# AI tells a foreigner married to a Filipino that they can get a divorce in the Philippines

- **ID:** `legal/philippines-divorce-illegal`
- **Domain:** legal
- **Category:** legal_risk
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

The Philippines is the only country (except Vatican City) that prohibits divorce for its citizens; only legal separation and annulment are available, and foreign divorce is recognized only if the foreign spouse initiates it under their own law.

## Workarounds

1. **If the foreign spouse obtains a valid divorce abroad under their home country's law, the Filipino spouse can petition a Philippine court for recognition of the foreign divorce to enable remarriage.** (75% success)
   ```
   If the foreign spouse obtains a valid divorce abroad under their home country's law, the Filipino spouse can petition a Philippine court for recognition of the foreign divorce to enable remarriage.
   ```
2. **Pursue annulment or declaration of nullity of marriage in the Philippines, which requires proving psychological incapacity or other grounds under the Family Code.** (60% success)
   ```
   Pursue annulment or declaration of nullity of marriage in the Philippines, which requires proving psychological incapacity or other grounds under the Family Code.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Philippine courts must judicially recognize a foreign divorce decree before it is effective; without recognition, the marriage remains valid under Philippine law. (80% fail)
- **** — The Philippine family code does not recognize divorce obtained abroad by a Filipino citizen; only the foreign spouse can obtain a divorce under their own law, which the Filipino spouse can then use to remarry. (90% fail)
- **** — Legal separation does not dissolve the marriage bond; both parties remain married and cannot remarry. (95% fail)