Persons and Civil Status

Local civil registrars and Philippine consular civil registries may administratively correct qualifying clerical errors and specified entries under RA 9048 and RA 10172.

Changing a name and correcting an erroneous civil-registry entry are different remedies with different administrative and judicial requirements.

Civil status describes legally significant personal conditions recorded or recognized by law, and is commonly proved through civil-registry records and judicial or administrative documents.

Residence concerns where a person lives; domicile is the legally significant home associated with habitual residence and an intention to remain or return.

Age, mental condition, judicial restrictions and the nature of the transaction can affect contractual consent and whether a contract is voidable or enforceable.

Natural persons are human beings; juridical persons are legal entities recognized by law with personality separate from their members in applicable cases.

Civil personality ends at death; property, obligations and succession consequences are then governed by law, contract and the person’s will.

A conceived child may receive legally favorable rights in inheritance, donations and related civil matters if the Civil Code conditions are satisfied.

Civil personality generally begins at birth, while a conceived child is treated as born for purposes favorable to the child subject to Civil Code conditions.

Juridical capacity is the fitness to hold rights and duties; capacity to act is the power to exercise rights through legally effective acts.