Changing the surname of a child

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BY THE MANILA TIMES ON APRIL 9, 2017DEARPAO

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Persida Acosta

Dear PAO,
I have a 15-year-old daughter, born out of wedlock on January 22, 2002. She was named
after me and not her father. Her father and I subsequently married in May 2002, but we got
separated a year after. After a few years, we reconciled and now we have three children. I
wish to remedy my daughter’s birth certificate so that she could be named after her father,
who is now my husband.
Sincerely yours,
Jennifer

Dear Jennifer,

Although you failed to mention if there was no legal impediment when you and your
husband had your daughter, we are assuming that there is none. As such, Article 177 of the
Family Code of the Philippines on legitimation governs your daughter’s situation. Article
177, as amended, provides:

“Children conceived and born outside of wedlock of parents who, at the time of conception
of the former, were not disqualified by any impediment to marry each other, or were so
disqualified only because either or both of them were below 18 years of age, may be
legitimated.”

Under the law, “[l]egitimated children shall enjoy the same rights as legitimate children”
(Article 170, Family Code of the Philippines). One of these rights is “to bear the surname of
the father and the mother.” (Article 174 (1), Id.)
Legitimation is a remedy by means of which those who in fact were not born in wedlock and
should, therefore, be considered illegitimate, are, by fiction, considered legitimate, it being
supposed that they were born when their parents were already validly married (1 Manresa
550, as cited on p. 251, Handbook on Family Code of the Philippines, Alicia V. Sempio-Diy).

The original family name of the child as appearing in the Registrar of Births shall not be
erased or deleted, but in the remarks space shall be written “Legitimated by Subsequent
Marriage” indicating the family name which the child shall bear by virtue of the legitimation
also giving reference to the entry number in the Registrar of Legal Instruments.

The following are the application requirements:

“1. Secure the following documents from the City/Municipal Civil Registrar’s Office (C/MCR)
where the birth of the child was recorded:

a. Affidavit of paternity/acknowledgement (certified photocopy/xerox copy)

b. Joint affidavit of legitimation

c. Certification of registration of legal instrument (Affidavit of Legitimation)

d. Certified true copy of birth certificate with remarks/annotation based on the legitimation
by subsequent marriage.

“2. Verify the original birth certificate at the National Statistics Office (NSO). If negative
result, secure it from C/MCR Office where the child was originally registered (certified
photocopy).

“3. Verify the marriage contract of parents at NSO. If negative result, secure it from C/MCR
Office where the marriage was solemnized (certified true copy).”

You may check the said requirements from the website of the Philippine Statistics Authority,
known then as the National Statistics Office, and specifically from this link,
https://psa.gov.ph/content/application-requirements.

As to the change of your daughter’s status from illegitimate to legitimate, it will no longer go
through court, as this can be done through administrative proceedings with the Civil
Registry Office. You do not need a lawyer for this process. You will need, however, to have
her affidavit of legitimation notarized.