NSO: What are the Registrable Documents Under the Civil Registration Law of the Philippines?

> Registration of Live Birth
Reglementary Period and Place of Registration
The birth of a child shall be registered within thirty (30) days from the time of birth in the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where the birth occurred. A report made beyond this period is considered late.
Out-of-town Reporting of Birth
This occurs when the Certificate of Live Birth is presented to the civil registrar of a city or a municipality which is not the place of birth, not for registration but to be forwarded to the civil registrar of the city or municipality where the birth occurred.

The duty of accepting Certificate of Live Birth for out-of-town reporting may also be performed by the Civil Registrar-General or by his authorized representatives who are the Regional Administrators and Provincial Statistical Officers of the National Statistics Office.

Requirements:

a) the party who is applying for out-of-town reporting of birth shall execute an affidavit declaring therein, among other things, the facts of birth and the reasons why said birth was not recorded in the civil register of the city or municipality where it occurred. The affidavit which must be attested by at least two (2) witnesses, shall serve as an application for registration and shall be submitted to the civil registrar together with four (4) copies of the Certificate of Live Birth.

b) if the application is for late registration of birth, the requirements under the rules governing late registration of birth shall also be complied with.
Persons Responsible to Report the Event
1. When the birth occurred in a hospital or clinic or in a similar institution, the administrator thereof shall be responsible for causing the registration of such birth. However, it shall be the attendant at birth who shall certify to the facts of birth.

2. When the birth did not occur in a hospital or clinic or in a similar institution, the physician, nurse, midwife, hilot, or anybody who attended the delivery of the child shall be responsible both in certifying the facts of birth and causing the registration of such birth.

3. In default of the hospital/clinic administrator or attendant at birth, either or both parents of the child shall cause the registration of the birth.
Number of Copies to be Accomplished
It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four (4) copies of the Certificate of Live Birth to the civil registrar for registration. After registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five (5) days from receipt thereo as follows:

1. first copy to the registrant,

2. second copy to the Civil Registrar-General,

3. third copy to be retained in the file of the city/mun. civil registrar,

4. fourth copy to the attendant at birth or the hospital/clinic administrator as the case may be.
Birth Registration of Illegitimate Children
Children conceived and born outside a valid marriage unless otherwise provided in the Family Code are illegitimate.

1. An illegitimate child born before 3 August 1988 and acknowledged by both parents shall principally use the surname of the father. If recognized by only one of the parents, the legitimate child shall carry the surname of the acknowledging parent. If no parent acknowleged the child, he shall carry the surname of the mother.

2. The name/s of the acknowledging parent/s shall be indicated in the Certificate of Live Birth.

3. An illegitimate child born on or after 3 August 1988 shall bear the surname of the mother.
Late Registration of Birth
A. For persons less than eighteen (18) years old:

i) four (4) copies of the Certificate of Live Birth duly accomplished and signed by the proper parties;

ii) accomplished affidavit for Delayed Registration at the back of the Certificate of Live Birth by the father, mother or guardian, declaring therein, among other things the ff:

o name of child
o date and place of birth
o name of the father if the child is illegitimate and has been acknowledged by him
o if legitimate, the date and place of marriage of parents
o reason for not registering the birth within thirty (30) days

iii) any two of the following documentary evidences which may show the name of the child, date and place of birth, and name of mother:

o baptismal certificate

o school records

o income tax return of parent/s

o insurance policy

o medical records

o others, such as barangay captain's certification

iv) affidavit of two disinterested persons who might have witnessed or known the birth of the child.

B. For persons eighteen (18) years old or above:

i) all the requirements for a child who is less than eighteen (18) years old;

ii) Certificate of Marriage, if married.

> Registration of Application for Marriage License

Reglementary Period and Place of Registration
Where a marriage license is required, each of the contracting parties shall file separately a sworn application for such license with the proper civil registrar which shall specify the following:

a) Full name of the contracting party;
b) Place of birth;
c) Age and date of birth;
d) Civil status;
e) If previously married, how, when and where the previous marriage was dissolved or annulled;
f) Present residence and citizenship;
g) Degree of relationship of the contracting parties;
h) Full name, residence and citizenship of the father;
i) Full name, residence and citizenship of the mother; and
j) Full name, residence and citizenship of the guardian or person having charge, in case the contracting party has neither father nor mother and is under the age of twenty-one years.
Requisites in Applying for a Marriage License
1. Original birth certificate or baptismal certificates of the contracting parties or copies of such documents duly attested by the persons having custody of the original.

If either of the contracting parties is unable to produce his birth or baptismal certificate or a certified copy of either because of the destruction or loss of the original, or if it is shown by an affidavit of such party or of any other person that such birth or baptismal certificate has not yet been received though the same has been required of the person having custody thereof at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the application, such party may furnish in lieu thereof his current residence certificate or an instrument drawn up and sworn to before the civil registrar concerned or any public official authorized to administer oaths.

The presentation of the birth or baptismal certificate shall not be required if the parents of the contracting parties appear personally before the civil registrar concerned and swear to the correctness of the lawful age of such parties.

2. If either of the contracting parties has been previously married, the applicant shall be required to furnish, instead of the birth or baptismal certificate, the death certificate of the deceased spouse or the judicial decree of the absolute divorce, or the judicial decree of annulment or declaration of nullity of his or her previous marriage.

3. In case either or both of the contracting parties, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, a consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned shall be obtained.

4. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to seek parental advice upon the intended marriage. If it is unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application thereof.

5. In the case where parental consent or parental advice is needed, the parties concerned shall attach a certificate issued by proper authorities to the effect that the contracting parties have undergone marriage counselling.

6. When either or both of the contracting parties are citizens of a foreign country, it shall be necessary for them before a marriage license could be obtained, to submit a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage, issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials.

7. The license shall be valid in any part of the Philippines for a period of one hundred twenty days from the date of issue, and shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it.
Number of Copies to be Accomplished
It shall be the duty of the contracting parties to accomplish four (4) copies of the Application for Marriage License for registration. After the registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number as follows: first copy to the registrant; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall be retained for his file; and fourth copy to the solemnizing officer.

> Registration of Marriage
Reglementary Period and Place of Registration
In ordinary marriage, the time for submission of the Certificate of Marriage is within fifteen (15) days following the solemnization of marriage while in marriage exempt from license requirement, the prescribed period is thirty (30) days, at the place where the marriage was solemnized.
Persons Responsible to Report the Event
The solemnizing officer has the duty to report the marriage to the office of the Civil Registrar where the marriage was solemnized.
Number of Copies to be Accomplished
It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four (4) copies of the Certificate of Marriage to the civil registrar for registration. After the registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five (5) days from receipt thereof as follows: first copy to the contracting parties; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall be retained for filing; and fourth copy to the solemnizing officer.
Marriages Exempt from License Requirement
The following marriages maybe performed without a marriage license:

1. In case either or both of the contracting parties are at the point of death;

2. If the residence of either party is so located that there is no means of transportation to enable such party to appear personally before the civil registrar;

3. Marriages among muslims or among members of the ethnic cultural communities provided that they are solemnized in accordance with their customs, rites, or practices;

4. In case of a man and woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years and without any legal impediment to marry each other.
Number of Copies to be Accomplished
It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four (4) copies of the Certificate of Marriage to the civil registrar for registration. After the registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five (5) days from receipt thereof as follows: first copy to the contracting parties; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall be retained for filing; and fourth copy to the solemnizing officer.
Requirements for Late Registration of Marriage
1. The solemnizing officer or the person reporting or presenting the marriage certificate for registration shall be required to execute and file an affidavit in support thereof, stating the exact place and date of marriage, the facts and circumstances surrounding the marriage and the reason or cause of delay.

2. The submission of the application for marriage license bearing the date when the marriage license was issued except for marriage exempt from marriage licenses shall be required.

3. Where the original or duplicate copy of the Certificate of Marriage could not be presented either because it was burned, lost or destroyed, a certification issued in lieu thereof, by the church or solemnizing officer indicating date of said marriage based on their record or log book shall be sufficient proof of marriage.

> Registration of Death
Reglementary Period and Place of Registration
Registration shall be made in the Office of the Civil Registrar of the city/municipality where it occurred whithin thirty (30) days from the time of death. Registration made outside this period is considered late.

The death of a person in a vehicle, airplane or vessel while in transit within the jurisdiction of the Philippines and where the exact place of death cannot be determined, the Certificate of Death shall be issued by the health officer of the place of burial/cremation and shall be registered in the Office of the Civil Registrar of the said city/municipality. If the place of burial/cremation is outside the Philippines, the death shall be registered in the Office of the Civil Registrar of Manila.
Persons Responsible to Report the Event
It shall be the responsibility of the physician who last attended the deceased or the administrator of the hospital or clinic where the person died to prepare the proper death certificate and certify as to the cause of death. The death certificate shall then be forwarded within forty-eight (48) hours after death, to the health officer who shall examine the Certificate of Death and then affix his signature in the appropriate box and shall order its registration in the Office of the Civil Registrar.

It shall be the responsibility of the nearest relative or person who has knowledge of the death to report the same within forty-eight (48) hours if the deceased died without medical assistance. The health officer shall examine the deceased and shall certify as to the cause of death and direct the registration of the death certificate to the Office of the Civil Registrar within the reglementary period of thirty (30) days.
Number of Copies to be Accomplished
It shall be the duty of the person concerned to accomplish and send four (4) copies of the Certificate of Death to the civil registrar for registration. After registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number within five (5) days from receipt thereof as follows: first copy to the registrant; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall be retained for filing; and fourth copy to the attendant at death.
Out-of-town Reporting of Death
When registration is not possible in the place of occurrence, report the event in the office of the civil registrar in the nearest accessible city or municipality. The civil registrar should accept the documents NOT FOR REGISTRATION but to be forwarded to the civil registrar of the city/municipality where the death happened and where it should be registered.

Requirements:

a) Four (4) copies of Certificate of Live Birth/Death duly accomplished and signed by the proper parties;

b) An affidavit which shall be executed by the person applying for an out-of-town reporting of death declaring therein, among other things, the facts of death and the reasons why said death was not recorded in the civil register of the city or municipality where it occurred. The affidavit must be attested by at least two witnesses;

c) If the application is for delayed registration of death, the requirements for delayed registration shall also be complied with.

Mass Death

Where the deceased cannot be identified, the health officer, upon submission of an affidavit by two disinterested persons, in the exercise of his wise discretion, may issue and cause the registration of the death certificate bearing the annotation "BODY NOT IDENTIFIED". The affidavit referred to in the aforementioned statement shall contain the following information:

a) sex of the deceased;
b) estimated age;
c) distinguishing features;
d) condition of the body when found;
e) date when the body was found;
f) place where the body was found; and
g) circumstances surrounding the death.
Fetal Death
Fetal death is the death prior to the complete expulsion of a product of conception, irrespective of the period of pregnancy.

The registration of fetal death shall follow the procedure in the registration of death.
Late Registration of Death
No delayed report of death shall be accepted for registration unless the following procedures and requirements are observed and complied with by the concerned parties:

a) four (4) copies of the Certificate of Death which must be accomplished correctly and completely;

b) affidavit for delayed registration which shall be executed by the hospital/clinic administrator if the person died in the hospital, or if the person died elsewhere, by the attendant at death. In default of the hospital/clinic administrator or attendant at death, the affidavit shall be executed by any of the nearest relative of the deceased, or by any person having legal charge of thedeceased when he was still alive;

c) the affidavit shall state among other things, the name of the deceased, the facts of his death, the date and place of burial or cremation, and the circumstances why the death was not reported for registration within thirty (30) days after death;

d) authenticated copy of the certificate of burial, cremation or of other means of corpse disposal; and

e) approval for registration by the health officer in the box provided in the Certificate of Death.

And for other registration queries, contact
L.Hufana@mail.census.gov.ph or visit http://www.census.gov.ph