In September of 1990, the United Nations General Assembly approved and adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Among the rights of a child acknowledged is the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawful interference.
The Philippines, as signatory to this declaration, has done its share to promote this right, especially in cases where the child is considered illegitimate by law. Who are considered illegitimate children in the Philippines?
The Philippines, as signatory to this declaration, has done its share to promote this right, especially in cases where the child is considered illegitimate by law. Who are considered illegitimate children in the Philippines?
- Children born to couples who are not legally married or of common-law marriages;
- Children born of incestuous, bigamous, or adulterous relations;
- Children born of void marriages;
- Children born of couples below 18, even if they are married (which is actually void).
So in a case where a child is born out of wedlock, which surname should be given to him/her?
Over the years, the law on illegitimate children's surname has shifted several times: pre-EDSA Revolution, in 1988, and lastly in 2004. Here are the following basic principles.
Born before August 3, 1988:
An illegitimate child who is not recognized or acknowledged by both parents in accordance with law shall be registered under the surname of the mother.
Born on or after August 3, 1988 up to March 18, 2004:
Born before August 3, 1988:
Prior to the Family Code (1988), an illegitimate child has the right to bear the surname of the parent recognizing him. Recognition shall be made in the record of birth, a will, statement before a record, or in any authentic writing. If recognition is made by only one of the parents, he or she shall not reveal the name of the person with whom he or she had the child.
An illegitimate child who is not recognized or acknowledged by both parents in accordance with law shall be registered under the surname of the mother.
Born on or after August 3, 1988 up to March 18, 2004:
By law, an illegitimate child shall use the surname of the mother. The father of an illegitimate child who wishes to have his name indicated in the Certificate of Live Birth shall execute an affidavit of Admission of Paternity in lieu of the affidavit of acknowledgement. The purpose of affidavit of admission of paternity is for the support and succession only, and it does not automatically entitle the illegitimate child to use the surname of his father.
Born from March 19, 2004 up to present:
According to Republic Act No. 9255, illegitimate children shall shall be under the parental authority of their mother, and shall be entitled to child support from the father.
- filiation has been expressly recognized by the father through the record of birth appearing in the civil register - Certificate of Live Birth or Municipal Form No. 102;
- when an admission in a public document or private handwritten instrument is made and duly signed by the father;
- any other means of establishing paternity as allowed by the Rules of Court and special laws.
So what is the right and legal process for an illegitimate child to use his or her father's surname?
Terms to Remember:
- Certificate of Live Birth (COLB) - for children born in the Philippines
- Report of Birth (ROB) - for children born outside the Philippines
- Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF)
- Private Handwritten Instrument (PHI)
- Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO)
- Philippine Foreign Service Post (PFSP) - Philippine embassies, missions, consulates general.
What to File?
The following documents shall be filed at the LCRO or PFSP for registration:
- Certificate of Live Birth (COLB)/Report of Birth (ROB) if available
- Affidavit of Admission of Paternity
- Private Handwritten Instrument (PHI)
- Affidavit to Use the Surname of the Father (AUSF)
The following persons are authorized to file at the LCRO or PFSP:
- The father, mother, the person himself, if of age, or the guardian, may file the Affidavit of Admission of Paternity.
- The father, mother, the person himself, if of age, or the guardian, may file the AUSF.
- The father shall personally file the PHI, if the proof of filiation is through a PHI, at the LCRO/PFSP for registration.
- The mother, the person himself, if of age, or the guardian, may file the PHI if the father is already deceased. The PHI can be accepted provided there are supporting documents to prove filiation.
Where to register?
- The Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, PHI or AUSF executed in the Philippines shall be registered at the LCRO of the place of birth.
- The Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, PHI or AUSF executed outside the Philippines shall be registered at the PFSP of the country of residence, or where there is none, to the PFSP of the country nearest the place of residence of the party concerned.
When to Register?
The Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, PHI, or the AUSF shall be registered within twenty (20) days from the date of execution, otherwise, the rules on late registration of birth will apply.
How to Register?
- The City/Municipal Civil Registrar (C/MCR) or the Consul General (CG) shall accept and examine the completeness and correctness of entries in the COLB/ROB, and the supporting documents. If there are inconsistencies, the C/MCR or CG will not accept the documents for registration.
- The C/MCR or the CG shall record the entries of the COLB/ROB in the Register of Births, Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, PHI and the AUSF in the Register of Legal Instruments.
- The C/MCR or the CG shall annotate the COLB/ROB and enter the annotation on the Remarks portion of the Register of Births.
- The C/MCR or the CG shall distribute the annotated COLB/ROB, registered Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, AUSF, or PHI including any supporting document as follows:
- first copy to the CRG;
- second copy to the LCRO/PFSP where the event was registered;
- third copy to the registrant/owner of the document;
- fourth copy shall be retained for filing by the LCRO/PFSP.
- The C/MCR or the CG shall issue certified copies of COLB/ROB with annotations and certified copies of the Affidavit of Admission of Paternity, AUSF, and PHI.
Conditions to Remember:
- As a rule, an illegitimate child not acknowledged by the father shall use the surname of the mother.
- Illegitimate child acknowledged by the father shall use the surname of the mother if no AUSF is executed.
- An illegitimate child aged 0-6 years old acknowledged by the father shall use the surname of the father, if the mother or the guardian, in the absence of the mother, executes the AUSF.
- An illegitimate child aged 7 to 17 years old acknowledged by the father shall use the surname of the father if the child executes an AUSF fully aware of its consequence as attested by the mother or guardian.
- Upon reaching the age of majority, an illegitimate child acknowledged by the father shall use the surname of his father provided that he executes an AUSF without need of any attestation.
source: Philippine Statistics Authority, ABS-CBN
©2017 THOUGHTSKOTO
SEARCH JBSOLIS, TYPE KEYWORDS and TITLE OF ARTICLE at the box below