. "ster9s 3at1er appeared to 1a7e said t1at 1e 4ould 3ile 51ar es o3 bi amy a ainst !oy i3 1e marries you. T1e do5uments are 3or eries but t1ey are part o3 t1e o33i5ial re5ords o3 t1e Manila Ci7il !e istry and t1e +ational Statisti5s %33i5e. T1e 3ollo4in are t1e issues# -1et1er or not Mr. !oy (ope6 5an be 51ar ed 4it1 bi amy i3 1e marries t1e 5lient, -1et1er or not t1e marria e li5ense and 5erti3i5ate o3 marria e be 1eld 7alid e7en i3 it9s 3or ed but is part o3 t1e o33i5ial re5ords o3 Manila Ci7il !e istry and +ational Statisti5s %33i5e, -1et1er or not Client 5an prosper t1eir marria e i7en 4it1 su51 5ir5umstan5e,

-1et1er or not t1e ille itimate 51ild o3 Mr. !oy (ope6 5an use (ope6 as surname 4it1out 5onsent, -1et1er or not 41at 4ill be t1e round< rounds 3or t1e termination o3 t1e pre7ious marria e, -1et1er or not 41at are t1e ri 1ts o3 Client9s 51ildren and !oy9s ille itimate 51ild to in1erit. As for the nature of Mr. Lopez being charged with bigamy, the provision that governs is:
Art. =49. Bigamy - any person 41o s1all 5ontra5t a se5ond or subse2uent marria e be3ore t1e 3ormer marria e 1as been le ally dissol7ed, or be3ore t1e absent spouse 1as been de5lared presumpti7ely dead by means o3 a :ud ment rendered in t1e proper pro5eedin s. T1e elements o3 bi amy are# >1? t1e o33ender 1as been le ally married@ >2? t1e 3irst marria e 1as not been le ally dissol7ed, or in 5ase 1is or 1er spouse is absent, t1e absent spouse 1as not been :udi5ially de5lared presumpti7ely dead@ >=? t1e o33ender 5ontra5ts a subse2uent marria e@ >4? t1e subse2uent marria e 4ould 1a7e been 7alid 1ad it not been 3or t1e e;isten5e o3 t1e 3irst. Art. =5. T1e 3ollo4in marria es s1all be 7oid 3rom t1e be innin # >A? T1ose subse2uent marria e t1at are 7oid under Arti5le 5=. Art 5=. "it1er o3 t1e 3ormer spouses may marry a ain a3ter 5omplyin 4it1 t1e re2uirements o3 t1e immediately pre5edin Arti5le@ ot1er4ise, t1e subse2uent marria e s1all be null and 7oid.

As for marriage license and certificate of marriage be held valid even if it s forged but is part of the official records of Manila !ivil "egistry and #ational $tatistics %ffice, the provisions that govern is:
Art. 2. +o marria e s1all be 7alid, unless t1ese essential re2uisites are present# >1? (e al 5apa5ity o3 t1e 5ontra5tin parties 41o must be a male and a 3emale@ and >2? Consent 3reely i7en in t1e presen5e o3 t1e solemni6in o33i5er. >5=a? Art. 4. T1e absen5e o3 any o3 t1e essential or 3ormal re2uisites s1all render t1e marria e 7oid ab initio, e;5ept as stated in Arti5le =5 >2?. A de3e5t in any o3 t1e essential re2uisites s1all not a33e5t t1e 7alidity o3 t1e marria e but t1e party or parties responsible 3or t1e irre ularity s1all be 5i7illy, 5riminally and administrati7ely liable. >n? Art. 9. A marria e li5ense s1all be issued by t1e lo5al 5i7il re istrar o3 t1e 5ity or muni5ipality 41ere eit1er 5ontra5tin party 1abitually resides, e;5ept in marria es 41ere no li5ense is re2uired in a55ordan5e 4it1 C1apter 2 o3 t1is Title. >5Ba?

As for the !lient can continue the planned marriage given with such circumstance, the provision that governs is:
Art. 40. T1e absolute nullity o3 a pre7ious marria e may be in7o8ed 3or purposes o3 remarria e on t1e basis solely o3 a 3inal :ud ment de5larin su51 pre7ious marria e 7oid. >n? Art. 5=. "it1er o3 t1e 3ormer spouses may marry a ain a3ter 5omplian5e 4it1 t1e re2uirements o3 t1e immediately pre5edin Arti5le@ ot1er4ise, t1e subse2uent marria e s1all be null and 7oid.

As for the illegitimate child of Mr. "oy Lopez to use Lopez as surname without consent, the provision that govern is:
Art. 17A. &lle itimate 51ildren s1all use t1e surname and s1all be under t1e parental aut1ority o3 t1eir mot1er, and s1all be entitled to support in 5on3ormity 4it1 t1is Code. T1e le itime o3 ea51 ille itimate 51ild s1all 5onsist o3 oneC1al3 o3 t1e le itime o3 a le itimate 51ild. ";5ept 3or t1is modi3i5ation, all ot1er pro7isions in t1e Ci7il Code o7ernin su55essional ri 1ts s1all remain in 3or5e. >2B7a? As for the ground&grounds for the termination of the previous marriage, the provision that

governs is:
Art. 47. T1e a5tion 3or annulment o3 marria e must be 3iled by t1e 3ollo4in persons and 4it1in t1e periods indi5ated 1erein# >1? *or 5auses mentioned in number 1 o3 Arti5le 45 by t1e party 41ose parent or uardian did not i7e 1is or 1er 5onsent, 4it1in 3i7e years a3ter attainin t1e a e o3 t4entyCone, or by t1e parent or uardian or person 1a7in le al 51ar e o3 t1e minor, at any time be3ore su51 party 1as rea51ed t1e a e o3 t4entyCone@ >2? *or 5auses mentioned in number 2 o3 Arti5le 45, by t1e same spouse, 41o 1ad no 8no4led e o3 t1e ot1erDs insanity@ or by any relati7e or uardian or person 1a7in le al 51ar e o3 t1e insane, at any time be3ore t1e deat1 o3 eit1er party, or by t1e insane spouse durin a lu5id inter7al or a3ter re ainin sanity@ >=? *or 5auses mentioned in number = o3 Arti5le 45, by t1e in:ured party, 4it1in 3i7e years a3ter t1e dis5o7ery o3 t1e 3raud@ >4? *or 5auses mentioned in number 4 o3 Arti5le 45, by t1e in:ured party, 4it1in 3i7e years 3rom t1e time t1e 3or5e, intimidation or undue in3luen5e disappeared or 5eased@ >5? *or 5auses mentioned in number 5 and A o3 Arti5le 45, by t1e in:ured party, 4it1in 3i7e years a3ter t1e marria e. >B7a?

As for the rights of !lient s children and "oy s illegitimate child to inherit, the provision that govern is:
Art. 712. %4ners1ip is a52uired by o55upation and by intelle5tual 5reation. %4ners1ip and ot1er real ri 1ts o7er property are a52uired and transmitted by la4, by donation, by estate and intestate su55ession, and in 5onse2uen5e o3 5ertain 5ontra5ts, by tradition. T1ey may also be a52uired by means o3 pres5ription. >A09a? !"$)'(&C ACT +%. =BA A+ ACT T% %!,A&+ A+, &+ST&T)T" T." C&0&( C%," %* T." $.&(&$$&+"S Art. 75. T1e 3uture spouses may, in t1e marria e settlements, a ree upon t1e re ime o3 absolute 5ommunity, 5on:u al partners1ip o3 ains, 5omplete separation o3 property, or any ot1er re ime. &n t1e absen5e o3 a marria e settlement, or 41en t1e re ime a reed upon is 7oid, t1e system o3 absolute 5ommunity o3 property as establis1ed in t1is Code s1all o7ern. >119a?

Art. 77. T1e marria e settlements and any modi3i5ation t1ereo3 s1all be in 4ritin , si ned by t1e parties and e;e5uted be3ore t1e 5elebration o3 t1e marria e. T1ey s1all not pre:udi5e t1ird persons unless t1ey are re istered in t1e lo5al 5i7il re istry 41ere t1e marria e 5ontra5t is re5orded as 4ell as in t1e proper re istries o3 properties. Art. B0. &n t1e absen5e o3 a 5ontrary stipulation in a marria e settlement, t1e property relations o3 t1e spouses s1all be o7erned by $1ilippine la4s, re ardless o3 t1e pla5e o3 t1e 5elebration o3 t1e marria e and t1eir residen5e. T1is rule s1all not apply# >1? -1ere bot1 spouses are aliens@ >2? -it1 respe5t to t1e e;trinsi5 7alidity o3 5ontra5ts a33e5tin property not situated in t1e $1ilippines and e;e5uted in t1e 5ountry 41ere t1e property is lo5ated@ and >=? -it1 respe5t to t1e e;trinsi5 7alidity o3 5ontra5ts entered into in t1e $1ilippines but a33e5tin property situated in a 3orei n 5ountry 41ose la4s re2uire di33erent 3ormalities 3or its e;trinsi5 7alidity. >124a? Art. B1. "7eryt1in stipulated in t1e settlements or 5ontra5ts re3erred to in t1e pre5edin arti5les in 5onsideration o3 a 3uture marria e, in5ludin donations bet4een t1e prospe5ti7e spouses made t1erein, s1all be rendered 7oid i3 t1e marria e does not ta8e pla5e. .o4e7er, stipulations t1at do not depend upon t1e 5elebration o3 t1e marria es s1all be 7alid. >125a? Art. 91. )nless ot1er4ise pro7ided in t1is C1apter or in t1e marria e settlements, t1e 5ommunity property s1all 5onsist o3 all t1e property o4ned by t1e spouses at t1e time o3 t1e 5elebration o3 t1e marria e or a52uired t1erea3ter. Art. 92. T1e 3ollo4in s1all be e;5luded 3rom t1e 5ommunity property# >1? $roperty a52uired durin t1e marria e by ratuitous title by eit1er spouse, and t1e 3ruits as 4ell as t1e in5ome t1ereo3, i3 any, unless it is e;pressly pro7ided by t1e donor, testator or rantor t1at t1ey s1all 3orm part o3 t1e 5ommunity property@ >2? $roperty 3or personal and e;5lusi7e use o3 eit1er spouse. .o4e7er, :e4elry s1all 3orm part o3 t1e 5ommunity property@ >=? $roperty a52uired be3ore t1e marria e by eit1er spouse 41o 1as le itimate des5endants by a 3ormer marria e, and t1e 3ruits as 4ell as t1e in5ome, i3 any, o3 su51 property. Art. 11A. All property a52uired durin t1e marria e, 41et1er t1e a52uisition appears to 1a7e been made, 5ontra5ted or re istered in t1e name o3 one or bot1 spouses, is presumed to be 5on:u al unless t1e 5ontrary is pro7ed. Art. 144. Separation o3 property may re3er to present or 3uture property or bot1. &t may be total or partial. &n t1e latter 5ase, t1e property not a reed upon as separate s1all pertain to t1e absolute 5ommunity. Art. 197. &n 5ase o3 le itimate as5endants@ des5endants, 41et1er le itimate or ille itimate@ and brot1ers and sisters, 41et1er le itimately or ille itimately related, only t1e separate property o3 t1e person

obli ed to i7e support s1all be ans4erable pro7ided t1at in 5ase t1e obli or 1as no separate property, t1e absolute 5ommunity or t1e 5on:u al partners1ip, i3 3inan5ially 5apable, s1all ad7an5e t1e support, 41i51 s1all be dedu5ted 3rom t1e s1are o3 t1e spouse obli ed upon t1e li2uidation o3 t1e absolute 5ommunity or o3 t1e 5on:u al partners1ip. Art. 774. Succession is a mode of ac uisition !" virtue of #hich the $ro$ert", rights and o!ligations to the e%tent of the value of the inheritance, of a $erson are transmitted through his death to another or others either !" his #ill or !" o$eration of la#. >n? Art. 7&1. 'he inheritance of a $erson includes not onl" the $ro$ert" and the transmissi!le rights and o!ligations e%isting at the time of his death, !ut also those #hich have accrued thereto since the o$ening of the succession. >n? Art. 7&(. An heir is a $erson called to the succession either !" the $rovision of a #ill or !" o$eration of la#. 'he Su$reme Court e%$lained the said $rovisions in the case of Republic of the Philippines vs. Jose A. Dayot with GR. No. 175581 declaring that marria e 4as 5elebrated sans a marria e li5ense, t1e ri 1t to impu n a 7oid marria e does not pres5ribe, and may be raised any time.

My %pinion is based on t1e la4s and :urispruden5e appli5able to your situation. 'a)ing "our $leading to court, * am certain that the case #ill !e deduced in "our favor. *n res$onse to #hat "ou as) for, * have anal"+ed #hether the marriage !et#een "ou and ,r. -o$e+ can $ros$er and its validit" given !" such circumstance. %n basis & render t1e 3ollo4in opinion# T1at be3ore enterin t1e matrimony o3 marria e Mr. !oy (ope6 must 3irst pro7e in 3ront o3 a 5ompetent 5ourt t1at 1e is not married to Ms. "ster Sal7a, T1at t1e marria e li5ense and marria e 5erti3i5ate 3iled at t1e Manila Ci7il !e istry and t1e +ational Statisti5s %33i5e are 3or ed and ille ally produ5ed t1us i7in proo3 t1e pre7ious marria e 7oid ab initio, T1at 1e 4ill not be a55ountable 3or bi amy by 5ontra5tin a subse2uent marria e. As 3or t1e in1eritan5e o3 Mr. (ope69s ille itimate 51ild and your 3uture le itimate 51ild, enterin a prenuptial a reement is a possible 4ay 3or t1e separation o3 e;5lusi7e property and 5on:u al property bet4een 1usband and 4i3e. T1e out5ome surely 4ill depend upon t1e a reement bet4een parties 5onstru5tin t1e prenuptial a reement. &3 you are determined to pursue t1is a5tion, & belie7e you 1a7e an e;5ellent 51an5e to su55eed. &3 you 1a7e any more 2uestion re ardin t1is opinion, 8indly 5all or 7isit my o33i5e.

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