Supreme Court voids marriage over false cohabitation affidavit

The Supreme Court has determined that marriages without a license become void from inception when couples submit falsified affidavits of cohabitation, according to a ruling released Friday. The high court found that the marriage in question was invalid because the spouses made false statements in their cohabitation affidavit, a document typically required for couples seeking to marry without a marriage license under Philippine law.

The decision underscores the importance of truthfulness in marriage documentation and the legal consequences of providing false information to the court. Under Philippine law, couples who have lived together for a certain period may marry without a license by submitting an affidavit confirming their cohabitation, but this provision is conditional on honest declarations.

The ruling clarifies that fraud in the affidavit process is not merely a procedural irregularity but a fundamental defect that renders the entire marriage contract invalid from the date of its celebration. This determination affects the legal status, property rights, and other marital consequences for the couple involved.

The decision serves as a cautionary note to couples and marriage registrars about the strict requirements governing marriages without a license in the Philippines, ensuring that such unions are based on truthful representations before the courts.